Page 76 of The Second Death of Locke
Grey’s heart dropped. The others exchanged uneasy glances. They all had friends back at Mecketer, and though they were not planning to return… “What happened?” Kier asked, obviously stressed. “I left Lieutenant Chappelle—”
“Chappelle lives,” the commander said. “As does most of your company. They fought well.”
Kier did not answer.Mostdid not meanall. Even now, death followed them, darkening every place they’d once been.
“I’ve received word from Scaelas that we’re to host a convoy from Cleoc Strata—you must understand how much trouble it has been to prepare for such a change in plans—and though it’s a shame we haven’t found Locke, your diplomacy in this situation has been noted.”
“Thank you, Commander.”
So Reggin knew that they didn’t have Locke. Grey let a pulse of relief slip free to Kier.
“If you will hand over the girl, we will make sure she is comfortable until the assembly from Cleoc arrives.”
Sela squeezed Grey’s hand so tightly her nails dug into Grey’s palm. Grey shifted, wrapping an arm around the girl’s waist.
“I’m sorry, sir,” she said—she was never good at holding her tongue, but Kier would’ve wanted her to speak, she was sure—“but if it’s no trouble, we’d like to remain with Sela until then.”
The commander’s eyebrow rose as he regarded her. “And you are?”
“Officer Eron Fastria, sir,” she said.Thatwas insubordination, but she was going to retire anyway. What were they going to do?
“Fastria,” he repeated. Grey did not look at the others, but she felt a pulse of warning down the tether. That muscle in Kier’s jaw was tense again. “Do you not trust my guards? I have hand-selected them for the task.”
Grey shook her head. “It is not that, sir. But we all promised to keep Sela safe until we handed her personally into her nation’s care. It would be disrespectful to my gods to leave her now.”
It was a lie, but so was her entire life.
“To… your gods,” Reggin repeated slowly. Religion was not widespread in Scaela, but other soldiers had dedicated their lives at the knife-edge of death and remembered to stop at altars and pray for the rest of their lives, certain they had survived due to a deliverance. Perhaps he would think her a fool.
She shrugged. “And as a matter of the captain’s honor.”
Kier only sighed.
“Dutiful to the last, Captain,” Reggin said mildly.
“Unfortunately, Fastria is right. We would be honored if you would allow us to keep watch over Sela until we can hand her over. And we will, of course, ensure her safety.”
“I’m sure you will,” Reggin said, shuffling through papers on his desk. “I’ll allow it. If that’s settled, there’s one more matter at hand: Captain Seward, you have been put forward for promotion to master.”
Silence settled in the room, and now Greyknewthe others were watching her face. She kept her eyes on Kier, watching as his hand twitched—it was his only break in composure. “That’s not what was agreed,” Kier said.
Reggin frowned. “And what is it you have agreed to, then?”
“Papers, please?”
Grey reached into her jacket pocket, where she’d made sure the papers were this morning. She handed them to Eron, who gave them to Kier. “Signed orders,” he said, putting them down a bit too forcefully in front of the commander. “Hand Captain Flynn and I have been promised retirement.”
It would be a challenge, Grey thought grimly, to switch back now—but it was doubtful that the commander would meet either her or Eron ever again; and if he did, she was fairly certain her own position would be significantly different.
She glanced at Eron, who met her gaze. There was a twinkle in his eye and a smirk on his mouth, and she was fairly certain he wasn’t mad at her for dragging his perfect record through the mud.
The commander read the letters and sighed. He looked back up at Kier—and Grey looked too. If he agreed to it, he’d be the youngest master in Scaela. Perhaps the youngest mastereverin Scaela.
“Is there anything I can do to change your mind?” Reggin asked.
Kier said, “Hand?” He glanced at Eron, but Eron let his gaze slip to Grey, eyebrow raised.
She nodded, the smallest movement of her chin. Even that was probably conspicuous, but right now, she didn’t care.
