Page 21 of Forcing Fate

“Aye, the arms market by the gate.”

“No, a food market?”

He shook his head and the corners of his mouth pulled down in a frown. If there was no food market on this side of the gate, then there wasn’t one on the grounds at all. I only had one other option if I was going to find something for this General to eat.

“Thank you, Elib.” I pushed off the gate and secured the cloak over my hair.

The smith looked at me as he often did, as though I was a curious creature, before he shrugged and lowered his goggles.

With one hand, I hitched up the hem of my dress, and with the other fastened the cloak shut tight around me. I enjoyed the independence of walking around without an escort, however, I did not want to end up cornered in an alley like last time.

After showing my orders to the guards, I passed through the gate back onto the school grounds. I made my way down the paths, past the dorm and beyond the Masters’ quarters, hoping they would not see me.

As I rounded the last bend toward the amphitheater, a sense of inadequacy twisted my heart. The towering building was the focus of so many of my night terrors. The reason I had to hide while slinking around the barracks, the reason I was not in classes with my fellow students or Riders. I shook my head and continued to the far edge of the school grounds. It took me half a chime to get this far, and it would take me even longer to get back. I could only hope this was worth it.

At the edge of the grounds, I pressed into the woods. Twigs and undergrowth grabbed at the cloak as I trudged through the thicket. This part was always the worst, but it opened up further in. The air was damp and cool, musty with wood rot and new growth. The thick canopy blocked the sun’s warm rays. Nearly twenty paces in, I looked up at the tall trees, searching their trunks for a telltale plant. Spotting a vine with a small blue flower, I hurried toward it.

A prickleberry vine. It grew around a cluster of older trees. The vine itself was harmless to the trees, but sharp curved thorns decorated its main stem, waiting to latch onto any innocent passerby. I crept closer, looking for the bluish-gray pods I hoped were still there. Inside the pods were sweet, blue berries, the only fruit in season this early. The dorm cook would sometimes send erring students out here to fetch them as punishment.

Hope fluttered through my chest when I spotted plenty of them clustered amongst the tangle of thorns and vines. Evidently, no one had recently offended the cook. I released my hold on the cloak, letting it fall to the forest floor. Careful to avoid the thorns, I reached up and plucked a pod from the vine, pinching it off at the main stem. Surely the General would have no qualms eating them if they were still sealed inside their pod. I smiled to myself, more determined than ever that I would convince him of my worth.

I subjected myself to the prickleberry thorns for a quarter of a chime and was rewarded with two pockets full. My hands were cut to ribbons, regardless of the extra care I took. Grimacing at the swollen scrapes, I slipped into the heavy cloak and lifted the hood over my head. On the main path, I walked as briskly as I could without attracting attention. At the gate, I showed my order. My lips thinned, noticing my blood smeared on the parchment.

These guards weren’t as familiar with me and looked curiously at my order and back to my hands. I bit my lip and shoved them inside the cloak. The one holding my orders shrugged and jerked his head, indicating I could move on.

I headed east, moving with the throng of soldiers, trying my best to keep the cloak shut. Someone bumped into me and panic speared through me, till I realized it was merely a coincidence. I darted between the gap in the buildings that Willhelm had taken me through, and I strode toward the General’s tent, my steps quick with purpose.

The tent flap was closed, though when General Rafe sent me away, it was open. I stood there for a moment, unsure how to proceed. The training field didn’t seem orderly enough for an inspection to be taking place. Also, with no sign of the General, it would be wiser to announce my presence before entering.

I cleared my throat and opened my mouth to do so when the flap jerked aside. A Commander almost barreled into me. I yelped and jumped out of his path as he cursed and spit on the ground. My heart cringed at the impropriety of spitting in the presence of a woman, but the cloak kept me hidden. He had no way of knowing.

The Commander stormed off, and I looked back at the tent’s entryway, now filled by General Rafe’s hulking frame. He stood stiff and silent, seething at me. He gave me the cloak I was hiding in, so of course he knew who I was. I swallowed and licked my dry lips. I could do this. He was a bear of a man, but he wouldn’t hurt me. At least not physically… I didn’t think.

“General Rafe, I come with refreshments,” I said, giving him my bravest smile, though the corners of my mouth trembled with the effort.

He reached toward me, but I gave my brain no chance to retreat. I ducked under his arm and into the tent. Instant regret flooded me as I spun to face him, seeing the tent flap fall. To be alone with a Master was one thing. Being alone in a tent with a man who had the attitude of a wild boar was another.

Spying a small tray on the desk, I started for it, turning so that my back was never to the General. He was practically frothing at the mouth; I assumed because I dared come back. Yet he made no move to order me away.

I removed the cloak, draping it over a spare seat before emptying my pockets. An overripe pod had burst and a deep purple splotch stained my dress. I cringed. It would be near impossible to get out. I placed the pods on the tray as neatly as my trembling hands could manage.

That settled, I retrieved the cloak to secure it on the rack. There, I noticed the wash basin was stained red. With blood? I spun to face the General. The black swath of cloth still covered his left eye, but the injury did not appear aggravated. My eyes scanned his body, and for the first time, I noticed the dragon tattoo on his right shoulder. The dragon would normally be the General’s insignia patched into his tunic. With his apparent distaste for sleeves, he must have just had it tattooed on.

His knuckles were red and bloody, as if from a fight. I frowned, though I made no move toward him. He didn’t seem like the type of man who’d appreciate someone trying to play nursemaid.

“I’ll fetch you fresh water for washing,” I stated.

I grabbed the basin, heaving it with all my might. He didn’t move as I neared the entryway and I had to squeeze past him to get outside. Grunting, I hauled the basin further away before emptying the contents.

The General was exactly where I left him. His dark eye watched me as I returned the basin, then left to retrieve fresh water from a well to fill it. I did my best to ignore the heat of his stare as I looked about the room. There were no rags or bandages to be seen, so I took it upon myself to find him something he could bind his hands with.

“I’ll return momentarily. I just need to fetch something.”

I turned to exit the tent. Tension radiated off him and I wondered if I had gone too far. Yet as I squeezed past him, he didn’t move to harm me. I left for the field, leaving him to his brooding anger.

Still no words. Perhaps he didn’t trust his tongue in his gratitude.

Surely, if we were on a field where inspections involving swordplay were held, there would be a Healer about. I scanned the crowd for the bright white and blue robes, but saw none. However, a soldier snared my notice. He looked me up and down, then back at General Rafe’s tent with a smirk. In my ignorance, I wondered what he was thinking when a flash of white caught my eye. Without thought, I ran and rounded a corner of a building where I saw a Healer walking away.

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