Page 110 of The Poison of the Earth
As I pull off my straps, Ollie says, “They can’t be that stupid?”
Kai chuckles, “He’s your brother, what do you think?”
She huffs, “He’s a moron but he has advisors.”
A shrug, “Well, Lo did assassinate several of them.”
My mouth drops open. I take a moment but muster, “What is stupid, Oleander?”
“The wells are all in a line. Not just in a line but near the edge of the encampment, easy to reach. This is gonna be cake,” she answers happily.
“Don’t get cocky, baby,” Kai mumbles.
I clear my throat, “How long does your poison take to... uh... work, Ollie?”
She flips a hand back and forth. “Pretty quick, an hour or two, taken internally.”
“And how long do you think it would take for most of the camp to get fresh water?”
Kai grunts. “Longer. If we want them weakened enough to surrender by daylight, we don’t have time to waste.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “I don’t want my betrothed risking herself in broad daylight. It’s foolish.”
Kai chuckles and looks at her fondly. “Foolish is her middle name, Finn.”
I laugh despite myself.
“It’ll be fine,” she tries to reassure me.
“And how will we get in?” I ask, annoyance filling me.
Kai laughs again, “I got that one.”
AN HOUR LATER, ANDKai has ‘acquired’ some cloaks in the Stonesthrow colors for us while we waited in a small copse of trees near the edge of the encampment. Ollie is wearing a pretty ochre colored dress, but has rubbed dirt onto it in numerous places and mussed up her braid. I cross my arms, frustrated at the risk to her. I take a deep breath. She’s to be Queen. A warrior Queen, who has the safety of her people in mind. I must trust her.
Kai tosses the hood of the cloak over his head and I do the same. Ollie covers her white hair. I command the griffons to stay and turn to Ollie and Kai.
“Ready?” I ask.
“As I’ll ever be,” Ollie responds quietly.
We walk out of the trees and as soon as we do, Kai takes Ollie’s wrist and tugs her along. I take the lead, one hand on my sword hilt, and doing my best to glower.
As we reach the edge, two guards look up. “Just wanted a bit more privacy,” I grunt, nodding at Ollie. She giggles and lets her feet stumble as if tipsy.
One of the nods, but the other raises his eyebrows. “That’s a hot little piece of ass. I haven’t seen her about the other camp followers.” He steps forward, his hand extended to take her chin, “What do you say, sweetcheeks, you wanna—”
It cuts off, because I push him roughly. “No. She’s ours.”
Kai pulls his sword half out and the guard takes in the size of him.
“Fine, fine, pussy is easy to come by,” he grumbles and we hurry past.
We keep up the ruse, Kai occasionally grabbing her ass to her giggle, while I glare at folks. We approach the first well and I start to make retching sounds. Fae waiting for water turn. I gag loudly. “Ugh, this well is bad. I drank from it this morning,” and I retch again.
They eye us for a moment before turning and leaveing quickly.
Kai chuckles softly, “You’re a born actor, Finn.”
