The Forsaken Hero

Without another word, the inquisitors retreated the way had come, heading for the city not a mile distant. The moment they were gone, the strength left my body and my tail went limp, a desperate, relieved sigh escaping my lips. After expending my mana during training, I couldn’t have mustered enough to defend myself, not to mention the entire squad of recruits. I could have summoned Fable, but I had no idea where he was or what he was engaged in. What would I have done if he hadn’t been able to come?

Solim stiffened as I slumped against him, my head resting on his chest. The cool steel of his breastplate was hard on my cheek, but his warm presence soaked through, comforting me. He shifted, awkwardly, and hesitantly wrapped his arm around me.

I didn’t have to look up to see him blushing, nor did I have enough strength to care. He was a man, and such intimate proximity with a beautiful girl only a few years his junior was undoubtedly a little overwhelming.

I should have been far more wary, these soldiers were practically strangers to me. It would be so simple for them to take advantage of me now, when I was exhausted and emotionally vulnerable. But these soldiers were nothing like Alex, the Fire Hero. There was no lust in their eyes, no veiled menace. Just a fierce protectiveness that made me feel warm, and...safe.

And then was a stare different from the others, cold and prickly, and I opened my eyes to slits. Joel stared at me from across the field, frowning, before shaking his head and turning away. There was no warmth in his gaze, less hostility perhaps, but certainly no affection.

"Rank!"

Orion’s bark cracked like a whip, scattering the soldiers into rank and file. Solim, disciplined by hundreds of drills, tensed instinctively, nearly jerking out of my grasp. I cried out softly and clung to his arm, hiding my face against his chest, a hint of red coloring my cheeks. He froze and looked down at me, then back at the assembling squad of soldiers. A flicker of panic flashed through his eyes and he looked around desperately, subtly trying to shake me off his arm. One of the other recruits, a bright-eyed young man I’d seen hanging out with Solim, shot him a wink and fled.

With nowhere else to look, Solim reluctantly lowered his eyes and found me staring up at him with wide, pleading eyes. My tail trembling in embarrassment, flicking back and forth across the trampled grass of the training field. It was a little humiliating, certainly unbecoming of the Lady they thought I was, but my entire body trembled with exhaustion. My legs were weak and shaky; there was no way I could trust myself to stand on my own. Not yet, at least.

Orion stalked over, his lips twitching into a hard line. "And what’s this? I thought I ordered you to rank."

Solim took a deep breath and stared defiantly up at the grizzled veteran. A sort of righteous resolve hardened his face, the same conviction I’d seen in the eyes of soldiers ready to sacrifice themselves for their comrades. The gaze of a man who had accepted his death and was determined to stand his ground to the bitter end.

"You did, Sir!" he replied crisply. "Just doing my duty, sir."