Chapter Eight
THE SPY
My return to the cabin was a blur, as I lost myself in thought. I took the less-traveled route from the castle, weaving through the Rivellan Wood. Night descended faster below the evergreen canopy. I sensed, rather than saw, Kaida as I walked.
The wind abruptly changed direction and I stilled. Kaida’s low growl sharpened my focus to my immediate environment. I extended my hand in her direction. Not yet.
Moisture from the air swirled protectively around me. Frost nipped at my fingertips. A figure emerged from the shadows. A heavy presence, but without immediate threat. Nothing like the wolvin or the black figure from earlier.
“Who are you?” My voice held firm as an ice dagger solidified in my waiting hand.
“You requested a meeting. My curiosity got the best of me.” The tenor of his voice sent goose bumps down my arms. His broad shoulders blocked the forest out, strong and wide beneath fortified armor. His cloak billowed around him.
“It’s you. The General.” I barely contained my breathlessness. The raised hood concealed his face almost as much as the writhing shadows. I only knew two people with shadow magic. And this was not King Nolan, or him. I squinted through the darkness to glean a better view of his obscured face.
A subtle nod shifted the hood of his cloak. “Why shouldn’t I kill you where you stand? Why should I make a deal with you, a member of the Good King’s Scourge?” He spit the name like acid from his mouth. The clink of rings forced my gaze to his clenched fist. I swallowed, ignoring his disdain.
Duty to Haluma pulsed in my veins. But my lifeblood was fueled by vengeance against the source of my deepest loss.
Glint killed my parents. Glint forged a generation of orphans, just like me.
My voice did not tremble, though the hope inside me did.
“Stop trafficking Glint into Haluma. In exchange, I can offer safe passage for the rebels I find. I’ll send them back to Yarit, through the Rivellan Wood. ”
If I could change at least one facet of this war, the spread of Glint, it would be significant. It might even be enough to earn the king’s favor. My heart raced as I waited for his response. I hardly breathed.
“We don’t…” He paused, assessing. The shadows around his face shifted. A furrowed brow hinting at confusion flashed across his features. There, then gone beneath the twisting darkness. “I’ll consider your proposition.”
My magic relaxed. It was something. It was tentative. It was hope.
He cocked his head to the side. The silence between us grew heavy. “You do know, Ruin of the Scourge, that we are not the ones bringing Glint into Haluma. Your own king is responsible for that. It was he who opened the veil that’s darkening your realm.”
I scoffed. He stood disgustingly self-assured. The ice dagger crackled with frost as I twirled it. Did he think I was stupid? Whatever darkness he perceived was directly related to the devastation wrought by his army of thieves.
“How uninspiring that the ruthless General would imply the King’s wrongdoing.
I would have expected more from you. It is well-known that your following introduced Glint to destroy our people.
Confident accusations don’t change facts.
” The temperature around us dropped as the ice at my feet spread. My agitation made manifest.
He shook his head as though disappointed.
A twisting splinter of doubt dug into my mind. Questionable thoughts like these threatened the strength of our realm. I wouldn’t let the vile general get under my skin. If anything, this made me more determined to become a dreki. Loyalty mattered. I shifted on my feet.
“My offer still stands.” I twirled my dagger. The weight of his stare lay heavy on me.
His rings flared amidst the darkness. “Like I said, I’ll consider it.”
“What’s your name?” I had to know. The swirling shadows felt familiar. I clenched my fingers to stifle a ribbon of water that sought to touch them.
“You haven’t earned that yet. The General will suffice.” He backed up, our conversation apparently over.
“Wait. How will I find you?” I gritted my teeth, hating what the question revealed.
Though his eyes remained hidden inside his hood, I could feel his intense focus on me. “You won’t. I’ll find you.” He retreated further. The black swirl of a portal hovered behind his tall frame. In a blink, he walked through it and disappeared.
I stood motionless in the empty wood. The weight of my scheming settled in my chest. If Maelic or King Nolan found out what I just did, it would be viewed as a betrayal. I knew the king, though. I’d seen the way he cared for the people of Haluma, for me. He would understand my intentions.
Kaida stalked toward me, then nudged my arm. I ran my fingers through her fur, and together, we returned to the cabin.
