Chapter 20 #2
Getting into the camp had never been his main concern, but there was some relief in knowing that now he could walk relatively freely.
First, he had to gather their belongings and check in with Glasha, whom he assumed was acting as quartermaster.
Then he would have to find where they were keeping Alwyn.
The dining hall was a wide-open space filled with rows of wooden benches and tables below a towering, colorful canopy.
It was past midday, so only a few tables were still occupied by orcs clustered in groups as they ate.
Krujha approached the closest group to ask about Glasha, and they directed him to the nearby tent where most of the food preparation was handled.
He stepped inside to find a tall, broad woman barking orders to several workers inside, and looking like she’d be just as much at home on a battlefield as she did here in the kitchen tent.
She eyed him as he ducked into the tent, but didn’t acknowledge him until she was done with her workers.
“You’re new to the camp?” she asked brusquely, turning toward him.
“Yes, ma’am,” Krujha replied, smiling. She gestured for him to follow, leading him to a small office in a separate tent, where she rifled through some scrolls until she found what she was looking for. One appeared to be a map of the camp; as she examined it, Krujha tried to get a better look.
“Here we go,” she said, circling a spot on the map with a charcoal pencil.
He noted the spot that she indicated, but did his best to scan the rest of the map quickly.
Most everything was labeled, so he found the area marked “prisoners” easily enough.
“There’s space for you here. The residential area is set up in a grid.
You enter from this side, and the open spaces will be in the third column on your right.
You don’t have to be right up against your neighbor, but don’t be taking up too much space, neither. ”
“Understood,” he answered, nodding. She tucked the map away, much to his disappointment, to procure a second scroll.
“As for your duties, I could use you in the kitchen,” she said, examining the parchment. It appeared to be a duty roster. “You’re off the hook for today, but starting tomorrow, report to me in the kitchen tent after your morning meal. I’ll get you set up.”
Krujha forced a smile. Hours spent peeling potatoes, or tending to cooking fires, was hardly his idea of a good time; but he supposed it was better than mucking stables, or worse, latrine duty.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, then,” he said. She waved him away.
Next were the horses. He went back the way he came, finding the stables easily enough, and saw that their horses were still being brushed out. He unloaded the saddlebags, taking as much as he could carry into his own rucksack, and went to set up his tent.
After he found a spot and had everything situated, he headed back out into the camp.
He needed to find Alwyn. It had been hours since they’d last seen each other now, and the best-case scenario was that he had been completely alone the whole time.
Krujha whistled as he traipsed through the wide walkways that snaked through the camp, his eyes lingering on every tent and structure he came across.
Wherever Alwyn was being kept would surely be well-guarded, so even once he found the right place, he’d still have to figure out how to actually get to the elf.
Hopefully, the camp had been quiet enough that the guards had become complacent, and he could sneak in without causing any trouble.
He followed the picture in his mind until he could pinpoint the location marked “prisoners” on Glasha’s map.
The tent was a bit larger than some of the other structures around it; and its nondescript canvas walls stood out from other tents nearby.
Krujha saw only one guard standing at the entrance and approached him with a grin.
“So how many elves are in there?” he asked, gesturing to the tent. The guard lifted an eyebrow at him, and Krujha chuckled. “Sorry, sorry. I just joined up today. Just curious.”
The guard’s wariness seemed to meld into annoyance as he shrugged. “Twenty or so.”
“Twenty? Why so many?” Krujha asked, forcing an incredulous tone. “If it were up to me, I’d just kill them all. Why bother keeping around that many mouths to feed?”
“Are you an idiot?” the guard scoffed, frowning at him. “They’re for ransom. Leverage. Why else?”
Krujha grimaced, adding a bit of confusion to his face for good measure, and hoping that he looked appropriately cowed. “Well... I guess that’s why I’m not in charge.”
“Obviously,” the guard muttered, rolling his eyes. “Go on, then. No one’s allowed in unless they’re bringing food or supplies.”
“Right,” Krujha said, stepping away before the guard could get any more annoyed with him.
He didn’t think Alwyn would be with the others—Zesh had said they would keep him separated—but he also doubted that he would be kept very far from the rest of the prisoners.
It would make things much too inconvenient, as far as bringing food and supplies, not to mention spreading their guard force thinner than necessary.
He made a quick circuit of the row of surrounding tents, including those behind the larger prisoner tent.
There was a cluster of smaller tents there that seemed promising; a single guard sat in front of the row, sitting on a stool but clearly paying little attention.
Krujha ducked into the narrow alley created in the space between both rows of tents, leaning close to the back wall of each to listen for any signs of activity inside.
The first two were silent; but the third gave off a faint sound, like someone might be pacing nervously inside—someone with a much smaller gait than any adult orc.
“Alwyn,” he whispered against the fabric. “Is that you?”
The pacing sound stopped, then Krujha felt something like static wash over his body—it felt almost like a more subtle version of the aura given off by the druid. After a moment, a hissed whisper came from the other side of the fabric wall. “Krujha, I’m here. Where have you been?”
“Hold on,” Krujha whispered, leaning back to peer over at the guard that sat a few yards away on the other side of the row of tents.
But the orc hadn’t seemed to notice him, as he idly tossed an orange from one hand to the other.
Krujha ducked down, pulling out the knife at his hip, and cut a slit in the back of the tent—not a full opening, but enough that he could crawl in quickly.
When he crawled inside, there was barely enough room for the both of them to stand comfortably. Alwyn’s hands were still bound at the wrist, and a bruise had bloomed on his cheek where the orc had hit him.
