Page 105 of Beyond The Maples
"So, Deacon approached me asking about a leave to visit your siblings?"
"Yes sir, my little sister has been ill for some time. The last letter from my brother, who's looking after her in my absence, has me really worried that her symptoms have progressed. My mother died of the same illness, and I was just hoping for temporary leave to check in on them." I fold my hands on the desk in front of me to keep them from nervously picking at things.
His eyebrows furrow as he considers what I've said.
"Ahh, yes. You know we don't permit cadets leave until their training is complete, and they've gone on their first permanent assignment. Otherwise, we'd have cadets vanishing all the time."
I nod in understanding.
"Of course, sir, and I don't like asking for special treatment, but this is a distinct situation where I feel it would really benefit me. If I'm sent out on assignment for a long period of time without correspondence, I really feel it would be dangerous to my crew. Distracted soldiers are bad soldiers," I say with confidence, and he gives a subtle dip of his head.
"I do have to agree with you there, and you and your crew have done quite well for yourselves. It would be a shame if something happened."
An icy undercurrent simmers beneath his otherwise pleasant words. Blue eyes lock with mine, and I fight the urge to look away. He's looking for something, anything, to prove I have ulterior motives.
"I'd be willing to grant you a small leave, just a night to get home check-in and arrange for treatments for your sister but using my position to override cadet policies wont come free. I'll need something in return."
My stomach knots. He reminds me of Giles, my old boss, at the diner. Except with Zander it's not someone warming his bed that he wants.
"You've made yourself quite popular here; everyone seems to like you. Even the misfits," he continues, and I scrunch my eyebrows at this. I hadn't really thought about it, but I suppose he's right.
"I need information. There are whispers of some unrest among our ranks, and the potential for another rebellion... I don't need to tell you how catastrophic it would be for our country. Civilian lives lost, and all the progress we're making to replenish the land would be stolen from us..."
He tilts his head, waiting for my response. I think of all the little rules I've broken since I arrived. I think of the family I set free, that's hopefully somewhere safe. I think of Sibyella, and Macklin and Briggs, and all the people I've spoken to, and the information I've gathered that he might want, but that I won't give. I bring my hands under the desk now, holding them still.
"I'm sorry, sir, I'm not sure I can be helpful. I haven't heard anything among the cadets I've been interacting with, nor the permanent staff. Do you want me to spy on someone specific?" I ask innocently.
"Not specifically. I'm simply asking you to befriend people outside of your current social circle. People seem to gravitate towards you, Ms. Treow. Your professors say that your peers confide in you quickly and easily, and I'd like you to use those skills to flush out any... bad seeds."
I nod, worrying about what exactly I'm agreeing to.
"You may take leave to see your siblings, but I do expect you to report back soon with valuable information. That is the cost. What do you say?" he asks with a smile. I'm sure he means it to look kind. Under any other circumstance, Zander might be attractive. But there's something off about him, cold. The way his pointed nose is just a little too straight, his eyebrows too even. Everything looks perfectly curated and overly polished against the harshness of our world. He feels out of place.
"That shouldn't be a problem," I lie politely. "I'm not sure how valuable the information will be. People don't tend to announce their illegalactivities, no matter howapproachableI am."
"You're a smart girl, Maple. I'm sure you'll get creative. Just like you did with the tower. You know, the other Council members were quite impressed by your... ingenuity."
Clearly, I need to figure out how to give him something of value, or I will pay the price.
"Yes, sir. Thank you."
He walks me to the door.
"I hope everything is well with your siblings. I know how much they must mean to you. Good luck," he says that sharp smile plastered on his face, but somehow never reaching his eyes.
I make my way back to the dorms with an uneasy feeling sitting heavy in my gut. I tell myself it doesn't matter. It won't matter if he demands information, because I don't plan on being here to give him anything.
The uneasy feeling turns into bile creeping up my throat. I hate that I've caught the other Council members' attention. And if that's the case, will everyone I care about here be okay when I leave––or will they be targets? I don't know how to ensure their safety once I'm gone. Tarius would probably leave with us. We haven't told him anything yet, but I suspect we're as close to family as he's got. But Berkley? Not a chance.
Speaking of Berkley, I see a sullen-looking figure sulking out in the courtyard by a rickety, old picnic table. I head over; we haven't had much time to talk since we've been back, and hismood hasn't improved.
"Hey, what are you doing out here?"
He grunts, not looking up from his book.
"Berk, are you reading romance books again? Can I borrow it when you're done?" I caught him once, reading a book about a maiden who was in love with a fire sprite, and teased him endlessly about it.
He turns and gives me a scowl, but his eyes look vacant. I frown.
