Page 102 of Secrets of Graves and Gold

Stavros’s expression darkens. “Yes. King Konram will be maximizing his military resources. A significant portion of the army is already posted in this province, but Dariu hasn’t staged a major attack in over a year, and they rarely attempt even minor offenses during the winter months. He’ll count on that threat being relatively low, but this way he’s surrounded by his soldiers without needing to draw them away from their typical posts.”

A shiver ripples down my spine. I’ve never actually seen a Darium soldier, but the stories passed around of their efforts to regain the western half of the continent could make one’s blood curdle.

I once overheard a retired captain comment that the Darium emperor is like a jilted lover who’d rather see his former paramour savaged to death than in the arms of another.

I try to keep my tone light. “So we don’t have to worry about an invasion on top of the uprising?”

“I shouldn’t think so.” Stavros shoots me a smile that’s more wry. “In the extremely unlikely chance that the empire launches a larger offensive, it’ll be easy enough to know who to avoid. They dress their soldiers in black uniforms painted with bones, as if they’re walking skeletons.”

Casimir grimaces in disgust. “That sounds awful—and awfully morbid.”

“From what I gather, they want to horrify their opponents and remind us of the fate they expect us to meet.”

Here’s to those horrors staying on the other side of the Seafell Channel, then, Julita mutters, a sentiment I fully agree with.

We veer right at the crossroads, picking up our pace despite our fatigue at the thought of almost reaching our destination. All the names Stavros mentioned spin in my head.

I glance over at Alek. “Were there any former bug club members from this province?”

His bright eyes go distant as he considers. “Not that I recall. We do know one prominent figure from this region, though. Romild—her parents are the current provints.”

Julita gives a faint groan that I can almost feel reverberating through my response. “Wonderful.”

Romild is probably still off in Florian attending her leadership classes at the royal college, which is for the better. She never went out of her way to harass me like some of the other noble students, but she made it clear that she believed I’d nabbed my position as Stavros’s assistant—a role she coveted—through unfair and unsavory means.

As the shadows stretch longer, the town Stavros mentioned comes into view up ahead: walled as you’d expect in territory that sees a lot of military conflict, red and brown rooftops poking up over top, and a gold spire in the middle that indicates the local temple of the All-Giver.

My pulse gives a tiny hitch, a mix of anxiety and longing. The latter sensation spreads up through my chest.

Gods above, I could use some guidance right now. More than any of my men would know how to supply.

I’ve already burdened them with enough troubles anyway.

“We’re going into the town?” I ask.

Stavros shakes his head. “We’ll find a sheltered place to set up a camp a safe distance away. We should be able to do a little business with merchants coming and going thanks to the bit of money you were able to lift from the scourge sorcerers. Passing through the gate will put us under too much scrutiny. Even Rheave’s description may have been passed on after our last encounter with the patrols.”

I pick my next words carefully, far too conscious of the shakiness of my thoughts that could be due to more than just exhaustion. “I could get in without needing to go through a gate. Find out if there’s any talk around town about the uprising and their march—grab a few things we could use right away.”

Stavros cocks his head. “‘Grab’?”

I lift my chin. “I’ll only borrow what can be spared from people who have more than enough already. They should be happy to support a good cause.”

The former general snorts, but he knows I picked my targets fairly when I roved through the outskirts of Florian as the Hand of Kosmel.

Alek touches the back of my arm. “We’ve been surviving all right—and now we can get more of a rest. You shouldn’t take the risk.”

I shoot him a reassuring smile. “I’ll be careful. I’ll feel better if we can understand more of the big picture.”

Casimir’s expression has shadowed with concern too, but he doesn’t argue with me. “I’d like to take a look at that temple of Ardone. My godlen’s followers have certain policies that might be helpful to us.”

Stavros hums to himself. “And I’d like to survey the area to decide on our best plan for passing on our warning. Let’s pick a campsite in the woods over there. Alek and Rheave can set it up and do a little foraging, Ivy will sneak off to the town, and Casimir and I will take the horses. Assuming that beast will tolerate Casimir now.” He motions toward Toast.

Casimir chuckles. “I’ve made better friends with him over the past few days. I think we’ll get along all right for a short trek.”

Another knot of anxiety forms in my stomach. “I don’t know how to keep you concealed when I’m not with you. There’s probably a way to work the magic, but keeping track of the consequences too when we’re all in different places?—”

Stavros steps closer to grasp my shoulder. “We can manage on our own for a few hours, Lady Thief. The patrols are looking for a group of four or five, not a solo rider. I won’t get close enough for anyone to notice my prosthetic, and I’d imagine Casimir knows how much caution is needed around his fellow dedicats. We can always send out a signal through the lockets if we run into problems.”

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