Page 109 of The Threadbare Queen

They had no more depth than this.

A sudden scream forced his attention back toward the Rising Wave and their prisoners.

One of the Cervantes soldiers on the right flank was being yanked from his horse by General Hurst, who slashed at him with a knife.

He must have hidden it and bided his time for a moment like this.

The Cervantes soldier fell, blood pouring from his arm, but he still tried to grab Hurst, to hold on to him as he tried to heave himself into the saddle.

And then Revek was on him, sword swinging as he separated Hurst’s head from his shoulders.

There was a moment of absolute silence, and then a roar from the Jatan side, and the responding roar from the Rising Wave.

Luc had a sudden, inexplicable urge to lean forward over his horse’s neck, and he went with it, recognising the feel of Ava’s magic tingling against his skin.

An arrow passed over his shoulder as he bent.

He glanced at Massi as he straightened, to find her lifting her hand back from her bow, return shot already taken.

A mounted archer near Tuart and Baclar gave a hoarse shout as he fell with an arrow in his eye.

“Stop!”

Didier, the councillor, shouted the word as he walked forward with his five fellow elders, hands waving.

The elder turned to Baclar, staring him down, and with a tight nod, the high-general waved at a soldier to his left and she raised a horn to her lips and blew.

As the last note sounded, the Jatan officers had control of their soldiers again.

Luc had simply put out his hand and made the gesture for hold, and the Rising Wave had obeyed.

When the noise was just a background hum, Didier walked toward him, Fallicia beside him.

“That was . . . unfortunate.”

“Your high-general said he would shoot me in the back, and then someone right beside him tried to do just that. I would say that was more than just unfortunate.” Luc glanced down at him, then up at Baclar, who was moving toward them, as well, Tuart at his side.

“I know I threatened to do it, but I swear that I did not order the archer to shoot. I don’t know why he did.” Baclar actually looked like he was telling the truth, and the invisible lines on his skin, the magic Ava had sewn into him, agreed.

But still . . .

“I can’t believe you. Your people have done nothing but lie since I encountered them.”

Tuart heaved a sigh. “I was trying to shield my fellow officers from their poor decisions, and I would do so again, but there is no excuse for shooting you in the back. We are not stupid enough to court a war with not only the Rising Wave but all your allies.”

“And we can’t ask the archer why he acted as he did, because your lieutenant is obviously a much better shot than he was.” Baclar looked over at Massi with interest.

“Perhaps he thought you would be pleased with his actions, after what you said.” Massi bared her teeth at him.

“Perhaps,” Baclar acknowledged. “It was a foolish thing to say.” He shook his head. “Your last comment before Hurst turned this into a near bloodbath makes me think you already know how close we are living to the edge of disaster. The Kassians have bled us almost dry, and we cannot fight a war with you, let alone Venyatu and Skäddar.”

“We will need time to gather funds as recompense,” Didier said, voice soft. “We are not saying your demands are not valid, but the thought of it worried us, and made us stupid, because we have very little left. We have obviously heard of the new Kassian queen, and we know you are in accord with each other.” He looked over at where the Rising Wave soldiers were dragging Hurst’s body toward them, with Revek holding the general’s head by its hair. “Hurst should not have been in Cervantes, and he most definitely should not have been attacking civilians. But he is one of our generals, and we have to take responsibility for him.”

Fallacia stepped up beside her fellow councillor and put her hands together, cupped palms facing upward in the universal gesture for peace. “Let us each go settle our people, and the generals and councillors will discuss a way forward. Will you join us for dinner tonight?” Fallicia moved her arm behind her to the open field that straddled the border. “We can make a fire in the open and resolve our issues without bloodshed. And negotiate for our people’s return.”

She winced as Hurst’s body was dropped beside her. Baclar took Hurst’s head from Revek with a look on his face that said he’d rather be doing anything else.

“Luc.” Massi looked worried.

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