“Are you sure it is such a good idea for the men to be drinking when we are overdue for an attack?”
“Relax, Commander,” Cadell elbowed Zander hard in the bicep, nearly knocking him over from the force. “We have plenty of soldiers on watch. These men have been at war for months without reprieve. They’ve not seen their wives and children or any semblance of normality since this all started. The least we can offer them is a single chance at remembering the good things in life – otherwise, they might forget why they are fighting for it.”
Adjusting her helmet on her head, Leyna cast an unsettled glance in the direction of the tent, arms folded across her chest in an attempt to create warmth from the chill in the air. “My only concern is in the Prince’s presence here. If the enemy is keeping watch, they might be inclined to arrange an ambush simply to get at him. Arcastus made his goal very clear. His being here now is just asking for trouble.”
“By all means, you go in and tell the Prince he is not allowed to be here,” Cadell chuckled. “Let me know how that goes,” Despite his jovial demeanor, Leyna could see the attentiveness in his gaze, his eyes sweeping the area around them in a constant search for signs of anything out of place.
“Jesting aside, shouldn’t he be out trying to find a bride and provide an heir rather than making small talk with drunken soldiers?” Zander swirled the water around in the bottom of his mug, oblivious to the unamused glances being cast at him from Leyna and Cadell.
“His presence is good for morale,” Cadell argued. “It makes the men feel appreciated. In the past I have seen some start to feel as if the royal family had forgotten them, and it can lead to complacency and in worst cases, revolt. We cannot risk either of those right now.”
“Zander is just bitter he is not inside drinking with them. Personally, I think a full night’s sleep would be more beneficial to us all than wine.” Tilting her head back, Leyna gazed up at the stars overhead. They were a beautiful sight to behold after so long neglecting their presence. There was so much she found herself taking for granted these days. So many little things that she tended to forget in her hurry to keep the troops equipped and on guard. Time didn’t allow for admiration anymore.
In the inky darkness, the stars twinkled brightly, accenting the full moon hanging in the midst of them all. If she’d had a paint brush, she might have felt compelled to put the image to canvas and preserve its beauty forever. But by morning, the sight would be forgotten once again, lost to the bustle of battle preparations.
The sound of approaching footsteps from outside the tent drew Leyna out of her reverie, head tilting back further to see who or what was coming. An upside-down image of Varik filled her vision, a smile crossing over her lips. He looked looser than usual. A side effect of the wine.
“What brings you away from the party, Commander?” Cadell raised an eyebrow in Varik’s direction, clearly curious by his approach. Varik gave a crisp salute in greeting, his body language revealing an obvious discomfort at interrupting them.
“The Prince is requesting to speak with you and the Captain, sir.”
“The Captain and I are rather busy. Perhaps another time.”
Varik shifted uncomfortably on his feet. “I was instructed to inform you that he is not merely asking.”
Cadell chuckled quietly, his hand patting Leyna on the back. “Looks like he is pulling rank. In that case,” he glanced over to Varik, his smile fading. “The Captain remains busy. I, however, will be along in a moment.”
Leyna looked up to Cadell, nervous at the thought of disobeying a direct order from the Prince. “General, are you sure that is wise?”
“I will deal with it.” Taking his place at Varik’s side, Cadell motioned for her to remain seated. “Besides, someone must maintain the watch while the soldiers are distracted. Keep an eye on the perimeter.”
Her mouth hung open in unspoken protest, knowing it was a waste of breath to argue with him.
Varik’s expression revealed his own uncertainty at Cadell’s directions though he didn’t dare speak out against the decision. “Come with me, then,” he replied quietly.
Leyna’s eyes followed the men as they walked away, her stomach queasy. Distracted, she motioned for Zander to follow, beginning their rounds along the perimeter of camp.
“So, what is it?” Zander smirked, breaking into Leyna’s thoughts with the sound of his voice. “The General doesn’t want you to ensnare the Queen’s final son with your beauty?”
