Free BloodLust (Rise of the Iliri Book 1) by Auryn Hadley Page A

but she pushed it down, knowing it would only please the humans to see it.
    "Don't mind him," a shy voice said. "He pretty much hates everyone on two legs."
    She turned to see a willowy young man.  His face covered in muck, his clothing liberally stained, the youth smiled at her, his brown eyes kind.
    "He's good with the horses, which is about the only reason he keeps his job here.  So you got the spotted mare?" he asked, looking past her into the stall.
    "Yeah," Sal said noncommittally.
    "Good call.  She goes back to Donner, through Aiden, by Tragedy," he recited.  "I don't think there's a finer horse on the farm than her.  She's working well in her schooling.  Already started in upper level work, too."  His obvious pride in the animal impressed Sal. 
    "I didn't understand why that Blade asked me to turn her out in the slew bottom last night.  I told him she'd get herself coated in filth, but he said it was important.  Said her pretty hide might not bring the kind of attention he wanted.  So how'd ya get her anyways?  Win a bet or something?"
    "Something like that.  It was one of our trials, we had to evaluate the horses."
    "Ah, well you did a good job.  That colt over there isn't too bad, but this girl... she's already got the training and the skill, and as sweet and loyal as a puppy.  No need to spend half a year trying to play catch up.  Of the lot we pulled out today, you got the nicest!"
    "Thank you..." She paused, giving the kid time to fill in his name.
    "Oh sorry, it's Ahn Tilso.  I'd offer you my hand, but..."  He held his palms out.  Dirt stained them completely. 
    Her faith in humanity restored, Sal offered him hers, the grime from her mare visible against her white skin.  "Salryc Luxx."
    Without hesitating, the boy clasped it, "Well met, very well met.  Maybe one day, I'll get to care for a horse like yours.  But I'm always in here.  If you ever need anything, you just ask for me, k?  Then you won't have to deal with grumpy old men thinking they know too much."
    "I will," she promised.
    "I gotta go, they'll be yelling at me in a minute if I don't get barn 3 cleaned.  Well met again, Ms. Luxx.  I hope you enjoy your mare!"
    With a wave, the guy darted through the barn aisle in the same direction as the old man before, reminding her of the time.  She turned her feet toward the courtyard and the fountain where the Blades always met, smiling.  That mare might not be hers yet, but she'd figured out how the Black Blades thought.  If this kept up, the horse and a place in the most respected elite outfit of the Conglomerate would be hers.
     
     
     
     

 
    Chapter 8

     
     
    Smug recruits reclined where they could, mostly on the edge of the fountain or the fence behind it.  They spoke among themselves about the horses they'd chosen, each one bragging more than the next.  A festive mood consumed them, and it disgusted her.  In only a few short days, the privilege of being an applicant to the Black Blades had started to change how they acted. 
    Sal found a quiet place, well removed from the rest, and settled herself to wait for the impending arrival of the Lieutenant.  The boy, Passel, took a spot beside her.  She turned to look at him, at first annoyed that her isolation had been breached, but it appeared he also wanted to avoid the mass of soldiers. 
    On closer inspection, Passel was older than he looked but still young, maybe in his early twenties.  The way he leaned against the wall showed his feral grace, but his features were nothing more than shades of brown.  If she had to describe him, she'd have trouble citing a feature that set him apart.
    "They think it's a game," he said, breaking the silence.
    She nodded, wishing he'd stop talking to her.
    "I don't think they realize yet that most of them failed.  The Lieutenant, he likes us to be thinkers." His gaze never looked away from the recruits on the wagon.  "I didn't think you were going to get it, not when I saw you