Krujha realized he’d lifted a hand to gingerly brush his finger against the bruise in concern. Alwyn winced, and warm color rose on the other cheek, but he didn’t pull away.
“Are you alright?” Krujha asked, frowning.
“I’m fine,” Alwyn said, his voice clipped. “What did you find out?”
In hushed tones, Krujha explained what had happened. Zesh truly did have a druid working for him, and they planned to question Alwyn the next day. The elf seemed more annoyed that he was to be left to his own devices for so long.
“I don’t know what this druid is capable of, Alwyn, so you need to be careful,” Krujha said. “They’re secretive about the extent of their abilities as a whole, so you shouldn’t underestimate him. Make sure you can shield yourself properly, the way we practiced.”
Alwyn grimaced. “Do you think they’ll let me out once I see this druid?”
“I couldn’t say. If you convince them you’re on their side, even just temporarily, then maybe. I don’t think you’ll get a free run of the camp regardless, but I don’t think they’ll keep you here the whole time, either.”
Alwyn sighed, visibly deflating. Krujha’s chest tightened with sympathy; he wished he had better tidings for the elf, but there was just too much they didn’t know yet. And he still had to meet with their contact in the camp—with how much bigger it was than he had expected, that could take him days.
The elf met his gaze, regarding him silently for a moment. It was impossible for them to do anything together in this situation, but the intensity of Alwyn’s eyes on him sent a pulse of desire coursing through him. If only he’d been able to get the elf into his bed sooner.
Part of him wanted to reach out and hug Alwyn—to crush him close to his chest and keep him safe there—to kiss the top of his tousled hair.
But that seemed like an overstep, and he still had his own mission to focus on.
The little sorcerer had wedged his way into Krujha’s heart against all odds, but he knew the hourglass of their relationship was already running out.
It was a shame to waste what little time they might still have together, but it couldn’t be helped.
“They should bring you food before nightfall,” he finally said, his voice coming out rougher than he meant it. “Try to get some rest. I’ll do my best to keep tabs on where you are, but I might not be able to see you again right away.”
Alwyn’s brow furrowed at that, another look of worry crossing over his face, before he could school his features back into elven stoicness. “Well... I guess it doesn’t matter. It’s fine. Just try and keep me updated when you can, I suppose. And I’ll be careful around the druid.”
“Good,” Krujha said, but his throat suddenly felt tight.
He would truly be leaving Alwyn behind to his own devices now.
He could only get away and check on him so often without arousing suspicion, and he had no idea what might happen to the elf in the coming days.
But he’d promised Alwyn he would keep him safe, and he still had every intention of doing so, even if he didn’t quite know how.
“You said you’re on cooking duty?” Alwyn asked, and Krujha nodded. Alwyn managed a small, wan smile. “Maybe you can bring me some food. Use that as an excuse to come see me.”
Krujha chuckled. “I’m not sure how well that will work out, but I’ll see what I can do. I’ll be the lowest rung on the ladder, though, so I bet you anything they’ll put me on onion duty.”
Alwyn’s nose wrinkled. “I see.”
“I should go,” Krujha said quickly. “I’ve already stayed too long. Be careful, Alwyn. I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure you’re safe.”
“Why?” Alwyn asked suddenly, brows furrowing.
“Why what?”
“Why do you care so much about what happens to me?” he pressed.
Krujha froze. He didn’t know how to answer—to explain how quickly he’d come to care for the little spitfire of an elf, or how he found himself wishing that he was back with Alwyn whenever they were apart.
He had never felt his heart flutter and ache the way it did when he was with Alwyn.
He had never envisioned himself settling down, but Alwyn had prompted him to consider what that truly might be like—and now that vision included the elf at his side.
It was probably wishful thinking. He shouldn’t indulge in feelings that could compromise his mission, but he found himself wanting to tell Alwyn everything. He had been the one to ask Alwyn into his bed, and that had gone better than he’d hoped—maybe this would be the same.
“Well?” Alwyn said. His frown deepened, making him all the more endearing. Krujha felt his smile split his features, unable to stop the warm affection from overflowing onto his face at the sweetly annoyed expression.
“Because I care about you,” he breathed, reaching over to lightly touch Alwyn’s bruised cheek again. “I don’t want to see you hurt. Even this pains me.”
Alwyn was silent for a long moment, his wide brown eyes staring up at Krujha, as if searching for something.
Krujha held his gaze as best he could, but his heart was thudding painfully in his chest now, already second-guessing the vulnerable confession.
They needed to be able to work together, and if Alwyn was put off by the admission, it could make things too complicated in this dire situation.
“I...” Alwyn started, only to cut himself off, his lips pressed together in a tight line. His conflict was apparent on his face. Finally, he glanced away. “I’ll be careful with the druid, alright? So you don’t—you don’t need to worry about me.”
Krujha’s smile softened. Maybe that was the best he could hope for, all things considered. “Good.”
“You should go,” Alwyn said quickly, glancing at the tear in the canvas. “I heard the guard change a little while ago, but I don’t know how often someone else comes. I can fix the tent, too, so it won’t look like you were here.”
“I’ll be back as soon as I can,” Krujha promised. Alwyn nodded. They stared at each other a moment longer, and Krujha wondered if the elf could sense everything he’d still left unsaid.
It was a conversation that would have to happen later, if it ever happened at all. Krujha turned away and ducked back through the opening at the bottom of the tent before he could make any more awkward confessions.