Page 50 of An Archer's Reckoning

“I doubt they’ll make it back, sir. I saw men in the woods. Looked like they were formed in a line, guarding a perimeter or something.” I described the men and my flight through the woods.

Whitman’s face sobered with every word.

When I finished, Whitman looked past me. “Lieutenant Geros, wake the regiment,allof them. I want every man on battle footing in an hour. Make sure they know this isn’t a drill.” Whitman stood. “And Lieutenant, no Rangers set foot in the inn until this is over. I want them sober and shooting straight.”

“Yes, sir.” The Lieutenant spun on a heel and flew out of the room.

“You did well, Dempsy. Go get something to eat and report back to me in an hour.”

Walking out of the Captain’s office, I was bowled over by the commotion within the compound. When I arrived, there were few Rangers to be seen. Everyone was tucked away in warm beds. Now, I couldn't take two steps before another burly man bumped my shoulder as he raced by.

When the Captain said move,Rangers moved.

The mess hall was half full of men already wrapped in heavy winter coats. Cooks had been roused, and breakfast was flowing from the kitchen as quickly as coffee. I settled for a plate of eggs and bacon; then I saw a pile of steaming biscuits and decided to load up. By the time I made it to a table, my teetering mountain of food threatened to splatter across the floor. I flopped down just in time to save the pile, quickly shoving the top biscuit into my mouth. Before I could swallow, Lieutenant Wiley appeared beside me, an amused look on his face as he noticed my chipmunk cheeks.

“Finish that quick and get back to Cap’s office. You need to leave within the hour.”

“Sir?” I had just sat down and could finally feel the warmth in my toes. The last thing I wanted—

“Hurry up, Ranger. The Captain is waiting.” Wiley glared for only a heartbeat before turning away. I chased the biscuit with a mouthful of coffee as I watched Wiley disappear from the hall.

I was still chewing the last bite as I approached the Captain’s door. I reached up to knock, but the heavy wooden planks flew open before I made contact. Two Rangers looked at me as they hustled out. Whitman sat on the front edge of his desk, deep lines creasing his face. The man looked exhausted.

“Get in here, Dempsy. This won’t take long.”

I shuffled in and snapped to attention.

The Captain reached behind, took a sealed scroll from his desk, and held it toward me.

“Take this to Saltstone. Put it into General Vre’s hand. No one else. Don’t let them put you off or talk you into passing it up the chain. That seal should answer any questions his nosy staff might have. This is for the General’s eyes only. Understand?”

I nodded nervously. “Yessir.”

Whitman rounded his desk and sat, looking up one last time. “My horse is saddled and waiting for you in the stables. It’ll take you more than a week to get there, but you can push him. He’s the best mount we’ve got.”

My mouth dropped open. “Sir?”

“You need him more than I do right now, son. If the Mages ever sent me a Telepath like I requested a dozen times, this wouldn’t be necessary.” He shook his head, and something dark crossed his eyes. I thought it might’ve been resignation, or determination, or both. “There’s no time to waste. Go.”

I bobbed a last salute and practically ran out of Whitman’s office.

Chapter 17

Ayden

Declan gripped my shoulder as we vanished from the cavern and appeared a moment later in the clearing I’d camped in the night before. My bedroll still lay spread at the edge near low foliage. My pack was still leaned against a tree next to my bow. Nothing had been disturbed.

“I can’t believe I left my bow,” I muttered.

Declan’s lips brushed my ear as he whispered, “I can be distracting when I want something.”

“You are insufferable. Why do I love you so?” I shook my head and groaned.

“Because I possess the lips of the gods.” He winked and teased his tongue across my lips.

“No one has believed in gods in centuries.”

“That means my lips are legendary.”

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