The Bloodforged Read Free

Alix felt a familiar buck of panic at the thought.
    She was grateful for the interruption of Liam’s voice. “It’s just . . . I belong at the front, Allie. I’m a soldier. What good are the White Wolves if they stay cooped up in their barracks? If they don’t see some action soon, I’m going to have a mutiny on my hands.”
    â€œDon’t even joke about that.”
Alix gripped his arm, glancing around furtively to see if anyone might have overheard. The loyalty of the White Wolves was still a touchy subject, given their role in the treachery at Boswyck. The Raven had been their commander then; after his execution, most of the officers serving under him had been dismissed. Still, the Wolves would carry that stain for a long time.
    Liam growled under his breath. “There, you see? How am I supposed to manage a war council when I can’t even get through a conversation with my own wife without saying something stupid?”
    â€œDo what I do and keep your mouth shut.” The voice was nearly as familiar as Alix’s own, but she could just as easily have recognised him by the authoritative toll of his boots as he made his way across the hall. Rig didn’t walk. He
strode
. Alix turned around, grinning. “Since when do you keep your mouth shut?”
    â€œDon’t I? I always mean to.” Rig gathered her up in a bear hug. He smelled of leather and steel and the dust of the road. As always, Alix felt small and safe in his arms. His deep voice rumbled in her ear. “How’s things, little sister?”
    â€œSuddenly better.” Alix had learned to cope with Rig being at the front, but it was never far from her mind. His visits, too short and too few, lifted a weight she was barely conscious of carrying, like shucking her armour at the end of a long day.
    â€œThey told us you weren’t coming,” Liam said, clasping arms with his brother-in-law.
    â€œWell,
they
obviously didn’t see the summons I received from Albern Highmount. Apparently, missing a council of this magnitude simply isn’t done. Unbecoming of a banner lord, so on and so forth.”
    â€œYou’ll have to add that to your list of behaviours unbecoming of a banner lord,” Alix said.
    â€œI don’t need to keep a list. Highmount is doing it for me.” Rig shook his head, dark eyebrows drawn into a scowl. “Caneither of you explain to me how a
meeting
can possibly be more important than commanding Alden’s armies at the front?”
    Alix sighed. “Not you too. Look, both of you, this isn’t just any meeting. We’re in serious trouble.”
    Rig laughed humourlessly. “There’s an understatement. My men are exhausted, and the spring thaw is just around the corner. The war is about to come out of hibernation. We’ll be lucky to hold the enemy at the border until the Onnani fleet arrives on his doorstep.”
    â€œThat’s just it,” Alix said. “They may not be arriving anytime soon. Word is that they’re well behind schedule. The Onnani ambassador hasn’t been able to give us a clear indication of when they’ll be ready to launch, but it sounds like it’ll be months yet.”
    Rig swore and rubbed his jaw, beard bristling beneath his fingers. “
Bloody
fishmen. I can’t hold them off that long, Allie. What in the Domains am I supposed to do until then?”
    â€œThat’s what you’re here to discuss, you and the rest of the council. There aren’t many options.”
    â€œYou don’t say.” He shook his head. “What about Harram? What’s the latest on that?”
    â€œBit of flirting,” Liam said, “but no action.”
    â€œSo much for the fierce fighters of Harram,” Rig said bitterly. “We’ll be halfway through the afterlife before those cowards join the war.”
    Alix didn’t bother arguing. Aside from a westerner’s