Belen had been training Ryne’s troops nearby and agreed to help me with this last drill. The twenty men moved through the forest, disappearing into the thick and wet greenery. It had rained last night but had cleared by morning. The scent of living green, sunshine and moist earth reminded me of Kerrick. Longing and concern for him flared; I hoped I’d see him again.
About five minutes after the men left, Belen turned to me. “Ryne confirmed what you suspected. That neck armor Ursan brought us last night is made of liquid metal and all but impossible to crack.” Poppa Bear looked as worried as I felt.
“Does he have a counteroffensive?” I asked.
“Not yet. At least we have some warning of what Tohon’s up to.”
“But none of Estrid’s soldiers believe us. They’re in for a very nasty surprise.” I shuddered just thinking about those dead soldiers, what would happen when they came... No. I wasn’t going to consider that possibility. I was safe behind Estrid’s lines.
“Ryne’s working on convincing Estrid. He’s sending me and the boys out on a hunting mission tomorrow.”
“To capture one of the dead?” Unease churned in my stomach.
“If we can.”
“Are the monkeys going?” I asked.
“No. They’ve been taking their role as Ryne’s bodyguards seriously.” Belen pretended to be shocked by the idea.
I smiled. “Which boys?”
“Ursan and his jumping jacks.”
“Why them and not your squad?” I shouldn’t have been surprised. Ursan had said Jael would send him out on a dangerous mission as punishment for failing to assassinate Ryne.
“We’re hoping Ursan can sniff out the dead. From a distance, it’s hard to tell them apart from the living soldiers. Estrid and Jael agreed, but we only get one chance.”
Another unexpected development. Ursan had shared his secret with them. I wondered what else he’d told them last night.
After Ursan had taken the neck armor from Major Granvil’s tent, I had chased him down and had demanded to know what he was doing.
“Helping you,” he had said. “You never would have found it. And you shouldn’t be seen entering Prince Ryne’s tent. I’ll take this to him and explain where we found it and your theories about it.”
“I’m going to be revealed anyway,” I’d said. “Why wait?”
“Because I’m being selfish. The longer you are Sergeant Irina, the more soldiers learn a life-saving skill. Once you’re known as Healer Avry, you’ll be stuck in the infirmary.”
“I wouldn’t call it being stuck. I enjoy healing. It’s what I’m supposed to be doing.”
“You will eventually. Besides, Prince Ryne agreed that you should continue. And he’s a military genius.”
“Gee, that’s not what you called him at the sergeant’s fire.”
“I’ve changed my mind.”
“Super.” I’d considered. “I guess a few more days won’t hurt. But I’m talking to my sister before I’m outed.”
“Fine.” He’d turned to go.
“Ursan.” I’d grabbed his arm and pointed to the bruises on his neck. “Give me your sword or Belen might throttle first and ask questions later.”
“Good idea.” Ursan had taken off his scabbard and handed it to me.
“I’ll leave it in your tent,” I had said, then added, “Thanks.”
He had nodded before heading toward Ryne’s encampment.
“I’d better go, or they’ll accuse me of cheating,” Belen said, pulling me from my memories.
“Don’t make it impossible to find you. The jacks have the afternoon off.”
He grinned. “But I have my reputation to uphold.”
“If you go longer than two hours, I won’t be here.”
“Are you training another squad?”
“Yes.” Eventually.
Belen stepped away but paused. “Almost forgot.” He removed three round stones from his pocket. “There are yours.” Belen dropped Flea’s juggling stones into my hands.
“But you knew Flea longer, and—”
“I told you before. They’re your keepers. So keep them close.”
I pressed my hands to my heart. “I will.”
* * *
After almost two hours of creeping around the forest, one of the jacks discovered Belen. He had fallen asleep, and the young man had literally tripped over him. So much for his reputation.
In high spirits, the jacks left to enjoy their time off. I walked back to camp with Belen and Ursan. They discussed plans for their mission.
