Free Siege (The Warrior Chronicles, 5) by K.F. Breene Page A

braced in his saddle as Shanti jumped off her horse—that bastard animal who wouldn’t let her ride any other stallion, regardless of the fact that he was still injured. She paused beside him and placed a hand on his foot.
    Her gaze scanned down the line. “There are bodies within our mental range,” she said in a low voice. “I think they are Graygual. I can’t be certain from just their minds, but there is a familiarity that I wouldn’t have with the Mugdock. It is likely this place has been conquered, as Cayan thought.”
    “Okay.” That was why they were here.
    “I realize your people don’t like the Mugdock, but they are not complete strangers. There is no telling what we will find in that city. If the Graygual are of a lesser caliber…it might not be something your army will want to witness. Knowing the victims, no matter how disliked, will hit harder.”
    Sanders blew out a breath and leaned back. “What are you thinking?”
    She glanced back at Cayan, and then at Rohnan. “We’ll take a team closer to feel what we can. If possible, we’ll go so far as it takes to be able to see. It depends on whether there are Inkna. We’ll take the hardest fighters in first, and see what we’re up against.”
    “And you’re asking me which are the least sentimental?” Sanders turned in his saddle. The more experienced men would have no problems. His gaze skittered across a few of the women, and kept going. Except for one.
    He did a double take on Maggie. She sat straight and tall in her saddle, her eyes hard, her mouth set. In one hand she held an explosive, not armed. She was fast and deft at mixing the chemicals now, with perfect timing in her throw. More than that, she was open to the ways of the army, to the Shadow, and somehow fit with Shanti’s people. She was a career man, dick or not.
    He nodded to himself before scanning the boys and picking out another handful of people. “Horses?”
    “No. We go on foot.” Shanti tapped his toe. “My damn horse might follow anyway, though. I can’t get rid of the bastard.” She turned back to the Captain.
    Sanders jumped down from his saddle and rounded up those he’d chosen. If it proved to be too many, he knew who he’d leave behind, in order. As he motioned Maggie down, Alena said, “What about me?”
    Sanders didn’t bother looking at her. “No. Thank me later.”
    “But—”
    Sanders caught her gaze as his temper rose.
    “Don’t push it when he looks at you like that,” Marc mumbled, turning his gaze to the horn of his saddle. “Trust me.”
    Alena’s mouth had already snapped shut, though. Unlike the boys, she wasn’t an idiot.
    “Let’s go.” Sanders led the dozen to a gathering in front of the horses at the head of the line. Half the Shadow, all the Shumas, and the higher officers waited on Sanders to stop within their fold.
    The Captain said, “We are going in waves. Shanti, myself, and her kin will go in the first wave. Sonson, organize your team to follow.” Sonson reached back to tie his hair in a bun at the top of his head. The Captain’s piercing blue eyes hit Sanders. “You will come with Shanti and I, and Lucius will lead our army. You’ve been within the Shumas before.”
    Sanders grunted. It was disconcerting when a group of people expected you to know what they were doing without actually telling you. It involved so much more work than just talking.
    He got all the shitty jobs.
    “We are just gathering knowledge,” the Captain said to those gathered. “We will not be engaging, if at all possible. I want to know what we’re up against.”
    No one moved. This team was experienced, and lethal.
    A chill arrested Sanders. The army had become something else with the addition of Shadows and Shumas. He wasn’t sure what to expect.
    “Let’s go.” The Captain turned and started off at a fast walk, Shanti at his side.
    Sanders stepped forward before the Shumas swarmed around him. No one took out their swords. Instead, they