Page 144 of Secrets of Graves and Gold

I’m never going to fault the daimon for his dedication to keeping our woman in one piece.

I give him a gentle clap on the shoulder in an attempt at reassurance, even though my own worries are knotting my stomach. “More people look like more of a threat. Especially when one of them is a large, fit man. She can handle herself.”

Rheave makes a rough sound. “It just doesn’t seem fair that she should have to go alone when the rest of us don’t.” But he draws his posture straighter with an air of resolve I also have to admire. “Now we go to our fort?”

“Now we go to our fort.” As much as we can call it ‘ours’ when we’re about to take it over like an enemy force.

There’s one Silanian fortress watching over the channel in this area, a couple of hours ride from the larger palace in Regica where Konram and his family are currently residing. Unless policies have changed, they’ll have regular patrols along the bank starting not long after dark.

Patrols that could ruin our plan before it’s even really gotten started.

So we simply have to delay them for a while. Ensure both they and our scheme stay safe. It benefits them as much as us.

But as much as I tell myself that, my gut sinks with each stride my stallion takes toward the looming stone walls.

Perhaps my trepidation shows on my face, or perhaps the daimon has simply paid enough attention to past conversations to put the pieces together on his own. After a while, he glances over at me and ventures, “The people at this fort—they used to be your colleagues.”

I nod. “In a way. We were all part of the royal army together. I was never stationed at Fort Cyprian specifically, and I don’t know if any of the soldiers currently posted there ever served under me.”

“But it must be hard. Even though what we’re doing will keep them away from the danger. I wouldn’t like it if I had to do something that would make you—or Alek or Casimir or Ivy—angry, even if it would be good in the end.”

His acknowledgment lifts a fragment of the weight bearing down on me.

I find I can smile at him. “It is hard. But military life is all about making the best of many difficult choices. In a way, I’m using my training even more now than when I was officially a general.”

Rheave smiles back at me. “I’m glad to act as your soldier, then.”

I wouldn’t have thought I could say this when he first stumbled into our midst weeks ago, but I can feel how true it is now. “So am I.”

We leave the horses again in the patch of woods nearest Fort Cyprian and make our final approach on foot. As his gaze darts around us watchfully, Rheave walks with a spring in his step, clearly eager to leap into action.

What will the books of history have to say about the former General Stavros when this night is done? What we do here could be seen as a major triumph… or an even greater tragedy of my career than the battle that ended my work in the field.

I push down the gnawing uneasiness and stride onward. I know that I’m doing whatever I can to protect my king and my country. Would I rather stand back and let the scourge sorcerers ruin it all, just to avoid any risk that my name could be tarnished by those who don’t understand?

No. So those doubts should sit down and shut up like new recruits who haven’t yet seen what warfare really means.

Lanterns glow in the big stone building beyond the thick wall that surrounds it. I spot a few soldiers standing atop the wall, but they’re watching for larger threats than a couple of men on foot.

They don’t notice us until we step into the meager light that extends only a few paces beyond the fort.

“Who’s that there?” someone calls down as we approach the door—wood fortified with steel, and presumably still locked with a heavy bar on the inside.

I motion Rheave over to the door and lift my voice. “I’m sorry about this, but it’s necessary to ensure the security of the country. No one is to leave this fortress before the morning.”

“What?” the first soldier says in a bewildered tone.

And then another sucks in a sharp breath. “Is that General Stavros?”

She must have spotted my prosthetic. My stomach contorts into a ball of nausea.

Some of the men and women inside could have served under me while I was still a general. There are so many soldiers who trusted me, counted on me…

I set my jaw. I’m not letting them down tonight. I’m leading them better than I did during my last battle, whether they’ll see it that way or not.

I put on my best commander’s smile and raise the metal hook of a hand to my forehead in a quick salute. “Please stay calm and remain inside these walls until we open the door. As soon as your assistance is needed, we’ll let you know.”

“As soon as you open the door?” someone else mutters, just as I nod to Rheave.

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