Battle Strong by Elizabeth McCready (the ebook reader txt) 📖

anyone been to see how the Commons held up? It may be better than the stables.” 

“Flooded.” Pietre said.

“Stables it is.”

*~*

Stievan was not thrilled about the idea of teaching Noeh how to ride horses, especially since he hardly knew himself. Noeh was also a shit person, so that really added to the drawbacks of teaching him to ride a horse. He had been barking orders at Stievan since they set out on the horrid ride, which didn’t make much sense since Stievan was supposed to be doing the teaching. He wished so badly to just go back and be bored on base, because even that would be better than listen to Noeh nagging about how filthy horses were. Base had actually gotten so boring that Stievan had started counting the grooves on the back of his hand, he figured it was a lost cause. There were far too many to count, not to mention there were scars covering a good part of his dark skin. 

“Hey, dipshit, don’t forget the whole reason you are here is to teach me how to ride this thing. Pay attention.”

“Hey, jackass, learn quicker so we can go home.” Stievan slumped in the saddle, he truly dreaded Noeh’s persistent badgering.

Stievan laughed as Noeh tried and tried to remount Finnegan. Whenever he did make it up, he’d just plop right back over his back to the ground. It was comical.

“Try keep a firm hand on the front of the saddle, and don’t fling your body. Use you foot as a step and your hand to keep you on course.” Noeh sighed, obviously annoyed. 

Noeh put a hand on Finnegan’s withers, and a foot in the stirrup and did as Stievan said. To no one’s surprise but his own, he found himself sitting in the saddle.

“Hell yeah!” Noeh yelled, the noise making Finnegan jump. “I just got up here, man, don’t send me down again.” Noeh pleaded, and Finnegan relaxed.

“Okay, hand me your reins,” Stievan said, proud that he remembered what they were actually called. “What I’m going to do is run Apollo down that path, it’s straight, easy, no obstacles or anything. All you have to do is hold on to the horn or Fin’s mane.”

Noeh eyes widened, he was clearly pensive about what was about to happen, but he nodded his approval and handed Stievan the reins. Stievan looked back to Noeh, checking to make sure he hadn’t already fallen off and subtly smirked. He knew it was going to be fun. With an abrupt shout and kick, Apollo took off down the straight path, Finnegan and Noeh in tow. They ran and ran, Stievan turned back ever so often to make sure Noeh was still there, and eventually Noeh had relaxed. He wasn’t flopping, or yelling, or begging for Stievan to stop. He actually looked like he knew what he was doing. It was time to change the game. Stievan jerked Apollo’s reins to the right and the horses barreled into the woods full force. The agile turns made even Stievan lose his balance, but somehow both boys managed to stay mounted. Stievan wanted more, he turned his head towards Noeh and called for him to catch up. Noeh, clearly uncomfortable with the idea, gave Finnegan an extra kick and galloped in stride with Stievan and Apollo.

“Catch!” Stievan said and without any other warning managing to toss the reins over Finnegan’s head. One hand still firmly attached to the saddle, Noeh grabbed the reins. “You lead!” Stievan shouted.

Noeh pushed Finnegan ahead of Apollo, laughing and smiling the whole way. Stievan shouting how to steer as they rode along.  Finally, Stievan caught up to Noeh before pulling Apollo to a halted, imitated by Finnegan.

“Now that is how you ride a horse.”

*~*

“Why would we sleep in the stables again, exactly?” Noeh asked.

“Well, unless you’d prefer to sleep in a mix of mold and water we don’t really have other options right now. Command is sending a team to start work on the cabins and commons but it will take months before they are repaired, and being that we will only be here for another two weeks, there really isn’t a point to set up camps. The stables are perfectly fine.” Beth said, she maintained a civilized tone, though her blood was boiling just speaking to him. She figured she would have to get over herself before battle started back up.

“Fair enough, was there anything salvageable?”

“You would know that if you were here helping.” Pietre replied with an irritated look. “Where were you anyway?”

“Stievan and I went riding.” He said simply.

“You?” Beth scoffed, not even trying to hide her shock, “You, the one who hates horses, and all living things, and basically anything that involves nature voluntarily went riding?”

“Well, yes.” Noeh said with a half smile, it was genuine, Beth could tell. She wondered if this was his new attempt at an apology. 