Delah grinned as I walked through the door.
“You’re here!” She ran over and hugged me.
I allowed my soldier’s mask to slip as I relaxed into her embrace.
I pushed aside my interaction with the general.
The less Delah knew, the safer she would be.
I knew I needed to tell her something, though; she would undoubtedly sense my turmoil.
“Maelic wants to send me to Yarit for espionage, but isn’t entrusting me with rebel targets,” I blurted. Her smile faltered.
“Well,” she said, feigning optimism, “let’s have a meal first and then figure out what to do about it.” She gave me a wink and reached for the good cheese along with the grater.
“You’re too good to me, Delah.” One of my few joys was cheese, particularly aged cheese melted on anything. Tonight, it looked like scalloped potatoes were on the menu. I took the grater out of Delah’s hand and began shredding. A gentle silence descended.
“Maelic has me checking out the Glint houses.” Delah’s hesitant tone gave me pause. “It has been enlightening; he has me testing elixirs on some of the addicts. My next trip is in two days.”
I shot her a curious look, then remembered the report I saw on Maelic’s desk. “I heard about the explosion at a Glint house in the Oleander district the other day. Be careful visiting those places.”
“They don’t send me into danger. That’s your job.” She winked. “Besides, King Nolan says it’s important to keep some Glint in circulation because it helps control the population. It keeps the masses contained.”
I barked out a laugh. “You’re joking. The Good King would never say that. My entire role in the Scourge has centered around eradicating its existence.”
Delah studied me, then resumed her focus on the food, shrugging.
“I just have an odd feeling about it. Glint’s reach continues to grow, and the way it’s siphoning magic is getting worse.
” My eyebrows rose at the admission. “There have also been talks about the Supreme Vestal and his role with Glint,” she volunteered.
I paused, straightening to attention, “What have you heard? Surely Glint isn’t connected to Vestal Anchors.
” Vestal Anchors were selected by the king himself, to serve the crown.
I shifted uncomfortably at the insinuation of malevolence.
It was merely petty palace gossip. Spreading rumors like this could get you killed.
“It’s probably nothing.”
I chafed at Delah’s veiled accusations. If anyone overheard her, she could be imprisoned for crimes against the king.
“Let’s go out tomorrow! It’s the Twin Moon Festival, when they’re supposed to be at their brightest. Just me and you.
Let’s pretend we’re not part of the Order for one night.
” I barely suppressed my eye roll. “Especially since I’m going to be a Vestal Anchor.
It might be one of the last times we get to do this.
” A flash of sadness skittered across her features.
“Everyone is going to know who I am, Delah.” It was a weak response. And we both knew I’d do it, especially in light of her recent recruitment. The block of cheese was shrinking and I adjusted my fingers to avoid slicing them on the small blades.
“They won’t if you don’t flaunt your weapons. And you wear normal clothes. Like a dress.”
I glanced down at my leathers. “What’s wrong with these?” Now it was Delah’s turn to suppress an eye roll. I gave her a good-natured pinch to her arm, and we continued making our meal.
Delah worried her lip, her whole countenance heavy with concern.
“You’ll figure this out, then return just like you have after every other mission.
And you’re going to spoil the potatoes if you grate much more of that hard rind.
” She reached for the cheese and the grater, setting them on the counter.
“Something feels different about this, Delah.” I stared out the window, wondering about the general.
“Maelic said this mission needed a dreki on it. It’s what they trained me to become.
I want to do it, I really do.” I sighed.
“Dreki power could protect me. Could protect us both, maybe even give me the life I’ve craved.
Perhaps I wouldn’t care once I turned dreki. ”
But that didn’t sit right either. I railed against the idea of submitting so completely to anything or anyone. Deep down I desired freedom, and a small part of me couldn’t reconcile the trade with that tender dream. I shook my head. I had to squelch that down. There was no alternative.
Delah considered me. “Something about it does feel wrong. We don’t know what happens to your soul when you make the trade.
What if you become more like Wes and Belham?
They use their magic to destroy and exploit.
What if you turn into that? It’s like they’re slaves to animalistic appetites.
They weren’t comforting before the trade, but now they’re absolutely terrifying.
Do you think you would still desire to protect others? ”
She raised a valid point.