Page 21 of Truth's Blade

“She thinks he knows more than he is prepared to admit. And right now, he’s our best lead.” Theo hoped she was right, becauseotherwise, they were just stumbling around the vast forests of Grimwalt with no direction.

Draper gave a slow nod. “All right. I’ll approve the expenses for her. You say the general has gone back to Ta-lin to raise the alarm?”

“Yes. The commander and the queen are in residence there. That’s why the princess was allowed to come on the training run.”

“Shit.” Draper shook her head. “What a mess.”

“My uncle took it very badly,” Theo said. “It brought back too many memories. I was worried about leaving him.”

“I’ll send four of my people down to Ta-lin at first light.” Draper wrote something on the parchment in front of her. “I’ve got roughly half Cervantes and half Kassian soldiers stationed here. I’ll make sure two of the group who ride down are Cervantes. Best case, if they meet the rescue party coming the other way, they’ll be recognized. If they find the general is having trouble on the journey to Ta-lin because of remembered trauma of the Chosen Camps, they will help him to continue on his way, and it will still be better if some of them are Cervantes.”

Theo gave a nod of approval. “Please tell whoever goes down to Ta-lin to keep this extremely quiet.” Theo leaned back in his chair. “How many can you spare for me?”

“I want to give you my whole cohort,” she said. “I really want to come along.”

There was silence between them for a beat, because Theo knew she meant every word.

“But realistically?” he asked.

She sighed. “Realistically I can give you four, which means we are down to half our number. My standing orders are never to go below that amount.” She pulled a fresh sheet of paper towards her. “It isn’t as important, but I’ll give you two Cervantes, two Kassians in your group, too.”

“I think a small, tight group will be better than a large one, anyway.” Theo tapped the edge of Draper’s desk with his fingers. “Can you give me your best?”

“I can.” She scratched her quill over the page.

“Don’t tell them what it’s for.” Theo leaned forward. “I’ll tell them as soon as we’re out of Illoa. I don’t want this leaking.”

She gave a nod.

“And I’d like you to tie a goat up at the bridge and set someone in the square to watch who pays it any attention. If me and my team miss the trader, or if Melodie is wrong about the trader knowing more than he says, the abductor may come back looking for what he thinks is me. If he does, it’s another lead back to the children.”

She sat straighter, as if she hadn’t considered that. “That’s an excellent idea.” She blew out a breath. “To be honest, it feels like it’s a necessity and I won’t simply be waiting here, stuck by my orders.”

“It is a necessity.”

“What type of goat?” Draper asked.

He tried to remember what he’d looked like in that form, but he’d only caught glimpses of himself in the reflection on the water, and he was so preoccupied with the horror of the spell that trapped him, he hadn’t paid attention. “Maybe Melodie could tell us,” he said. “When I bring her back here tomorrow morning, remind me to ask her.”

Draper stood. “I’ll organize everything you need. You look—” she paused, considering her words.

“Like I was a goat for three days?” Theo asked, a tiny smile tugging at his lips.

She chuckled, shook her head. “Like you’re exhausted. There’s a room for visiting officers just past the bunk room. Settle in there and catch a few hours sleep before you leave.”

He followed her advice, washing in the communal baths and taking the soft cotton pants and tunic Draper had given him so he had something to wear while the rest of his things were being cleaned, then collapsed onto the bed. It would be the only chance for a comfortable sleep he’d have for the foreseeable future.

He requested that the soldiers on duty wake him at change of guard at first light, and then he fell into a deep sleep.

“Wait here.”

Melodie heard the distrust and suspicion in the soldier’s tone, and meekly accepted it with a nod.

She sat down on the long bench that was set against the wall in the front hall of the military barracks, hands folded in her lap.

She guessed they didn’t have too many late-night visitors, and she had upset the usual order of things.

A woman came through the door, hair sticking up on one side, as if she had been dragged from bed. She stopped in front of Melodie. “I am Captain Ellen Draper, and I’m in charge of this barracks. My understanding was that Lieutenant Hallan and you had agreed that he was going to fetch you tomorrow morning.”

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