Page 82 of Of Steel and Scale

So much I didn’t know about general, day-to-day life in Zephrine. All I knew was that, for me, it would be very different. I wouldn’t be a soldier. I would be the wife of the heir.

What in the wind’s name was I going to do with my days?

I shoved the worry away and dragged the water bottle from the pack, taking a long drink. There wasn’t much left, so I had to conserve it in case it took me longer than expected to reach the main arms into the refuge caverns. After I grabbed another slab of journey bread, I tugged a light tube free and then continued on.

Though these tunnels were far easier to traverse than those above Esan, I was very glad to have Mom’s map to guide me, because the place was a maze. By the time I reached the closest of the three tunnels that led directly into the refuge tunnel, I was shaking with weariness. I stopped short of the entrance and raised the light tube, letting its light caress the stony walls ahead. I couldn’t see any guards, but instinct nevertheless said they were there.

“Jakarran sentry, this is Captain Bryn Silva from the Esan fortress. I’m here to gain information in regard to the island’s position and needs. I need to speak to whomever is in charge as a matter of urgency.”

There was a long moment of silence, then, “Drop your weapons and packs, and raise your hands.”

The voice was male and curt.

“We’re wasting time, soldier?—”

“Do it, or I’ll shoot first and ask questions later.”

I made a low sound in the back of my throat but in truth couldn’t fault the soldier’s caution. I stripped off my packs, sword, and bow, placing them and the light tube on the ground in front of me before stepping back and raising my hands.

After another long stretch of silence, a figure stepped out from what was obviously a sentry post cut into the side wall of the tunnel. I suspected there might be another on the right side.

His sword remained at his side, but his bow was nocked, the arrow aimed straight at my heart.

“Ursek,” the soldier continued. “Grab her things.”

So, I’d been right. Therewassomeone else here. As another man stepped out of the shadows on the left, there was a brief flash of movement on the right. There were at least three people here, and I rather suspected there would be more. It did make more sense to have at least four, if not six, people on duty at each of the tunnels, given the obvious strength of the foe. I wouldn’t even be surprised if there was an earth witch here somewhere—if any had survived the slaughter, that is.

“Tell me, soldier, is Garran Silva still alive?” I asked.

Neither of them replied. The shorter of the two men moved forward to collect my things, hesitating briefly when he saw the bow. “Blackwood bow,” he said. “Jakarran crafted.”

“Could have gotten it from the spoils,” the other man growled.

“It was a gift from my mother, who was a bow master here. As I said, I’m Captain Bryn Silva. Garran is my cousin and my father’s heir. I need to speak to him or whoever is in charge, so could you two please hurry yourselves up. Time is ticking.”

The shorter man cast an uncertain look at his companion, who simply shrugged and said, “We have orders. We will obey them. Now move, Captain, down that way.”

He stepped back and motioned with his head toward the tunnel. I waited until the shorter man had gathered my things and then followed several steps behind him. There were, I noted with a quick look to the right, at least two other people here. Which was good—at least this sentry point would not be left unmanned while these two escorted me down.

The taller man remained a few yards behind me, and while I couldn’t see it, I had no doubt the arrow remained nocked and aimed. I could almost feel the itch of its tip pressing against my spine.

We continued on for another ten minutes, then the air began to warm, and the gentle wash of conversation and living grew louder. We reached a plateau guarded by another two men but were quickly cleared and walked on to a wide platform. A large cavern stretched out before us, high and wide and teeming with people. Illistin might have been destroyed, but a good percentage of her inhabitants appeared to have survived.

Now I just had to find out if Garran and his family had.

The cavern had two distinct sections. The floor below was a city of tents and temporary structures that appeared to be bunkhouses, while the wide platform on which we stood ringed the midpoint of the cavern and had multiple hollowed out caves that appeared to be designated medical, military, and organizational areas.

We walked around to the left, moving quickly past the various caves, curiosity and gazes chasing our steps. I ignored them as best I could, my gaze on the large cavern we were approaching. It was obviously the makeshift war room, as there were a ton of maps strewn across multiple tables, as well as troop placement and topography boards. There were a good dozen people gathered around one of the latter, but I didn’t immediately recognize any of them. I hoped that meant Garran was either resting or at the back of the cave, but I had a bad,badfeeling it did not.

Once we were close enough to the entrance, I was ordered to stop and wait. The first guard went inside while the second continued to watch me closely, though he had at least lowered his bow. I crossed my arms and scanned the area below again. There were kids running around an obviously hastily set up play area, their bright laughter piercing the gloom that curtained the rest of the cave. Most of the folk down there were either side of the spectrum—younger or older. There didn’t seem to be many down there of fighting age. Which probably meant they’d been drafted in as soldiers or as support personnel.

They could also be dead, I supposed, but surely not even the winged riders could—or even would—waste time being that precise with their kills.

“What?” a sharp voice said from the depths of the cave ahead, drawing my attention back. “Show me.”

I didn’t immediately recognize the voice, but the man who followed my guard out of the shadowed interior of the cave was tall, with short, steel-gray hair, reddish skin, and blue eyes.

He also wasn't a stranger, though I hadn’t seen him much over the course of the last five years other than at a few official engagements.

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