Page 33 of The Exile's Curse

Thankfully the colonel didn't drag the meal out for much longer than was necessary. She made introductions, which Chloe was grateful for. Putting names to faces was helpful. Though there were also more of the delegation who were currently above deck, on duty. The teams of blood mages paired with water mages and their sanctii who powered the navire's flight stood watch in three teams at a time. So at least six faces missing from the table, all of them ranking officers. The imperial mages didn't really have enlisted men, their lowest rank being ensign. When the mages needed muscle, they drew from the regular army.

After dessert, Colonel Brodier dismissed them back to their freedom for the evening. Chloe had planned to explore the ship, but now that she knew she might randomly bump into Lucien, that idea had lost any appeal. Tempting to claim an upset stomach and retire to her cabin, but that was complicated when she’d just eaten an entire meal, not to mention sharing a room. Giane would see through a ruse soon enough, and then Chloe would have to deal with questions she didn't wish to answer.

Dammit. She was going to have to find a smaller group and socialize and hope Lucien didn't join them. But who?

While she dithered, most of the others cleared the room. If she didn't move, she was going to be alone with Colonel Brodier and Lucien anyway. She turned and hurried out of the dining room, listening to see if she could determine where the others had gone.

She hadn't gotten very far when she heard footsteps behind her.

"Lieutenant, wait."

Lucien.Damn it.Not only could she not avoid the man, but he also outranked her. She couldn't ignore him and keep walking. She took a moment to compose her expression and then turned. "My lord Truth Seeker."

In the low-ceilinged corridor, he seemed too large. Too solid. Imperial black shouldn’t have suited him, but somehow it always had. It highlighted the planes of his face and the depth of green in his eyes. Just then it also highlighted tense shoulders and a tight mouth. "Am I to guess that you didn't know I was on this mission?"

"Am I to guess that you didn't knowIwas on this mission?"

"I didn't," he said shortly. "I'm not in the habit of checking on the junior officers. Besides which, I'm not part of the corps. Personnel is Colonel Brodier's job. I've worked with her before, so I saw no reason to inquire." He looked down at her, and she wasn't entirely sure if it was frustration or irritation tightening his jaw. "I had heard that you joined the mages."

He had? Goddess. Army gossip and court gossip. Both moved faster than a sanctii.

"But that was barely a week ago," Lucien continued. "It's unusual for such an inexperienced officer to be chosen for a long mission so soon." His mouth flattened briefly. "But I guess the emperor would see your experience as useful to get us through this damn wedding."

Did that mean he didn't think her experience was useful? "Are you questioning my abilities, my lord?"

"Technically, it's Major," he said. "When I'm doing this, rather than directly working on a case, it’s less confusing if we stick to ranks. And no, I do not question your abilities, Lieutenant. I know you, remember?"

"You knew the girl I was long ago," Chloe said tightly. "Do not think you know me, my—Major de Roche."

"Well, it seems we will be getting to know each other again, to some extent, during this mission," he said, his voice equally tense. "We have to work together. So we have to be civil. I will not seek you out, but I can't avoid you entirely. If you’re not going to be able to work with me, then you need to let me know. I can speak to Colonel Brodier. We will be landing in Bonaroi tomorrow with some mail. You can be excused from the mission. It would only take you a few days to return to Lumia via the mail carriages if there's no official transport heading for the city."

She stared at him. Did he truly think that was an option? "If I leave this mission, it is unlikely I will ever be given another. I’m already considered an oddity because of my history, and the fact that I joined the mages so late. Not to mention, as you so kindly pointed out, I'm brand new in the corps. If I throw away this chance, I'm done. Perhaps you should return home." That was bordering on rude. And was definitely insubordinate. A lieutenant shouldn't be hissing at a major in such a small space. If anyone saw them, rumors of the exact kind she did not want would ensue.

"I was requested to join this mission by the emperor," he said. "Short of me breaking both my legs, I'm not going to be given permission to leave."

"That could be arranged," she snapped before she thought.

Lucien burst into laughter.

Ohno.She didn't want to see him laughing. He'd always been far too handsome when he relaxed and smiled. Once, she had made an effort to coax smiles out of him whenever she could. He was serious by nature, and his career only increased those tendencies. She hadn't like seeing him grow so solemn. His smile had always been her reward. Knowing she had reminded him that he was more than just his powers.

But that had been Lucien before. And she should take no pleasure in a smile from him now.

"Now, that," he said when he got himself back under control, "is precisely what I was talking about. Diplomats—and junior lieutenants—do not tell their comrades that they will break both their legs. At least not very often. And usually not when there is no alcohol involved."

She scowled, but he was right. She wanted to be a diplomat. She needed to control her emotions. There would be plenty of times where she had to deal with difficult people, and she needed to show them nothing she didn't want to reveal. Win them over and make them think they delighted her, if necessary.

"I can't imagine I will need to make a similar offer to anybody else," she said. "But I apologize, that was rude of me. Perhaps, Major, if you would give me permission to retire, I can remove myself from your presence and go practice my self-restraint."

He nodded and, not wanting to give him the chance to say anything more, she turned and hurried away.

The next morning, the navire descended into Bonaroi after a breakfast during which Chloe kept her attention firmly away from the end of the table where Lucien sat with the other senior officers.

She wasn't going to quit or ask to go home, but it was something of a relief to touch down and know there would soon be more than the space afforded by the navire between the two of them.

The stop in Bonaroi was to give the mages who powered it a night of rest and to allow for the delivery of mail for the small garrison stationed in the portside town. The next leg would be longer, only one more stop before they reached Elenia and their destination. The town was in Kesseret, one of the small eastern countries closest to Illvya. It was busy and bustling, and Chloe, tasked with accompanying the colonel and Captain Theisse to speak with the commander of the garrison, drank it all in with curious eyes, an odd sort of peace descending over her.

Different streets. Different stores and houses. Different people.

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