Before Belen headed to Ryne’s encampment, he said, “Avry, Ryne wants to talk to you this afternoon about how you survived the plague.”
I glanced at Ursan. He looked shocked.
Belen noticed my concern. “Ryne says we can trust him.”
“Swell.” I wasn’t sure I could trust him, despite his actions last night.
“Did Kerrick help you like he did when you saved my life?”
“It’s complicated,” I hedged.
“She saved you?” Ursan asked.
“Oh, yeah, a merc stabbed me in the guts a dozen times. And she saved Flea from a Death Lily, and healed Loren’s leg, and—”
“Seven times, Belen,” I said. “You were only stabbed seven times.”
“Oh. It felt like a dozen, but then again I don’t have any scars to count.”
Most people didn’t know that when healers assumed an injury, we took everything. Our skin showed the scars, not theirs. Ursan asked for more details. Belen was happy to provide them in gory detail. I muttered an excuse and left them. Before reporting to Ryne, I had something to take care of.
I was halfway to the POW complex when Ursan caught up with me.
“Shouldn’t you be planning the mission with Belen?” I asked.
“Nothing left to plan. Intelligence has pinpointed one of Tohon’s squads in Vyg’s sector two as a potential target. We leave at dawn, just like a regular patrol,” Ursan said.
“Regular? Are you still denying the true nature of those you’re hunting?”
“I’m keeping an open mind.”
Ah, progress. “Why aren’t you enjoying your afternoon off?” I asked.
“What makes you say I’m not enjoying it?”
“It’s hot, humid, and you’ve no idea where I’m going. Oh.” I’d blame my sluggish mind on lack of sleep, but the sticky weather deserved some credit.
“Oh? What does that mean?”
I glanced at him. Was he playing dumb? Hard to tell. “Oh, as in, I realized that you’re following me to make sure I’m not reporting to my spymaster before talking to Ryne.”
“Spymaster? Wow, and I thought being called sergeant was special. Will you introduce him to me?” Ursan teased.
“No. She’s shy.”
“Too bad.”
We walked for a few minutes in silence. But then he asked, “Why don’t you call him Prince Ryne?”
“Don’t you want to know where we’re headed?”
“Nope. I’ve already guessed.”
“Really?”
“Why so doubtful? I figured out what you were doing last night.”
I couldn’t argue. “He’s not my prince.”
“Yet you sacrificed your life for him.”
“He’s needed,” I said.
“So are you.”
“I can save a few lives, but his tactics will defeat Tohon, saving thousands.”
“I think you’re overestimating his impact compared to our army. Every day more troops from our training bases arrive. Every day Tohon waits to attack, we grow stronger.”
“And so does Tohon’s. When you return from your mission with Belen, we’ll talk again.”
When we drew closer to the POW complex, Ursan said, “You won’t get in. They’re on lockdown.”
“I just want to take a look around the outside.”
“You’re not going to find out how they escaped that way.”
I huffed. “S
o you can read minds now?”
“No. Just following the logic. And that’s one thing I learned about you. You’re logical.”
“Okay then, Mr. Genius, tell me how we’re going to get inside?”
“We ask nicely.” He grinned. “The guard at the gate owes me a favor. So let me do the talking.”
We arrived at the main gate to the POW complex. Ursan sweet-talked his way through the entrance and into the biggest building. Long and narrow, it appeared to be a converted barn.
“Sergeant Dena is in her office. Second room on the right,” a guard said, waving us inside.
The building had been a sizable stable. The rows of horse stalls had been converted into cells. It was at least twenty degrees hotter in here. Dena’s tiny space smelled like leather and appeared to have been a tack room. She scanned a limp paper behind a makeshift desk. Her short, curly brown hair clung to her large sweaty forehead.
“Finally. The repairs are going slow in this heat.” It didn’t take her long to notice our confusion. “Please tell me you brought fresh workers?”
