Page 89 of Taking Jenny
I sighed as I followed her. “A pity we couldn’t take the onworlder here.”
She gave a short laugh. “Indeed.”
We had parked the onworlder on the far side of the mountain to keep our tracks clean, then hiked our way up through the brush. It had been easy enough for us with our long legs and fast strides, but Jenny’s short human body couldn’t cover that kind of ground nearly as fast. Even with her head start, it had taken us only minutes to get ahead of her again.
I glanced at Discord as we moved. I didn’t know the full plan, and every part of me hated being excluded. “Where did Longshot go off to?”
“I told you,” she said, her pace never slowing. “He has a different mission.”
“Why can’t I know the whole plan?” I asked, unable to keep the annoyance out of my voice.
She huffed irritably. “I know you care for Jenny and Mal, Tiger, but we don’t know you. We’ve spent all our time trainingher, which meansyouare a wildcard. We don’t know how you would stand up to an interrogation and given the rumors of the palace as of late, we don’t know what kind of interrogation you would face, so we couldn’t even pretend to prepare you for it, especially now. At this moment, the less you know, the safer we all are.”
That landed like a punch to my gut. “And you and Longshot and Surge, you’re all what? Experts at being interrogated?”
“It wouldn’t be the first time for any of us,” she said evenly. “But I would not describe us as experts. Only Mal can claim such a thing.”
My brow furrowed. “He’s been interrogated before?”
“Many times. By many people.” She reached forward to push a low hanging branch out of my way.
I ducked beneath it and asked, “Why?”
“The first time we know of was when he was found as a boy. It was suspected that he could be a plant, a spy. So, at twelve years old, he was grilled for three days by the palace executioner. Under penalty of death.”
“But, I thought he didn’t remember anything before he was found.”
She hopped over a log and I followed suit. “He didn’t. When the executioner found nothing, he was taken to a magician. There, he faced…worse things.”
My stomach twisted. “What’s worse than an executioner questioning a child?”
“I am sure you have heard the stories of what magicians can do, Tiger,” she said with a long suffering sigh. “Do you really want me to elaborate?”
I shook my head. “No, I don’t think I do.”
“Precisely. After he was found to be trustworthy and taken in as Justice’s ward, he sought those men out and asked them to teach him what they knew. He does not have a talent for magic, but his apprenticeship with the executioner proved invaluable. That’s why he’s survived as along as he has.”
I didn’t know what to say. In the beginning, Mal had been distant. Cold, even. I figured it was his personality, some mix of trauma and pride. But this…this was different. This was something carved into him by force.
“Is Mal the palace’s executioner now, Discord?” It was a question nobody had yet to answer.
“Remember how I told you the less you know, the safer we all are?”
I groaned and rubbed a hand down my face. “Yes.”
Just like everyone else I’d asked, she didn’t elaborate or answer my question, just kept walking through the brush to our next destination.
A frustrated growl escaped me. “I’m taking a lot on faith here.”
“And I appreciate your faith, Tiger.” Her tone was sincere, but devoid of further explanation.
I decided to try a different tactic. “You also said we can’t attack the hunters, and I’m still wondering why not.”
She gave me a sharp look. “If we attack the hunters to protect her, then it will be obvious forensically. If wemustdefend ourselves, then we must make it look likeshekilled them. Since all Jenny has is a damned staff and a fucking leather bag, we will have to use sticks and rocks to defend ourselves.Andif the hunters are on their feet, we will have to crouch low and adjust our strength before attacking them, otherwise it will look like someone our height and with Ladrian strength attacked them. With any luck, we will not need to use such maneuvers.”
“Got it.” My jaw clenched.I hate this. I hate this so much.“That clearing up there. Think it’s a good spot for the supplies?”
She considered my suggestion for a moment. “Not too obvious from the path, not too far either. Exactly something the palace would use for a legitimate supply drop. Good eye.”
