Final chapter of my current Cullen/Helaine fic! Full series here.
The next couple of days pass with thankfully less excitement. The matter of introducing various interested parties to Storvacker falls to Kjell, assisted – as they had suggested – by Josephine. They quickly set up a loose schedule for those wishing to meet the new agent of the Inquisition – a mixture of their people and a few lingering guests – and all seems to go smoothly.
And then, on the third day, he and Helaine turn up to training…
… to find Storvacker already on the field.
The soldiers already in attendance – including a handful of Helaine’s battlemages – are giving her a wide berth.
He’s not sure whether it’s respect or fear, given that Storvacker has clearly already had her breakfast. It’s unclear if the red at the corners of her maw is blood or raspberry juice, but either way, it’s certainly giving their soldiers second thoughts about approaching her.
He glances down at Helaine, at a loss for words.
She gives him a shrug. “Perhaps she is here for drills?”
The mere idea almost makes him laugh. Especially as he can’t help but picture the bear in full plate armour, with a shield tied to her back and a sword in her mouth. Though the teeth and claws would likely make the sword superfluous…
“She may have been accustomed to joining the Avvar warriors,” Helaine adds, evidently not finding this as odd as he is. “Scout Kjell might know. Though he is not of her former clan. It is probable that customs differ between holds.”
“So, what do we… do?” he asks.
“Carry on as we intended.”
“And if she… takes offence?”
She gives him a pointed look, and he holds his hands up in only partially mock surrender.
“Very well. On your head be it.”
He strides forward, ordering them all into formation. Despite the bear, who remains on the field, unbothered, they all do as they are commanded, though a few of the ones on the flank nearest her do give her wary sideways glances as they stand to attention.
And Storvacker… takes up a position too.
Not quite in formation, for which he’s fairly sure the side-eying soldiers are glad. But not too far away from it either. Feet neatly arranged, head straight, just as he usually expects of his troops.
Well… this should be interesting.