“No,” I said. “Our squads were training in the woods yesterday, and—”
“Ah, hell, sister, I don’t need you to piss and moan at me, too. I’ve gotten enough of that crap from a whole list of officers. I’m sorry your training was ruined. We’re making sure it won’t happen again.”
“I’m not here to complain,” I said. “I’m just...curious about how it happened. The timing seemed odd. Wouldn’t it have been better for them to escape during the night?”
Dena sighed. “I’m too busy to satisfy your curiosity. Go listen to the camp gossip.”
“What if I can provide you with fresh workers? Do you have time for me now?”
“The jacks won’t be happy,” Ursan said.
“I’m not talking about them,” I said to him.
“How many?” Dena asked.
“As many as you need.”
Dena studied us as if she couldn’t quite figure us out. “Okay, but if no one shows up to help, I’m going straight to your commanding officer.” She surged to her feet. “This way.”
We followed her through the stable’s main walkway. Cells lined each side, and I glanced at the few prisoners who occupied them. Many of the men had rolled their yellow jumpsuits down to their waists. Sweat glistened on their chests, even though they lay on their cots. A few peered at us through the bars.
Meeting their curious gazes, I wondered if I’d recognize any of them. I had spent twenty-six days in Tohon’s castle; it was possible I had healed one of them or seen them around his vast complex. There were only a couple women, although I really couldn’t be sure because all the prisoners’ hair had been shorn.
Aside from mild interest, no one reacted to our presence. I didn’t see any familiar faces. Dena led us out into a long training ring behind the barn. Soft dirt cushioned our steps as we headed toward the far left corner where sunlight streamed through the half-burned wall that had been part of the back fence of the complex. The training area woods were just a few steps beyond the breach. A group of ash-smeared soldiers yanked scorched boards from the frame, tossing them onto a pile. They moved slowly in the oppressive heat.
“That’s where the prisoners escaped,” Dena said. “They had pulled a couple boards loose and snuck out one at a time until one of my guards noticed. Then they ripped off the boards and bolted. It was during their exercise time, which is why they escaped in the daylight. At night, they’re locked in their cells.”
“Who set the fire?” Ursan asked.
“We don’t know. Once my guards sounded the alarm, one of the prisoners must have set fire to the wall. Not all of them had escaped at that time, and those who did, we’ve recaptured.”
I studied the damage. “I’m surprised the whole fence didn’t burn down.”
“Marisol arrived as soon as she smelled smoke.”
“Marisol?” I asked.
“The High Priestess’s water mage. There’s a lake not far from here, and she quickly extinguished the fire,” Dena said. “Thank the creator she was nearby.”
Marisol’s proximity seemed rather convenient. I shared a glance with Ursan as we headed back to Dena’s office.
“How many POWs can you handle?” I asked her.
“This building can house three hundred, and we have three others ready for another two hundred each. We could probably squeeze in a thousand.” Dena settled behind her desk. “I need another ten workers to give these guys a break.”
“All right,” I said, then thanked Dena for her time.
Ursan stayed by my side as I walked south through Ryne’s small army. The soldiers watched us with the same curious expressions as the POWs. All of Estrid’s forces had been avoiding Ryne’s, as if ordered to stay away. I wondered how they would fight together if both armies kept their distance. At least no one would notice me entering Ryne’s tent and rush to inform Jael.
“Reporting in to Prince Ryne?” Ursan asked in a neutral tone.
I glanced at him, gauging his mood. He didn’t appear to be upset, but he wasn’t the easiest to read. “If I can find his tent.” They all looked the same—a light green color that blended in with the fields. None of them had guards posted outside the entrance either.
“You don’t think he’s staying in the manor house with Estrid?”
“He’s not the type to live in comfort while his troops camp outside. Do you remember which one is his?”
Ursan pointed to a tent. “Do you want company?”
“No, thanks.”
“Still don’t trust me?”
