Cast In Fury by Michelle Sagara Page B

heel. “No, sir. I’m reporting to the Hawklord.”
    “No, Private, you are not. I report to the Hawklord. You report to
me.
Is that clear?”
    She was almost speechless. Having to walk past Mallory—and be interrogated by him—was one thing. Being told that all communication between the Hawklord and herself was forbidden was another. Her hands slid up to her hips.
    Severn stepped on her foot. She met his gaze and saw the warning in it.
    Was about to ignore it entirely when Severn said, “If you’re cashiered, you can’t help Marcus.”
    “Sir,” she said, in a slightly strangled tone of voice.
    “Good. Do not be late for your assignment.” He went back to the desk that, damn it all, he shouldn’t be behind, and took the chair. “I look forward to your report this evening.”

    “Kaylin, I don’t think this is a good idea,” Severn told her quietly. “There’s every chance that Mallory will keep an eye on you for the first couple of weeks.”
    Kaylin said nothing. Instead of making her way to the carriage yards, she had made her way to the Aerie. In it, high above her head, and just below the vaulted ceilings, the Aerians were flying. She knew most of them by name. Certainly all of them on sight.
    “I know what I’m doing,” she told him, each word a little bolt of fury.
    “I know what you intend to do as well,” he replied. “I just don’t think it’s wise.”
    “I’m not asking you to come.”
    “No. You are not, however, on your way to the Palace.”
    “Rennick won’t even be
awake.
”
    “True.”
    “So there’s no point in going there now.”
    “Less true,” Severn said.
    “You didn’t tell Mallory that we’re not required until well past lunch?”
    “No. I thought we might make use of the time.”
    “I am.”
    “In less obvious disregard of your superior officer’s orders.”
    She made her way to the middle of the Aerie and waited. In about five minutes, three of the flying Aerians began to circle lower, and eventually they landed. Two of them were Hawks; one was a Wolf. The Wolf nodded carefully at Severn, who returned the nod.
    “If the change of leadership doesn’t suit you, Corporal Handred, the Wolves are waiting.”
    “It’s an internal matter,” Severn replied, with care. “But I’ll remember what you’ve said.”
    The two Hawks watched Severn for a moment, weighing him. Severn had been a Hawk for a couple of months—at most—and most of his duties didn’t bring him in contact with the Aerians. Most of Kaylin’s didn’t, either, but that hadn’t always been the case, and with the Aerians, history counted for something.
    “Kaylin,” one of the two said. He was a younger man, Severn’s age, and his skin was the same deep brown that Clint’s was.
    “Perenne,” she replied. “Will you come outside with me for a second?”
    He said something suggestive, and she smacked his chest with her open palm. “Very funny. I’m serious.”
    “If I can be excused from my drill practice, yes.” He turned to the older Hawk.
    “It’s heading to break anyway. Do
not
do anything stupid.” That said, the older Hawk launched himself into the air.

    Perenne was not as stocky as the older Hawks, and he was taller. He had arrived on the force some five years past and, while technically he’d been a Hawk for longer than Kaylin, was well aware that she’d been dogging the feathers of members more senior for years.
    “You want me to what?” he said, when she told him what she needed him to do.
    “Just fly up to the top of the tower and dangle me over the window.”
    “Kaylin—”
    “Perenne, I need to talk to the Hawklord, and Mallory’s standing guard in front of the usual door.”
    “Meaning he ordered you not to talk to him.”
    “Not exactly.”
    “What, exactly, did he say?”
    “I can’t remember.”
    “Corporal Handred?”
    “He told her that she is not required to report to the Hawklord—that’s his duty.”
    “In exactly those words?”
    “More