Page 181 of Swords of Soul and Shadow
“Thanks,” Kase muttered as Sergeant returned to his side, sheathing his sword.
The guard only grunted. Back to holding a grudge about his assignment, then.
Kase dusted his shirt off. Better he just go back to his tent—obviously Eravin had run off somewhere, and he was risking too much trying to find him. He’d lost all his courage in the years since their split. The thought hurt Kase a little. He hadn’t realized just how much he’d missed his friend until he’d blackmailed Kase. Ironic.
What was it about the people Kase befriended? Eravin had joined up with One World. Ben was working with the Cerls. Both had betrayed their people and everything they’d stood for. Was it Kase? Was he the problem? He was the common denominator.
Kase ran his tongue along his teeth as he strode down the corridor, ignoring the stares of those still dispersing. Hopefully his bad luck was up, and the same thing wouldn’t happen to Hallie.
If he hurried, he could go fetch some rations and take them to Saldr’s tent. She should be there training still. Maybe they could find a little privacy and continue what they’d started the previous night. Wouldn’t leave them long if he had to be at the Stradat Lord Kapitan’s tent at noon, but it was better than nothing.
“Heard you been asking ‘round about me, Shackley.”
Kase paused, and Sergeant’s hand went back to his sword.
The tunnel he’d just entered was rather sparsely populated, a shortcut back to his tent. The only gas lantern hung at the end of it and offered shadows for those wishing to remain unidentified. Kase glanced at where the voice had come from. A man with a fisherman’s cap tucked down over his forehead leaned against the wall. The man had a cigarette hanging from his lips, the smoldering tip casting a faint glow on the man’s familiar features. His bottom lip sported a scab, as if it had been recently busted.
“Eravin.”
Eravin took a puff and blew out, the smoke lazily snaking toward the ceiling. He pushed off the wall and nodded to a few women passing by the other way.
“So,” he said casually, “have they decided if you’re a traitor or not?”
Kase couldn’t help the frustrated groan that escaped his lips. “Says the man who sold out his country to One World!”
Eravin gave a soft chuckle. “Really, that’s the best you have?” He threw the cigarette down and ground it under the toe of his worn boot. “The High Council was corrupt, something I’m sure you’d agree with.”
“Heddie Koppen isn’t corrupt.”
“Wasn’t.” Eravin stepped closer. “Heard she didn’t make it out of the Jayde Center in time.”
He’d already known, but the words were still like a punch in the gut. He’d liked the High Guardswoman, even if he hadn’t spent too much time with her. Kase narrowed his eyes. “Your doing.”
Eravin raised a brow. “Maybe, but like I said when we struck that truce, it wasn’t part of my plan.”
“Right.” Kase rolled his eyes. “As if blackmailing people for state secrets wouldn’t cause the government to collapse.”
“Welcome to reality, Shackley.” Eravin laughed mirthlessly. He glanced to the side where a pair of off-duty soldiers passed by. Sergeant nodded to them. “I’m doing my best to save our country. You have the audacity to fly a Cerl machine and callmethe traitor?”
“If you would’ve let me explain, you would know I stole it and figured out how to use it against them.”
“You’ve always been a good liar.”
Kase balled his right hand into a fist. Despite the delivery, he tried to take that as a sort of twisted compliment. “That’s not what I came to discuss.”
Eravin stepped back and spread his arms to the dark tunnel. “And pray, what did you come to discuss? Come to thank me?”
“Stay away from Hallie.”
Eravin’s sardonic smile faltered. Lowering his arms, he furrowed his brow. “Hallie?”
“Don’t play stupid.”
“Well, seeing as I’m not…” He put his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “I’m just not sure why I would need to stay away from her, considering I haven’t done anything to warrant such a directive.”
“You’re being a stars-blasted dulkop. Waylan and Neville, too.”
“You never change.”