“Let’s just say I’m still suspicious of this...new side of you.” I realized we had switched roles. Interesting.
“Fair enough. I guess time will tell.” He headed back to our camp.
I approached the tent Ursan had indicated. No hidden guards tried to block my way. No one challenged me at all. Calling a hello, I waited for an answer.
“Come in,” Ryne said, drawing back the flap.
It was a relief getting in out of the sun. I expected the tent to be stuffy, but it was cooler than outside. When my eyes adjusted, I spotted Quain and Loren standing on opposite sides of the entrance. Belen sat at a conference table filled with maps. A narrow cot and chest lined the side wall. Major Granvil’s tent looked lavish in comparison to Ryne’s.
The monkeys wouldn’t return my greeting. I hoped they’d forgive me in time. As I sank into a chair next to Belen, he gave me a bright smile.
“Where have you been?” Belen asked.
“Doing a little reconnaissance,” I said, then asked Ryne if he could spare a squad to help with the repairs.
“Of course. It will show Estrid’s soldiers we can be useful.” Ryne sent Loren to relay his orders. “Why did you check out the POW complex? We already know Jael arranged the escape as a distraction.”
“I wanted to see who else might be helping her.”
“And?”
“Marisol’s timely arrival is suspicious. She could be loyal to Jael, but the camp gossip says Jael has been wanting to shut down the POW camp. So why have Marisol save the structure?”
“Maybe Jael’s hoping to use it for something else,” Belen said.
“Or Marisol could have been there on Estrid’s orders.” Ryne sat on the opposite side of the table.
“Which means Estrid had prior knowledge of your assassination and didn’t warn you,” I said.
No one said anything for a minute.
“We can’t trust either of them,” Belen said.
“Who says I have?” Ryne asked with an impish grin.
“You did go into the forest for that exercise,” I said.
“It was all part of my plan.”
“Uh-huh. Right.”
Ryne laughed. “Now tell us everything that has happened since we parted company.”
It took a while to fill them in on the details of my encounter with the Peace Lily and my life as Sergeant Irina. I did leave out a
few personal ones about Kerrick and me. Ryne asked a couple questions during my tale, but when I finished, he leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling. I helped myself to a glass of water, soothing my burning throat.
“You know what you need to do next, right?” Ryne asked.
I hadn’t before, but after spelling it all out for them the answer was obvious. The realization caused guilt to swell. I’d wasted so much time. “Go collect Peace Lily...serum and experiment with it.”
“Why?” Belen asked. “The plague is over.”
“Because we might be able to use the substance to revive the dead,” I said.
“Like Tohon does?”
“Oh, no. Living and breathing like me.”
“How do you know it’ll work?”
“I don’t. That’s why I would need to experiment.”
“Isn’t that how the plague started? With healers playing around with the Death Lily toxin and losing control,” Quain said.
“They were trying to discover a cure for the toxin,” I said.
“It doesn’t matter what the intentions were or what the logic was behind the decision. What matters is that six million people died.” Quain gasped in mock horror, then added with deadly sarcasm, “Unless those six million people are pretending to be dead.”
KERRICK
Kerrick watched as the long line of his army marched past. The soldiers’ loud tread grated on his nerves along with their slow progress. He missed Belen and the others. Missed being responsible for only a small unit. They could have covered twice the ground in the same time. His gaze tracked to the end where the supply wagons and auxiliary personnel were guarded by one of Ryne’s elite squads—the remaining six squads had accompanied Ryne. With an army this size, food and supplies were vital. Kerrick couldn’t let them be stolen or compromised in any way.
They’d been on the road for two days and covered a scant twenty miles. At this rate, they wouldn’t arrive at Krakowa for another eleven days. One benefit to the ruckus of four-hundred-plus soldiers was they’d attracted a few stragglers who joined their ranks. The entire army would have to be quieter when they closed in on Krakowa, which would slow them down even more.
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