Beth shrugged and walked off, she didn’t want that conversation to take a turn. It was the first decent one they’d had in over a week. She hoped that it wouldn’t go back to fighting, but she knew that the second he found out about her and Ander, hell would be set loose. She walked quietly to the commons, because though it was flooded, there were high cabinets. She was hoping that she could at least find some food for them while they were waiting for the deliveries to arrive. She pulled the door open, greeted by a steady rush of water. She splashed through the ankle deep water into the kitchen area. She noticed immediately that nothing really looked damaged. Apart from the inches of water, the place looked fine. She fumbled through the cabinets finding a horde of packaged snacks, shoving them into the bag she had retrieved from the stables before going. The fruit was all bruised and brown, she decided it was best not to take any of it. The last placed she checked was the cooling box, and needless to say, it was rancid. It smelled like a dumpster and a pack of rotten eggs come together and had children. She recovered from the smell for a moment before starting back to the stables, she decided to warn everyone of that horrible smell in case they got any ideas.

When Beth arrived back to the stables, it was grim. Ander looked at her with fierce eyes,

“Command reached us. We will be returning to battle tomorrow. And it’s not going to be good.”

Chapter Nine

 

He wasn’t wrong. The next morning, the Six rode out to battle on their horses for the very first time. Met by a full army of Dumarian soldiers. Beth made a realization in that moment, she had never been afraid, not until the Dumarian soldiers found out who she was. And as she stood before hundreds of men, ready to rip her to shreds for crimes her father committed against their enemy’s king, she knew she was in danger. 

The Six lined their horses, no one faltered, not even for a second. Galloping. Yelling. Blood. Clashing. Booming. Death. War.

*~* 

Noeh was not even afraid. He was more or less hoping that Finnegan didn’t decide now was a good time to toss his body to the dirt. But he didn’t, Noeh’s confidence inflamed, he released his reins and was wreaking terror on grounded men with a sword in each hand. Blood soared through the air like rain, his devilish smile tore through the souls of his victims, the beast between his legs trampled anyone that dared tried to stop them. That’s when he saw her. 

She and her jet black horse were tearing through dozens of men at a time, but they were still gaining on her. Noeh switched gears, he sheathed a sword and with his empty hand yanked Finnegan’s reins in Beth’s direction. The horse took off with supernatural speed, Noeh slashing bodies as they went by, until finally reaching her. Without second thought, he jumped from Finnegan’s back and started slaying man after man, the mass of them slowly depleting. He looked to Beth and she nodded her thanks. His past few weeks had been trying to accomplish a true apology, and in his mind, there was none better than to risk his life to save hers. He only hoped she would agree. 

He turned back to Finnegan who was galloping back in his direction, and like a true horseman extended a hand up and out, grabbed the horn and heaved his body onto the still galloping horse’s back. The power he now felt with the animal beneath him was unmatched, he had never felt so malicious and strong. He felt that his strength had finally reached the height he’d always strived to achieve, he just couldn’t believe that it was due to a rotten creature.

At the end of the battle day, he was astonished that they had all survived. The ride back to camp was the most dreadful ride of his life. Not that there had been many to begin with. He couldn’t help but think of what the next day of battle would be like. They were far too outnumbered. Something had to be done, and soon. Or no one was going to make it out alive.

*~* 

Beth saw him coming, and for once she didn’t run the other way.

“Noeh.” She said, and he was clearly surprised that she had addressed him. “Tack up your horse, and let’s go.” He didn’t protest at all.

Beth asked for him to simply follow her, along the way thanking him for helping her on the battlefield. He was actually glad that his attempt did not go unrecognized. It seemed as if they were riding for hours, but he figured it had actually only been minutes. He found himself bored just walking on a horse since he had learned to go the incredible speeds possible for the beast. Walking took a century. He acted as if he was content, for Beth’s sake.

Water. Lots of it. Rushing, wooing. There was an immense lake, but he had no idea it was even there. He had never ventured out that far into the woods. At least not in that direction. He looked at Beth, who had stopped and dismounted Calypso just short of a small cliff and tied her horse to a tall tree. He followed her lead, afraid of doing something to piss her off. If there were ever a time she would kill him. It would be then. They were alone and isolated, perfect for murder. Instead, she started to take off her shoes. Unexpected. It was only then that he noticed the rope.

“Beth, what are we doing here?” He asked.

“You’re here to apologize to me by trying to live a little more free, though I do appreciate your attempt today.” She smiled.

“Jumping from a cliff? That’s freedom?” 

“It’s barely a cliff, you wuss. It’s safe, be thankful we didn’t jump from there-” She pointed across the lake to a much taller cliff. “Or you would’ve had to swing to the water.” He looked from her to the water, contemplating running in the opposite direction from this clearly insane girl before him. 

He decided he wanted her friendship more than he wanted to be stubborn. So he jumped. He ran to the edge of the