Page 64 of The King has Fallen

I am safe.

I am safe in your arms.

Safe under your eyes.

Safe with you.

I am safe.

The shadows do not touch me.

Danger does not claw.

I am safe.

Rest with me, and

I am safe.

Do not fear for me while your arms hold me close.

Do not fear the dark while your eyes watch.

I am safe.

I am safe.

He sighed more than once during the song, and when I let the last note hang in the air, for a moment I thought he might have fallen asleep.

But then, without opening his eyes, without moving, he spoke.

“We should have taken the ravine already,” he said, so quietly I could barely hear him and no doubt to ensure that no one else would be able to either. “If my instructions were followed, we would have. But I believe… I believe ourCommandergrows greedy.”

I blinked. It was the first time he’d spoken to me by choice all week. I swallowed hard.

“Greedy for… what?”

“We possess the land leading into the ravine already—there was one scout sent out, and our trackers avoided him easily. So, if they were to try and push through the Ravine, we would have them.”

“Then why haven’t you taken the rest? Is it the sinkholes?”

“No,” he growled. “We have followed runners and mapped three paths through now. No, it is not that. Instead, we sit on our asses, risking discovery every day because theCommanderhas decided that more troops are needed, that the easily hidden three hundred spears we had were no longer enough. He demands wemore than tripleit so that when we advance into the swamp, we will have an actual force ready to fly the cliffs and descend onbotharmies. Which would be excellent… if it didn’t delay our movements by a full week in order to bring the ranks across the plains and into the ravine without being spotted,” he snarled through his teeth.

DearGod. “You’re being set up for failure,” I said.

He didn’t open his eyes, but I saw his hands grip the side of the bath. “I don’t know.”

I sighed, shaking my head. “Melek, I know that he is—”

“There is no point speculating. I have done what I can to ensure the safety of our ranks, and our victory. All that is left is to wait and see.”

I frowned. “Then why—”

“There are more pressing matters tonight,” he muttered, then waved one hand towards the tent flap.

Ah. “Gall,” I sighed, nodding. “I meant what I said when I offered to smooth that road. Without undermining your story, I have been trying to… help him soften.”

Twice I’d had a chance to actually speak with Gall. Only a few minutes each time.

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