A Shield of Fate and Ruin by Nicole Bailey

Author:Nicole Bailey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Nicole Bailey

21

Artemis

Soldiers stood in the cool shade of massive trees that made up the woodline edging against the camps. When Orion had concocted this plan, I had envisioned a few hundred soldiers taking part. I wasn’t sure how much help the twenty or so he’d gathered would provide in the scenario I’d imagined. They couldn’t even fully cover both sides of the forest.

But it was a start, I guess.

Sitting and waiting for an army to show up had done nothing for my nerves, and others could do the tasks I’d spent my time on like sharpening weapons. This felt meaningful, at least. Orion walked around shaking hands, causing the men to laugh.

So he was popular.

Figures with the swagger he had.

Two more horses trotted up, and their riders dismounted, landing with a chuff beside me. Len’s expression remained neutral, but Delon grinned. “Heard you had something interesting going on over here. Came to ask if we could join.”

I surveyed both of them, the rich fabric of their clothing, the sureness of their stance. “Are you a good shot?”

Delon shrugged. “A decent one.”

“Who’s the better marksman, you or Valerian?”

Delon’s expression froze for a moment, his lips tightening. He sighed. “Valerian, but he’s had more time to practice, and I can hold my own with him.” He nudged Len in the ribs. “As can Len.”

Well, that was the most humility I’d ever seen from Delon. So he probably told the truth. I knew he was a skilled rider. “You won’t actually take part in the fighting, though?”

Emerald leaves in a bush behind him clattered together. Delon squared his shoulders again. “We aren’t to march with the soldiers. That doesn’t mean we can’t help from the sides if this plan plays out.”

I considered that and the way the two of them looked at me. It reminded me a bit of Apollo, stuck in a role cast for him, desperate to matter. Well, if Delon was half the shot Valerian was, they wouldn’t hurt anything, and they both were excellent riders. “All right.”

Delon’s confident smile snaked over his face again. “Excellent.”

Orion stomped over. “Got a couple of recruits here, Temi?”

“Meet Delon and Len.”

Orion shook both of their hands as Valerian rode up and dropped beside us, his boots smashing the tender shoots of grass beneath him. Heaviness permeated his expression, his lips set in a hard line. Orion grasped his hand and then clapped to gather everyone’s attention. “If you haven’t met Valerian, he’s the master of horses here and he’s going to help us prepare.”

Val nodded, his gaze skipping past the gathering of humans and lingering on the animals. The same hurt I’d seen in his expression when we’d watched the horse die seemed to sink into him, like he imagined these creatures sacrificed in battle, suffering, as if he helped create that reality for them.

His posture straightened as he turned back to the group. “My suggestion is to start your training by creating a looped path along the edge of the forest line and get the horses used to running it.

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