Page 28 of Heat of the Everflame

“Mother Dell says they have to take it back by Forging Day or their magic will start going wrong.”

“‘Going wrong’? What in the Flames does that mean?”

“I don’t fuckin’ know, do I look like an expert on Descended magical hoo-ha to you? I just know it means we could have some more action real soon.”

“Forging Day is three months away. Can our people hold out that long?”

“Dunno. Let’s hope they don’t have to.”

“We’re gonna need reinforcements. Even with the Lumnos cell, we barely took the island. Could the Meros cell help?”

“They need to keep up what they’re doing. They already blew up half the docks at the port, and they set up blockades on the waterways leading off the continent. It’s keeping the army distracted, which is good for our guys on the island.”

“What about the cells up north?”

“There’s some real interesting rumors going ‘round up there. A bunch of messenger hawks came this morning, and one of ‘em was from the Montios base. Apparently some Descended showed up out of nowhere, claiming he hates his own kind and wants ‘em dead as bad as we do.”

“And they took his word for it?”

“He musta done something to prove himself, I guess. They say he’s real powerful.”

“I don’t care. We shouldn’t be working with them. It’s bad enough that we have to play nice with two false Quee—”

“Shift’s over, folks. Me and Herkin have got it from here.”

My eyes opened in surprise at the familiar voice. Brecke was standing nearby, staring at me, his expression uncharacteristically hardened. A second Guardian stood next to him—a short, gangly twenty-something whose boyish features and patchy beard looked as if puberty had skipped right over him.

The two mortals guarding me glared at Brecke. There was a venom in their sneers I didn’t quite understand, one usually reserved only for me.

“You’re too early, army boy,” the man grunted. “Our shift doesn’t end ‘til dawn.”

Brecke shrugged, unbothered by the demeaning tone. “They just opened a casket of wine. Me and Herkin here are the newest to camp, and Mother Dell said we haven’t earned wine privileges yet. She sent us to relieve you two for the night.”

The guards looked at each other and grinned. I sat upright, watching the interaction with curiosity.

Brecke grabbed Herkin’s arm and started to leave. “If you’d rather stay here and babysit, I guess we can—”

“Not so fast.” The male guard hopped to his feet. “If Mother Dell gave you an order, you don’t get to change it. That’s not how we do things in Arboros.”

Brecke raised his palms in surrender. “Lesson learned. We’ll take over here.”

The two didn’t put up any further argument as they slapped each other excitedly on the arms and jogged off toward the sea of tents.

Brecke remained still and watched them walk away. His too-intense focus had my instincts prickling. When they were finally out of sight, he turned back to me.

“Get up. Mother Dell said to take you to the river to bathe. You’re stinking up the camp.”

His voice was biting and aloof. This wasn’t the Brecke I knew. He’d brought me my daily meals since we’d moved camps, and though we kept our discussions minimal in light of the Guardians in constant earshot, he’d always at least been courteous.

“Now?” I asked. “It’s the middle of the night.”

“This isn’t your fancy palace, princess. You do what you’re told, when you’re told.”

I bristled. “Brecke, what’s going on?”

He rolled his eyes. “Get her chains off, Herkin.”

The man at his side stumbled a step. “Me? But—but I... she’s a... maybe you should—”

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