Hers to Choose Read Free Page A

your status among the Oshtesh . Flight Leader . It is a military designation?”
    What a pleasant surprise. The first words out of his mouth are not about my appearance.
    “Yes, Eric. Sophi leads an elite squad of women archers. We call them flights . Each flight has six archers and a leader.” Mother Lyre spoke proudly. “The flights choose their commanders. The title of Flight Leader is a singular honor.”
    DeStroia shifted his attention back to her. “I regret I take you away from their comradeship, Lady DeLorion.”
    Before Sophi could respond, Mother Lyre spoke again. “You won’t. Sophi’s flight rides with you to Sylvan Mintoth.” A small, knowing smile played across her lips. “It is my condition for her return. As only sister to Doral DeLorion, Segundo Signore of the Tetriarch , Lady Sophillia needs her own guard—those whose loyalty is only to her.”
    At Sophi’s surprised utterance, Mother Lyre, stroked her cheek tenderly. “We thought it would comfort you to have your sisters around you. We send you away, but you take a small part of Sh’r Un Kree with you.” She laughed softly. “Truly, I don’t think we could have made them stay.”
    Sophi let her eyes speak for her. The Primus and his wife smiled at each other in satisfaction.
    An expression on Commander DeStroia’s handsome face came and went rapidly. Is that surprise or dismay? I envy his easy composure. Mine has been hard won.
    The commander smiled pleasantly. “I welcome the addition of your flight , Lady DeLorion. Warriors with intimate knowledge of the desert wastelands are a valuable asset. I would like to start back tomorrow at dusk. We travel by night through the desert wastelands. Yesterday, since the distance left to travel was so short, we rode during daylight as we could complete the trip before the full heat of the day, but that is not my preference.”
    Sophi returned his direct gaze. She found it shamefully easy to look at him and for the first time in recent memory felt stirrings of purely feminine response to this handsome man.
    “ I should attend my men and horses,” Eric said. “Tomorrow, then, Primus , Mistress, my Lady.” With a small bow, he took his leave.
    S ophi turned to Mother Lyre and Primus G’hed. “I love you. I already miss you — and I will be back.”
    * * *
     
    At dusk the next day, Sophi’s flight filtered into Sh’r Un Kree from the surrounding hillsides.
    As t hey gathered in the designated courtyard, she made a small adjustment to Brio’s bridle.
    “ Are these the legendary wasteland horses we lowlanders hear stories about?” Commander DeStroia’s deep voice caught her attention. I didn’t hear his approach . Taught stealth by my brother, no doubt.
    “Yes.” She followed his gaze as he examined her flight’s small, hardy mounts and the equally small, hardy women astride them. “Petrina—she has a fiery temper to match her red hair, but she is my right hand. The brunette beside her is Adonia, our medica . Her knowledge of herbs is indispensable and this is Rhea, our best tracker. Layna, Eudora and Maeve complete our flight . Their precision in hitting their targets is uncanny. We don’t look like much, but we will not burden you, Commander. We are quite self-sufficient.”
    “ I never imagined otherwise, Lady DeLorion.”
    She stiffened. “I do not use my courtesy title. I am no longer that person. I prefer ‘ Flight Leader ’.”
    His eyes examined her but he nodded agreeably. “ Flight Leader . We will leave upon the half-hour. Take position beside me at the front. Your flight can muster behind you.”
    “ No. It is not our way. We will ride the ridges and shadowed places in twos and threes. We will be there but you will not see us.”
    His eyes narrowed. “I don’t like it. I cannot protect you if I cannot see you.”
    “ I do not ask your permission, Commander. I am in far less danger with my flight than with you who lack experience in the desert wilds. I knew you were