45. Annalise
Chapter forty-five
Annalise
Walking back to my room from Hunter’s place, I can’t hide my smile. He loves me. He actually said the words, “I love you.” Holy shit is my heart racing.
The only person who has ever said those words to me is Matt. Not my dad, or my mom before she left, not even Aiden. But Hunter did.
My phone vibrates in my pocket as I’m passing barracks A, and I expect it to be Hunter or my friends, but it’s an encrypted message from the Ghost Walker instructor line.
Meet at the vault. 30 minutes. Come alone.
Well shit. That’s not ominous or anything.
Turning back in the direction I just came from, I thank the gods I’m wearing tennis shoes as I walk behind Captain Lin’s house and down to the rocky entrance to the vault.
I slip a little on one of the rocks as I climb down the embankment, but I correct myself before I fall.
Saying my name into the scanner. The lock clicks, and the door opens.
Major Halden is standing in the front of the room talking with an older man with salt and pepper hair that I’ve never seen before.
“Annalise, please, come take a seat.”
I sit at the table in front of them before they both pull up chairs and sit across from me.
“Annalise, this is Colonel Tanner. Sir, this is Recruit Corvin.”
Neither miss the way I stiffen when I hear his rank, but the Colonel shakes his head, “Relax, Corvin. You aren’t in trouble. What we are about to discuss is completely off the record, so I would appreciate if we could skip through the formalities and get straight down to business.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Just Tanner,” he corrects.
I nod and Major Halden takes that as his opening.
“Annalise, what we’re about to ask you to do is beyond anything that a recruit should ever be asked to do, but you have excelled in every mission since you started.
Have proven your ability to overcome… the worst of situations…
and the powers that you and Tyr share make you the most likely to be able to succeed in this mission of any Ghost Walker. ”
“In all of Thandroan,” Tanner adds.
I nod again, because as much as I appreciate the upfront votes of confidence, I would really like for them to just spit it out already.
“Tyr, you listening to this?”
I can hear his huff of annoyance through my mind, but still he answers, “Flattery isn’t going to get us anywhere if they won't tell us what the hell they want. And the way they are buttering you up, I already want to say no.”
“I completely agree. They are laying it on way too thick. What could they really need us for that they’re willing to go this far?”
“As you know, every student is required to go on a real mission before graduation.”
“Yes.”
“Well, this will count,” Tanner clears his throat, “this will more than count as your mission. If you can complete this mission, you will have first selection on duty stations after Scion."
Major Halden knows me well enough by now, I’m sure he can see I’m ready for them to get to the point. “We need you to use your magic to travel into Clowess and infiltrate Castle Ayr. We have a very rare opportunity to get in, and we cannot waste it.”
I can hear Tyr muttering in my head, already not happy with the plan.
But I need answers before we decide anything. “What created the opening?”
“The Prince’s engagement ball."
I can’t even form words as that sinks in, so I just stare at them.
This has to be a joke. There is no way they want me to fly into an enemy kingdom to infiltrate their royal castle at a royal engagement party, and for what?
Wait, really though. What do they want me to do once I’m in there?
“What is the mission once inside?”
“You are to kill the prince before he can be wed and crowned,” Colonel Tanner answers like he’s discussing tomorrow’s weather.
Speechless. I can’t come up with a single word for what could be ten minutes or could be ten seconds.
“What about classes? I can’t make it down there, infiltrate a castle, kill a prince, and make it back by Monday morning. Travel time alone will take a couple of days to avoid the Clowessian fighters spotting me."
"We’ve already taken care of everything. Your only priority over the next two weeks will be to mission plan. Plan your flight path, what weapons you want, how you want to complete the mission, etc. We do have an inside contact that will bring you clothes for your duration, a gown, and a mask."
“Mask?"
“Oh yes, it is a masquerade,” Halden says dryly.
I snort, “Seriously? Is the prince or his bride-to-be monstrous or something? Who has a masked engagement party?"
The Colonel doesn’t look impressed, but Major Halden pretends to scratch his face to hide his smile, but not before I catch it.
And then he continues, “As much as we wish we could bring in a full team for you, this mission is at the highest security clearance. We cannot have this getting out that it was us once it is completed, so we will be your only handlers. Once your plan is complete, let us know, and we’ll review it together so we can gather any needed supplies. Do you have any questions?”
“Not a question, but if you want this mission to be successful, Recruit Reyes needs to be read in on the mission. I will need to utilize his abilities—both magical and in strategy—to create a plan.”
“That’s not—” Major Halden starts before he’s cut off.
“Done,” Colonel Tanner says without hesitation.
“Also, I want Sasha in charge of any Spell Casting or Healing needs I plan for. I’m not asking to read her in because she can do her part without knowing what they are for, but she’s more than proven herself as the best, and I want people I trust.”
This time, it’s Major Halden who agrees.
“Retrieve Reyes, and we will meet back here at 1900 to read him in.”
“Yes, Sir. See you at 1900.”
“Where are you?” I ask Tyr, needing to feel his strength closer to me.
“On my way. I’ll meet you at the riding grounds. Do you want me to call for Zest?”
“Not yet.” I need a few minutes with you to ground myself first.
“Alright, Little Faren, just us.”
He'is waiting for me when I make it to the riding grounds.
We’re both quiet, replaying the conversation in the vault, and knowing it wasn’t an optional assignment.
“Who would have thought I'd turn into such a successful murderer in less than a year?"
“You don’t have to do this," Tyr assures me, but I do.
Not just because I’m sentenced to this life, but because this could save countless lives and stops the war.