Page 130 of Forcing Fate

“Oh, you’ll simply have to tell me now!” he jeered, glancing at me before avoiding a grab from my General. “This is gold, pure gold!”

“Go,” General Rafe bit out the word, so low I almost didn’t hear it.

The Dragon Lord giggled like a schoolboy and leapt over the fence to the course.

General Rafe’s eye snapped to mine, demanding obedience. “Go!”

I was moving before I knew it. I marched away from the scene, heading toward the dining hall. It wasn’t like the Dragon Lord wouldn’t be able to find out who I was. At the moment, I was quite popular for unfortunate reasons.

I missed first meal but made it through my day. Sergeant Briggs shared the error of my ways with Commander Dewal. Because I ‘slighted the reputation of our company,’ he, in turn, gave me more strenuous duties. I was ordered to clean up after every exercise, fetch all the equipment, and retrieve all the arrows during archery.

When the fifth chime sounded, I sighed with relief and leaned my forehead against the wall of the training building. The soldiers filed out, leaving to wash up or go straight to the dining hall, when someone patted my back.

I whirled at the unexpected sensation. Touch on the barracks’ side never led to anything good.

Commander Dewal peered down at me and nodded. “You did good today. Just don’t let it happen again.”

The Commander had proven himself to be fair. He was firm, and he pushed everyone as hard as they could go, but he was fair to me, all things considered.

“Yes sir,” I replied. He started to leave, and I rushed to stop him. “Commander?”

He turned around, waiting for me to continue.

“May I ask why the Dragon Lord is here?”

The inquisitive side of me needed to know. Had he been sent to retrieve something? Was there a respite at the front to allow a leisurely trip? Was he fetching someone? Did he have any new information concerning the Shadows?

“That’s not your business, cadet.”

I frowned and stared at the ground. Of course. I was a lowly cadet and wasn’t worthy of that knowledge. I didn’t need to know critical information to fight.

“Though, if I were to guess,” he started, “I’d say he was here to see a certain General during the winter respite.”

“There’s a respite? Why?” I blurted before thinking better of it.

“You’ll learn more about it soon enough. Don’t be so eager to get to the front, cadet. You likely won’t come back.”

His words took me aback. With a somber face, he turned and melded into the flow of soldiers freed from duty.

Everyone knew the chances of returning from the front were slim, but people rarely acknowledged it. Most soldiers were young men seeking adventure. Others were avenging their families or loved ones. There were a few who had nothing better to do with their lives, along with a spattering of men the King ordered here as a punishment for crimes committed. Few that joined the ranks genuinely expected to return. Though some were that arrogant.

I rested my shoulder against the wall, lost in my thoughts. Usually, this was when I retrieved my toiletries and waited for Niehm and Elenor. Now, with General Rafe’s training, I was unsure if he would come get me, or if the Dragon Lord had him preoccupied.

“Cadet.”

I frowned at the rough voice and tilted my head as I turned. General Rafe stood behind me with a cloak and deep hood concealing his features. I blinked, confused, seeing his arms crossed over his chest. He was in a tunic—a long-sleeved tunic.

“Sir?” I choked out.

He never dressed like this. I’d never seen him wear anything with sleeves, even in the dead of winter. Was he trying to blend in? To hide? From who or what? The Dragon Lord?

“Move it.” He jerked his head toward the door.

“Where to?” I asked, still in shock from his attire.

“Same place as yesterday. Move.”

He seemed to be in a rush. I spun on my heel and hurried off. We made quick time, and yet again, the training building was empty. I stopped at the table, watching as the General glanced up at the sky. He let out a vicious curse and ducked into the building.

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