Page 67 of Sword of Desire
Lyle also knew where the Marsden army was camped inside Landania’s border since he’d managed to kidnap Ackley’s decoy. That was why Ackley had ordered for his two men to relocate the army. If, as Lyle implied, he’d managed to move the army before Ackley’s men did, Ackley needed to figure out where Lyle would have sent them. Probably somewhere in Melenia since Lyle couldn’t attack them on foreign soil. Since Lyle had five hundred soldiers in Losger and two hundred at the royal castle about to head there, the only place that made sense was Losger. Since they’d be evenly matched with numbers, Lyle either had a plan or something in place there that would give him the advantage.
Ackley couldn’t help but wonder if Harley knew what she was up against.
Voices came from outside the stables. Ackley ducked into a stall, squatting so he wouldn’t be seen.
“I can’t believe he expects us to march out in the middle of the night like this,” a man said.
“I don’t question orders,” another man said, “I just follow them.”
“Here’s the horse food,” the first one said. “Grab it and let’s go.”
There were some shuffling noises, and then the stables went silent again.
Ackley decided to hide in the stall until after the army left. Sitting on the floor, he grabbed a piece of hay and started twirling it while he thought through various plans.
Even if Lyle had managed to send a message to Ackley’s army to move locations, with the decoy being kidnapped, he didn’t think the army would comply. If anything, the army might have already moved once Ruthar disappeared. That had been weeks ago. Ackley tossed the piece of hay, then rubbed his face. His army could be anywhere in Melenia by now, especially if they were traveling in smaller groups.
So, Morton would have gone to organize and move the army, only to find them already gone.
Somehow, Ackley didn’t think traipsing all over the kingdom would solve anything. It all came down to three choices. He could stay there and wait to see what happened, he could go to Losger to help Harley, or he could go to Penlar to meet up with Owen.
Rumbling noises came from outside the stables. The army had to be marching out. With only two hundred soldiers, it wouldn’t take Lyle very long to reach Losger. Harley probably had a day or two at most there before he arrived.
“Blasted,” a man said.
The voice sounded familiar. Ackley peered over the stall door. “Finnegan?” What was he doing there? Ackley stood and jumped over the stall door, greeting his fellow Knight. He hadn’t seen him since he’d given him the letter to take to Empress Rema.
Finnegan clapped Ackley’s back. “Man is it good to see you. I’ve been searching for you for the past two days. I came in here to steal a horse. Didn’t expect to find you here.”
“Where have you been?” Ackley asked. While the Brotherhood said they hadn’t harmed Finnegan, Ackley didn’t know what had happened to him.
“After Brodek nabbed the letter and said he’d take care of it, I started following him to make sure he took it to the Empress.”
Ackley would have done the same.
“But then Tarnek and Olek doubled back and got me. They said since they weren’t monitoring the border, someone needed to ensure no one came after you. I agreed to go to one of their posts and remain there.”
Ackley raised his eyebrows. “You didn’t go back to camp?”
“From the post, I could monitor the camp. That’s how I saw the men coming for Ruthar.” He ducked his head. “I wanted to save him, but it would have jeopardized everything.”
It was Ackley’s turn to pat Finnegan’s back. “He died protecting my identity.” If anyone should feel guilty, it was Ackley.
“After that, I rejoined the army and began moving them.”
Ackley’s heartbeat quickened. “Where is my army now?”
“All but fifty are on our war ships sitting off the coast.”
With his hands on his hips, Ackley started pacing. “They’re safe?”
“They are.”
“And the fifty still on land?”
“They’re nearby, just a couple of miles away.”
He’d never felt so relieved in all his life. “Any word from Owen?”
