Free Swords of the Imperium (Dark Fantasy Novel) (The Polaris Chronicles Book 2) by Bryan Choi, E H Carson Page A

twitched painfully, and he cursed his luck.
    Hours later, he returned to the mess hall with a sore back and aching arms. Unloading had gone slower than anticipated, and everyone had been pressed into labor to complete the job before sundown. Crates of muskets and sheaves of pikes were surprisingly heavy, especially when there were a hundred to handle. Taki nodded to Aslatiel, who had already started to eat a meal of black bread with pickled cabbage topped with shavings of mutton. Beside Aslatiel was the blond woman, Irulan. Noticeably, they seemed to be playfully feeding each other, and the sight made Taki blush.
    Lotte and the rest of his company were absent, save for Hadassah. She sat at the other end of the table, talking excitedly with Lucatiel. Taki furrowed his brow when he noted the bruises and split lips adorning the pair. He shot a warning glance at Hadassah, pulled out a seat across from Aslatiel, and wordlessly sat down to eat. The day had been grueling, and he was not entirely recovered from the journey. The soft glow of the sconces overhead invited dozing, but he resisted the temptation.
    “There you are,” Aslatiel said.
    Taki blinked and realized that someone was standing behind him.
    “Oberleutnant, I’m reporting for duty,” Enilna said. She stood nervously at attention. It was obvious she hadn’t bathed.
    “Join us and eat,” Aslatiel said, and gestured to the food.
    Enilna nodded and took the seat next to Taki. She reached for a slab of bread, but Irulan’s fingers caught her ears and twisted.
    “Not so fast,” Irulan said. “So, did you have fun playing around in the mud, climbing the fence, and molesting an officer?”
    Enilna let out a pained chuckle. “Ah, nothing gets by you. I was merely discussing important supply logistics with our unit farmer.”
    “What are you even talking about? Natalis, you should’ve shot her.”
    Taki raised an eyebrow.
    “Sorry, sorry. Can you let go now?” Enilna winced as Irulan twisted harder.
    “Not until I’m done lecturing you. First, when you’re given orders to stay in one place, that doesn’t mean go and screw around in crumbling hovels. Second—” The clattering of a metal tray stopped Irulan midsentence.
    “You!” Lotte stood wide-eyed nearby with the tray and spilt breadcrumbs at her feet.
    Enilna’s face lit up in recognition. “Big Sis!” She wormed her way out of Irulan’s grasp, bounded over the table, and wrapped her arms around Lotte with crushing strength.
    Lotte closed her eyes and smiled. She stroked Enilna’s hair. “So you finally made it to Sevastopol.”
    “I did! I never thought I’d see you again. I thought you might have died. I thought—”
    “You didn’t lose my gift, right?”
    “No. I could never do that,” Enilna said and buried her face in Lotte’s chest. “It reminds me of you.”
    Lotte’s mouth twisted. “I want it back.”
    Enilna gasped and seemed about to burst into tears.
    “Just kidding,” Lotte said. “I had to get you back for shooting me in Kosovo.”
    Enilna blushed. She stepped back and crossed her arms in indignation.
    “Wait,” Taki blurted, “is she the one who killed Duke Hekmatyar?”
    “The one and only!” Enilna grinned. “You got a problem with that?”
    “No,” Taki said. “Not at all. Actually, I think that’s really amazing. It must’ve taken a lot of courage.”
    Enilna blushed deeper at that.
    Nice to get her back as well, Taki thought.
    “Actually, I have a problem,” Hadassah said. “Because that asshole duke kicked it, we were all sentenced to peel potatoes while we waited to get hanged. I had to listen to these jokers”—she gestured at Draco and Karma—“whinge about how they couldn’t find any privacy to wank it. Can you make me unhear that?”
    “Ahem,” Aslatiel said, clapping his hands twice. “It’s time to return to matters of war. Everyone eat their fill because tomorrow, we start work in earnest.”

4
    “They opened the perimeter wall