Chapter Forty-Five
Vor
Commander Vor left General Ankeh's office with his face set in a blank expression.
The general had been surprisingly understanding and agreed with Vor that retreat had been the best option.
He was actually happy with the success of the mission, even if it had been temporary.
This was their first time taking a fortress after all. Mistakes were to be expected.
A new mission was already planned. Vor would make another attempt to take a fortress, but it would be a joint effort with the Army of Xanver.
The General of Xanver had been speaking with Ankeh, and they agreed that a doubled force would do better.
They were already preparing to overload the barrier of the fortress nearest Xanver.
Vor didn't care. He had gone from bursting with emotions to utter numbness.
It was the only way he could continue to breathe.
If he allowed himself to wallow in the horror of losing Lena, he'd lie down and never get up again.
And he couldn't do that. Not when there was a tiny chance that he would see her again.
During the retreat, Vor had forgotten all about the letter and tracker he'd left in Lena's boot.
When he had his army safely home, it came back to him, and with the memory came a sliver of hope.
If Lena truly loved him and found the hidden note, she might activate the tracker.
If that happened, there was nothing under or above ground that would stop Vor from going to her.
Even now, he had the tracker receiver in his pocket, just in case—
His pocket vibrated.
Vor jerked to a stop and yanked the device out of his pocket. He swayed when he saw the red, blinking dot on the screen. She'd done it! Lena had found the disc and activated it! His Lena still loved him. She wanted him to find her. Vor nearly crumpled to the floor in relief, joy, and gratitude.
“Thank you, Source.” Vor clutched the tracker to his chest. “Thank you.” Then he frowned at the screen. Lena wasn't in Thennis. Nor was she in Wexlen, her home. She had traveled several miles in the opposite direction, to a small town called Finnle.
A shiver ran down his spine. That was not where his Lena should be. And if that was not where she should be, then someone had taken her there. Her sister would have taken her back to Thennis. Her father would have taken her to Wexlen. Who would take her to Finnle?
An image came to mind, and Vor growled, his fingers twitching around the tracker.
“If it's you, Aethari, you will die.” He strode out of the stronghold and into the city of Ranuvul.
He had to find a team of Nethren soldiers to help him.
People he could trust. “Don't be afraid, Lena. I'm coming for you.”