Page 112 of Enchanted Shadows
But as my eyes wandered this ship, the wood shiny and sleek, I noted that there were too many familiar faces aboard.
“Sorry, sir,” the lieutenant of Team Two told me. “We were ordered to follow at a distance unless something happened which warranted outing ourselves.”
“Which was?” I asked.
He gestured to Fern. “We found your training team all hiding aboard.”
“Like hell are they sending us back,” Sam snapped.
I groaned. Damn Krew and his protective ways. He’d sent another ship to tail us, make sure that we got to Agria safely. And then my team had taken it upon themselves to sneak aboard.
The Lieutenant added, “We didn’t think they should be a part of this at all. They aren’t even done with their training. So initially we thought we’d return them to Wylan and come back. This ship is fast enough that we would make up time and catch up. But the women are insisting they stay.”
I hadn’t just taken one Wylan team, I’d somehow wound up with three. Which only weakened the front at home.
Jessina stepped up to me, hands on her hips. “You told us thatprotecting Kessara was our first mission. We are here to do exactly that.”
Sam pointed to the Agrian ship, black and jagged where ours was smooth and light. I suspected Agria liked black ships so they couldn’t be spotted in the night. “Kessara is our sister. Like hell are we letting either of you go alone.”
“We aren’t alone,” I reminded her gently, though I wasn’t sure I could blame her for being upset. If someone had tried to separate me and Krew in our training, I would’ve done the same thing. “I have all of Team One aboard that ship.”
“This isourmission,” Vivian snapped. “That you gave us. Also, wouldn’t it help prove to her mother that she is part of our team? If she can see us with her own eyes?”
The lieutenant added, “They raised hell when we tried to turn around. Said to take them to you.”
I looked to the sky for a moment, knowing I needed to get back to Kessara. I’d been gone two minutes, but in that two minutes, I was sure Calix was trying to get to her. “Get us closer to the other ship. I need Amos Reyes,” I told the lieutenant. He turned to relay that message to the ship crew.
“I can do that for you,” Fern grinned.
“Yes, but a heads-up would be agreeable,” I told her.
Within five minutes, Amos was standing beside me. “What’s going on?”
I put up a sound barrier. “The team of women feel loyal to Kessara and are taking my words of keeping her safe as their first mission to heart. I need to know if they would be safe in Agria. Will the queen raise a ruckus if they are found out?”
“Not if she knows they are there for her daughter. Despite what Kessara believes, her mother does care for her.” He shrugged. “She’d rather welcome Kessara’sfriendsthan your team of trained men.”
“They won’t feel threatened if we show up with twelve extras?”
He smirked. “They should be, but no, not if you spin it that they are Kessara’s team. I think even telling the queen that they snuck aboard the ship would work in your favor. Prove to her that the team exists and is quite close.”
“I’m going to be too busy to make sure they stay out of trouble,” I admitted.
“Say no more. You are protecting my charge; I will protect the team.”
I let out a sigh. “I don’t know that they are really ready to take on being ambushed in a different country.”
He shot me a grin. “Lucky for you, I know all the best ways to hide within said country.”
There were too many damn variables. If it weren’t for what Viv said, they’d already be on their way back to Wylan. “We are really doing this?”
He gave me a nod.
With a shake of my head, I let the sound barrier fall. I turned to Jessina, her eyes wide and hopeful. “You’re in.” Over their screeching, I added, “Amos is your general for this trip as I will be otherwise preoccupied.” I looked at my sister specifically. “No sneaking around. Do whatever he says. This isnota game. I’m not thrilled you pulled this little stunt at all. There is enough at stake without adding this.”
“Yes, Commander,” she said, head held high.
The others agreed.
