Hellfire and Honey by A.N. Payton

Author:A.N. Payton
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781648981548
Publisher: City Owl Press

Chapter Eighteen

Kadence waited, mounted on Juniper at the castle entrance. He wore all black under a layer of flexible leather armor, with a large battle hammer strapped to his back and a longsword at his waist. I remembered the dagger he had pulled in my room. How many more weapons was he hiding?

“Where were you?” His voice was hard, frustrated. “I was looking for you.”

“Why? Did you have something to tell me?”

“No.” His face pinched. “Should I?”

Was he not ready to tell me about the orphanage, or did he hide it for another reason? “It doesn’t matter.” I waved it away. Kadence would tell me eventually, I’d make sure of that. “What do you need?”

“Zavier wants us to meet at the training arena. He said to wear armor and bring weapons.”

“Fine,” I said, wondering what fresh torture the old man had in mind. “Give me a few minutes.”

I tied Vry outside and Saffa helped me change from my long green dress into a simple black uniform. The flexible cotton knit material wicked sweat and other less pleasant liquids from my skin. My leather armor wasn’t as durable as the metal set I wore into battle, but it was more maneuverable and comfortable. Putting on the armor felt like coming home after a long absence. It hugged my body, tight and reassuring.

“You’re very strange, Sal,” Saffa said, stowing the green dress with the rest of the dirty laundry.

“Why?”

“You’re the only person I know that smiles putting on their armor. Most people wait until they get to take it off.”

Laughing, I wandered back downstairs and hopped into the saddle.

“What does Zavier want?” I asked Kadence.

Vry sashayed under me and whinnied at Juniper, who made horse noises back. The sun had crested in the sky and slipped toward the horizon. The countdown to a mandatory draft was coming and with it would come displeasure and backlash from my people. If we survived the war with the demons, I may be kicked from the throne afterwards.

“He didn’t say.”

We spilled into the meadow before the arena and a cluster of five people crowded the rugged bleachers. Zavier, wearing what looked like a healer’s outfit, was propped in a wheeled chair. He had more color today and the bags under his eyes had faded. A blond nurse stood behind him, also wearing a similar outfit.

The other three were soldiers. Two men wore the standard witch uniform with infantry patches. They were both tall and lean, and one man had a scar that stretched up his cheek to his forehead. The third woman wore a vampire uniform, all black with a battle axe in one hand. Her rich red hair, probably not natural, was twisted into a bun.

“I hope you don’t mind that I borrowed one of your soldiers, My King.” Zavier smiled when we approached and dismounted. “Soldier Barton here was describing some of her battle experience.”

“I’ve seen Ocean Barton fight in person.” Kadence smiled. “I wouldn’t want to be on the other end of her axe.

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