“If it were that superficial, Cadell would not risk angering the Prince over it.”
He shrugged. “Nothing seems worth the royal wrath to me.”
Leyna sighed in frustration, unsure of how she could possibly explain it to him. Would he even understand? His own presence near the Prince could be just as dangerous, if not more so, than hers. “Tell me something, Zander,” she mused, straightening her posture. “Has Cadell ever let you anywhere near the Prince?”
“No,” he stated in a matter-of-fact tone. “But I am not the Captain and the Prince has never directly ordered an audience with me.”
“What about the night of the masque? Did he not leave you in charge of seeing the royal family to safety?”
“The Prince refused to leave the General’s side. They argued for a while and the next thing I knew, they were leaving. After making sure the Queen was secured of course.”
“You and I are a threat to the Prince’s safety,” she sighed. “Our enemies know us and have reason to come after us in retaliation. I personally was ordered by Queen Vorsila to stay away from her son. She and Cadell do not want to risk him getting caught in the crossfire. I imagine you might discover them to have a similar fear about you.”
“Then why did they let you come here?” he asked. “Why did they allow you to join the military and offer you such a prestigious position when it would only draw the enemy’s attention to you? Something just feels out of place to me.”
“I like to think that I am being rewarded for my years of loyalty,” Leyna said defensively. Zander did have a point, though. Many things felt suspicious. And while there were logical explanations, they didn’t quite clear up the holes.
They continued in awkward silence, lost in thought over their own lives. It was incredible to think how far they both had come over the past few years. When they met, neither of them could have guessed that in over half a decade they would be sitting where they were, leading the military of their people, and locked in the most important war Tanispa had endured in centuries. It was a massive leap from their trivial role as spies in the company of Gislan and Oksuva. Two people who, while pivotal in setting things into motion, turned out to be no real threat themselves.
“Why did you come to Tanispa?”
“What?” His question confused her. Why wouldn’t she come to Tanispa? The course of action was in no way curious, in the same way it made sense for Zander to have come. They were Vor’shai. Their people needed them.
“I thought you were staying in Siscal to help Feolan. I mean, you were on the court and had your home, and a perfect position to help our Queen from a safe distance. You never really told me why you gave it all up.”
“I didn’t give it up.” She folded her hands in her lap, her eyes focused ahead into the darkness. “It was taken from me. There was an – unexpected event – after which I was already planning to leave Siscal when Kael happened upon me at the checkpoint by the city gates. He followed me back to my house, removing any safety which that location might have once offered me. In the end, I was presented with a formal request from Queen Vorsila for my presence in Tanispa. When you add everything up, there was little reason to stay and no choice but to go.”
Zander cast a glance in her direction out of the corner of his eye, his brow raised inquisitively. “Unexpected event?”
She frowned. It hurt to think about. The constant attention required of her for the war kept her mind too pre-occupied to dwell on it. Now, all of those feelings rushed over her two-fold.
“It’s really complicated, Zander. I would rather not get into it.”
“Ah, but you’ve already mentioned it. Courtesy now requires you to explain.”
Biting her lip, discomfort welled up inside at the thought of speaking anything to Zander about Thade. How could he even understand? He knew nothing about the depths of her past relationship with Thade, even prior to the business which had crossed Leyna’s path with Zander’s. He would think she was being foolish to cling to her emotions the way she did. “It was nothing,” she lied, turning away in hopes that Zander wouldn’t see the truth in her eyes. “I should not have even mentioned it.”
Paused in his steps, Zander removed his helmet, extending his arm to prevent Leyna from moving away from him. “Leyna, look at me,” he stated. She tried to avoid his gaze, but he made it difficult to look away, positioning his face in her direct line of sight. Reaching out his hands Zander unhooked Leyna’s helmet, revealing her face. Her cheeks flushed with warmth, fingers lashing out to retrieve her armor. “Whatever it is makes you blush. It troubles you. I can tell. We are friends, Leyna. You can tell me.”
