Hope: Bonus Epilogue (Rise of the Iliri Book 11) by Auryn Hadley

Author:Auryn Hadley [Hadley, Auryn]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9781956455489
Publisher: Spotted Horse Productions
Published: 2019-10-18T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

SILVER

Ricown was sitting with his unit-mates, nursing a very strong cup of coffee. The men around him were quiet, all of them feeling the pain of their hangovers. It had been a fun night, and Ilija assured them that they deserved the time off. Dom, Shift, and Rayna could protect each other, and they were spending most of their time planning their upcoming wedding, so guards weren't needed.

But the iliri knew how to have fun. The Shields had a few drinks with their old friends from the war, then a few with new friends they met while doing so. Somewhere along the way, Rico had switched from mead to brandy, and now he was regretting that decision. Granted, he also had a pocket filled with guilders, and he vaguely remembered someone betting him he couldn't hit something with a new bow, but the parts after that were a bit blurry.

Of course, Vanja had started it. He'd figured out that Ricown had a skill, and he'd been using it all along. Like so many of the Blades, his was a mutated ability, but unlike theirs, not a strong one. Still, it worked. Ricown could see further than anyone else, even Sal. He could also hit whatever he looked at, but he had to focus. He had to use his ability. Vanja had named him a "bullseye" because of it. Evidently a cross between fetching and a lookout was a pretty specific skill set.

Still, when a purebred iliri man walked into the diner with Geo, everyone noticed - and not just Ricown. For a moment, he thought it was Hax, but this man's posture was completely different. Broken, almost.

"That's Reko Wyra," Tebio said. "Sal's brother."

"Guess that means Viraenova's here," Caein added.

"Yeah," Ricown said, "but something's wrong."

"Maybe that his mate died in the Terric City battle?" Vanja offered. "I mean, you know how long it took Sal to get over that."

Ricown pushed back his chair. "I'm gonna go talk to them. You guys stay here."

"Why you?" Dag asked.

Ricown lifted a brow and just looked at him. "Because unlike you, I'm a bit more iliri. He's been with Viraenova. Thought I'd see if he needs company or wants to be alone. Stay here."

Before they could say anything else, he stood and headed over. Geo noticed, jerking his chin up with a welcoming smile, which said enough. The pair wasn't trying to hide. Still, Ricown wanted to be sure.

You want company or to be alone? he asked Geo.

Pretty sure he could use something to take his mind off things. Just don't mention his mate for a bit? I'm telling him about Anglia and Arhhawen, and what it's been like after the war.

Ricown made it to the table in time to catch the last bit of that as Geo said, "And all the Terran conscripts who surrendered repaid her by fixing the place up. Man, it's huge!"

"And still getting bigger," Ricown said as he grabbed a chair. "You mind, Reko?"

"Please," Reko said, gesturing for him to sit and join them.

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