Chapter 50 Ezra
“There is something I have been thinking about,” Liv said as she leaned in and then pushed her weight into her sword.
She launched herself away from me and prepared for another strike.
“Stanhope.” She grunted as she swung, her blade clashing into mine.
“He knew details that he shouldn’t have.”
She spun and lunged at me again. “Details that were fatal.”
Her blows were becoming increasingly heavier.
Each clash of our training blades rang through the wood and sent a shock up my arm.
She charged at me and rained down blow after blow, each step back pushed me closer to the fence.
My foot caught on a rock and I fell to my back.
I thrust my training sword upward, and she blocked the blow effortlessly.
She turned from me, but before I could get to my feet she was running at me.
She leapt into the air and I lifted my wooden sword just in time to stop hers from hitting me.
I will admit there was something undeniably attractive about the fury behind every strike.
There was something wild in her eyes. Her hair hung in disordered wisps around her face, strands sticking to the sweat coating her neck.
Her chest heaved as she pushed in closer with a barrage of swings.
She was entirely captivating. I was not foolish enough to tell her that.
Each blow that hit cracked louder and became more dangerous as she spoke.
“The spy is in our camp, it is someone we trust.”
Swing. “They gave Stanhope enough to find the sanctuary.”
Crack. “That information cost us our home.”
Grunt. “Cost me my mother.” She reeled back, prepared for what would have been a fatal strike if these were not toys.
“I am going to find them and make them pay.”
The swords connected with one final blow and shattered like glass.
Splinters flew in every direction. She could not go on like this.
“That will be enough for today,” I called to the girls as I rose to my feet.
“Excuse me?” Liv scoffed. “I will say when I am done.” She planted her hands firmly on her hips. I dismissed the girls and instructed them to continue to practice on their own.
“Come with me.” I took Liv by the arm and practically dragged her to our tent.
She sat on the cot with a huff and crossed her arms like a child throwing a tantrum. I stood before her, blocking her only exit, my own arms crossed.
“What?” She spat. My annoyance faded. I saw this for exactly what it was.
This was grief, raw, unfiltered grief that threatened to consume her if she allowed it to remain as sadness.
It needed somewhere else to go, and anger was the easiest answer.
I dropped to my knee before her and took her hands in mine.
“Stellina, I…” Before I could finish the thought she was on her feet.
“Do not tell me that I am being irrational. I have every right to be angry. I wish to find them and make them pay for what they have done, and that is my right as well.” I stood to face her.
“In that you are correct, my little star.”
I pulled her into me. “Be angry. That is your right.”
I stroked her hair as she relaxed into my chest.
“But do not allow that anger to take peace from you. Do not let Stanhope decide what that anger turns into.”
I pulled back from her, so I could meet her gaze.
“What happened at the sanctuary was meant to destroy us. But we cannot let it. If you become consumed by vengeance, that is just another piece of you that Verith gets to take.”
I cupped her cheeks. “That is not what Margaret would have wanted.”
Her eyes filled with tears. “I know you, Stellina. I know what this cost you. So let us instead focus on ensuring that we do not lose a single person more.”
For a long moment our gaze remained unbroken and I could see everything there.
Her sadness, the heartbreak, the fear. Then she gave a slight nod.
“Come with me.” I took her hand and led her out of the tent.
“Where are we going?” I did not answer her. I just continued through the camp.
“Helena!” I called as we passed by. She stopped talking to Raf and jogged toward us.
“What is going on?” She slowed once she caught up.
“There is still a spy in this camp.” I lowered my voice. “Unfortunately, I believe it is someone close to us. We are going to find out who it is, and we must do it away from the ears of this camp since we do not know who we can trust. No one must know our plans.”
“Not even the Blacksmith?” Helena looked over her shoulder at him.
“No, Helena, not even him. I am sorry, we just cannot take the chance that the information will get out this time.” She took one last longing glance over her shoulder.
“Do not worry, once we have found the spy, we can be rid of them. Then things can finally return to normal.”
I smiled at her, and she gave a soft smile in return.
We continued through the woods and away from the camp.
We did not stop until we came to a creek.
The rushing water would be perfect to hide our words if anyone tried to listen.
“Alright, the first thing we need to discuss is accessibility.”
I pulled a piece of parchment from my belt and handed it to Liv.
“I have narrowed it down. There were a total of seven people who knew of the plans for each mission.”
Liv’s eyes locked on mine. Understanding passed between us.
This had been just as heavy on my mind as it had been on hers.
“I narrowed it down to three. Only three of those seven regularly left the sanctuary without any accompaniment in the days leading up to the ambushes.”
I held the list up and read it aloud. “Arabella, Johanna, and…”
I glanced at Helena, a silent apology in my eyes.
Her eyes widened and her forehead creased. “Do not even say it. How could you think that would even be a possibility?”
“I am sorry, Helena. We have to look at all of the facts, explore every option. It is a formality, really, more than anything else.” I sighed before reading his name. “Rafael.” She winced at the mention of his name. It did not belong in this conversation.
“Three of them and three of us. I have a plan.”
Liv and Helena leaned in close as I explained the plan.
We would tell each of them that we were going on a supply run, and they would be instructed to stay behind and protect the camp.
Each would receive a different rendezvous point, and we would watch each location from a vantage point far enough away not to be seen, but close enough to observe.
We would give them the exact time and day we intended to stop at the point.
Then, if the location given to that individual was ambushed, we would know without a doubt that they were the spy.
“And what will we do with the spy when we know?” Helena chewed her nails as she paced.
“They will no longer be trusted. They will have to be separated from the camp.” I sighed. “We are not murderers. We will have to discuss what is to be done with them when that time comes.”