Chiding herself, she paced the ground in front of him, her eyes occasionally shifting in the direction where Cadell had gone. Why couldn’t he come back? An interruption would force Zander to let this foolishness go. “Commander, return my helmet,” she stated firmly, teeth gritted from embarrassment.
“If I return it, will you tell me what is troubling you?”
“Perhaps.” She ceased her pacing, tapping her foot impatiently. “We are in the middle of a war. You would deprive me of protection? I suggest you don your own helmet as well unless you want to leave both our heads open for a Sanarik’s arrow.”
Begrudgingly Zander handed her helmet back, replacing his own over his head. “I worry about you, Leyna. Most women could talk a man’s ear off with their personal affairs but you – I don’t know. You’ve always kept them bottled up. I don’t mean any disrespect by inquiring, I just want to help. As a friend.”
“What do you want me to say?” Leyna snapped, roughly positioning her helmet over her head once again. She was angered by his persistence while at the same time she couldn’t blame him. Her behavior was suspicious enough without constantly avoiding his questions. “Does it change anything if I were to tell you that I am in love with the former Consul? That prior to my coming to Tanispa he and I – admitted our feelings for one another?
“Admitted your feelings? Oh my god,” he breathed in disbelief. “Did you sleep with the Consul?”
“I told you, I don’t want to talk about it.”
With a harsh exhale, she moved away from him, wringing her hands uncomfortably. None of this was his business. Why couldn’t she have just told him no? It would have spared her from his bewilderment which now left him stammering at her in shock. They had a perimeter to keep safe. Now wasn’t the time to discuss her private business. Nor was it in any way polite to speak of Thade in such a way while he wasn’t there to defend his own actions.
After a moment of shocked silence Zander quickly caught up to Leyna’s hastened pace, peering at her through the darkness. They were moving out of range from the lights burning around the tent. Most of the camp was deserted, the men having gathered around the Prince. It was a relief to Leyna knowing that the chances of their conversation being overheard were slim.
“Leyna, wait,” Zander puffed, grabbing onto her arm to try and slow her steady stride. “Does this bother you? Why are you so angry? Do you regret it?”
The question stopped Leyna in her tracks. Did she regret it? No. Certainly not. Amongst the pain and confusion, that was the one thing she knew without doubt. It was impossible to regret that night with Thade. And she would do it all over again if given the chance. “I have no regrets,” she stated quietly, eyes locked ahead in the distance. “It is just – complicated.”
“If you don’t regret it, then what is there for you to be so embarrassed about? Is it because you are a woman and society puts so much pressure on the idea of being virtuous?” Zander rolled his eyes. “Is that image enough to make you ashamed of being in love with him?”
“Why is everyone suddenly so interested in my personal affairs?” she asked, not wanting to discuss the matter any further. Zander had a point. It was just too disheartening for her to admit it. “First Cadell and now you – next thing the Prince is going to be demanding I give him details so they know how severe my punishment should be for involving myself with a man whose private activities are supposed to be approved by the Queen. Or so I have learned.”
Zander gazed at her, a look of understanding visible in his eyes. “So that’s what you’re concerned about,” he said softly. “You aren’t embarrassed that you did it; you’re afraid of what the Queen will do if she finds out. Frankly, I wouldn’t worry about it. No harm came from it. It’s not like you’re pregnant or anything.”
Covering her face with her hand, Leyna’s shoulders heaved irritably. Leave it to Zander to find a way to make an already awkward situation more awkward. The fear of a child never crossed her mind over the months that passed after that night with Thade. It was a bright side to be considered, at the very least. Undoubtedly, a child would’ve made things far more complicated than they already were. She should be grateful their ties were able to be severed so easily.
But poor Thade. He had no way of knowing anything about her after that night. All of those concerns; did they haunt him? In the time that passed, there were so many things that could’ve happened… “It is not fair,” she whispered, her thoughts voiced aloud in the darkness.
“What’s not fair?” Zander peered at her quizzically. The sound of his voice caused her to blush, realizing her mistake at speaking the statement.
