Page 18 of Taking Jenny (Planet Orhon #4)

She stole weapons and at night practiced what she saw us soldiers do, as well as the teachings of her former tutors.

Eventually, I befriended Discord and helped to train her, though we had to do so in secret.

Lady Aphonic Bateen, Justice’s consort, thought there was a romance between us, so she aided in our sneaking away in the middle of the night.

But soon, Lady Bateen discovered the real reason we were meeting in secret. Discord worried she would force her to quit her training. Instead, Aphonic had custom armor created for Discord, as the boy’s armor did not fit her properly. And, she continued to help us maintain our covert mission.

When Justice learned what we were up to and who was involved, he had Lady Bateen beaten by his personal guards in private.

He stated it was improper for Discord to train for combat, as girls did not have the constitution for warfare and death, and therefore, Aphonic was putting the daughter of an important warlord at risk by allowing her to hone her battle skills.

To the public, Aphonic’s bruises were explained away as the byproduct of an accident. So, one night, Discord executed the guards involved in Aphonic’s beating and left their broken bodies to be found at the palace steps. The guards’ deaths were also ruled an accident.

Justice must have known it was her, considering he ordered no investigation into their deaths.

He couldn’t, because if he had allowed an inquest, then he would have had to admit that a young girl had the constitution for warfare and death.

Ruler Justice Bateen was infallible, so he could not be proven wrong, no matter the evidence to the contrary.

Discord nursed Aphonic back to health, a more appropriate position for a young lady of her status, according to Justice.

After the war was over, Discord refused to be seated at court, though the position remained open to her.

She did, however, maintain a friendship with Aphonic over the years.

Despite the risk to her, Aphonic encouraged her to keep training, and Discord worked harder than anyone I knew.

“Jenny has a fighter’s energy and the will to win,” Surge said, pulling me from the memories of our rocky childhood, “but with scant training, do you honestly think she can survive?”

“She will be a cina in a dreck’s lair,” Discord sniped, lips pursed. “Not impossible for the cina to survive, but deeply unlikely. Mal, your thoughts?”

I wasn’t sure what bothered me more. The fact that I liked the aforementioned cina, or the fact that Discord was right.

“Whether or not she can survive is not the issue. Unlikely things happen all the time, or there would be no thrill in gambling. The issue at hand is whether or not she will survive. And I mean to give her every advantage to do just that.”

Intrigue flashed in Surge’s eyes. “You have something in mind, outside of our training her, don’t you?”

“You know me too well, Surge.”

Discord arched a brow. “Are you going to cheat to protect your little cina?”

“When have you ever known me to cheat, Discord?”

“So, how do we help you cheat?” Discord grinned.

I chuckled and shook my head, then grew more serious. “We can’t. Helping someone cheat at Illiapol is tantamount to treason. We would all be beheaded for it. Even having this conversation could get us thrown into the royal prison.”

“I have a guy who can get us out.” Surge shrugged. “What’s the plan?”

“No plan, you two,” I said firmly. “I was only teasing about cheating. There are other ways to enhance her chances at survival. Discord, what weapons does she like?”

Discord rolled her eyes. “None, really.”

“Hand-to-hand?”

She grimaced. “Yeah, not great at it.”

“So then it won’t hurt to let the hunters know she is a well-skilled soldier on her planet, who relishes in dismembering and killing men with her bare hands.”

Discord snorted a laugh. “She is none of those things. If you tell them that, then they will…hesitate to attack her in hand-to-hand combat. Okay, I see what you mean.”

“You intend to mount a whisper campaign?” Surge asked. “That’s a risky maneuver.”

I drummed my fingers on the tabletop. “Whatever it takes.”

He nodded, lifting his coffee cup in a salute. “Whatever it takes. I’ve placed a large wager on her survival, so I have found myself rather motivated. Discord, you?”

“I have yet to place my wager. Still weighing the facts. Mal?”

In the distance, Longshot was trailed by Jenny, her short legs struggling to keep up. She was red-faced again and likely tired. But that morning, she didn’t stop to brace her hands on her knees in a stoop, or beg him to slow down. Jenny wasn’t a quitter and she wasn’t a defeatist.

The training Longshot was putting her through was clearly difficult for her, but she pushed forward, no matter the odds. The same girl who kicked guards to protect Tiger from getting his tail lopped, when she was walled by a court, gagged and manacled, facing torture and execution.

Jenny Hollinger would fight to the bloody end.

“I’ve already placed my bet.”