“Nothing,” she waved dismissively. “I was just talking to myself.”
He moved over to her side, hesitant, his hand resting lightly on her shoulder, tensed in preparation to pull away if she showed any sign of anger at his touch. “He is a lucky man to have your love, and a fool to let you go.”
“He didn’t let me go. I left him,” she grimaced at the memory. “He asked me to marry him. We were going to run away together, but I couldn’t let him do it. I couldn’t bear the guilt – or the fear in knowing the danger I would be putting him in. They would have labeled him a traitor for deserting the Queen. And I… I could’ve been executed, simply for luring him away. So I left. He and I have not seen each other since.”
“And yet both of you are in Tanispa. So what is stopping him from seeking you out now? You’re a duchess, for goodness sake! There is nothing preventing him from making you his wife. No title or status separates you anymore.”
“Hush!” she hissed at him. “Watch what you say. You never know who might be listening.”
Deranged laughter filled the air around them, chills shooting up Leyna’s spine. Her heart felt as if it stopped inside her chest, the blood running cold in her veins. She spun, seeking the location of the sound, unable to see anything but shadows cast by the tents and trees of the deserted camp.
Instantly, Zander’s hand settled on the hilt of his sword. The confusion in his eyes was evident, his gaze darting from shadow to shadow, searching the darkness for the intruder. “Show yourself!” he shouted at the emptiness.
Several darkened shadows appeared from amongst the surrounding trees, a distant horn blowing a warning from the watch towers. A bit late on the call. Leyna stepped backward, gripping her sword in preparation for battle.
A tendril of black smoke crept along the ground at Zander’s feet. Nervously, he backed away from it, unable to create more distance. “Stop running, you coward,” Kael’s voice floated on the breeze. “Imagine my surprise to find both of my targets together. And unguarded. I’m amazed how lazy you Vor’shai get when given a few days off.”
“You should think about who you are calling a coward when you’re the one hiding,” Leyna called out, taunting him, praying he might show his face. A practitioner of Ven�
�shal sorcery was a deadly foe already but with the element of surprise, they had almost no chance.
“I’m not hiding,” Kael laughed, the sound echoing from all directions. “You just aren’t looking hard enough.”
Shadows moved about in front of them, dancing back and forth in the gentle wind. The finger-like smoke could be traced to one of the images, drawing Leyna’s attention to the source. Directing her energy through her hand, Leyna projected a bright white light at the slithering tendrils, the shape dispersing in a cloud of grey smoke. In the flash, the shadows brightened, illuminating the faint outline of Ven’shal soldiers concealed within them. Stealth tactics. She cursed under her breath for never having considered it before.
The other figures were closing in on them. Blades drawn, Zander and Leyna stood their ground, unsure of how to fight something which they couldn’t see. The darkness would make the attacks of their foe more difficult to follow. But not impossible. They couldn’t make themselves invisible. As long as there was some hint of their movement, there was a chance to defeat them.
It was strange to see Zander’s sword slicing through the air, seemingly at nothing, a clang of metal against metal erupting upon contact with the twisting shadows. A shape was coming toward Leyna, fast, agile. It closed in with incredible speed, writhing in the wind created by the motion. As she sent a flash of light up from her palm, the figure flinched, revealing the vague image of Kael, granting Leyna an opening to strike. Her elbow shot upward, a loud crack emitting from his jaw as she connected with his chin. His distraction allowed Leyna to follow with a hook to the face, surprising herself at the power it possessed, Kael’s body twisting at a strange angle under the force.
She couldn’t lose the advantage she’d gained in throwing the first strike. He was off his guard, off balance, distracted by the pain. Now was her chance to keep him down. There was no way to know how quickly the other soldiers would be able to reach them to provide assistance. The horns were still sounding in the distance. Leyna could only hope the attack would snap the soldiers back to sobriety.
The Myatheira Chronicles: The Vor'shai: From the Ashes (Volume 1) Page 87
