Page 8 of Sword of Desire
Ackley didn’t respond. Ruthar didn’t need to know anything. “Make sure the cape’s hood is up, you stand tall and straight, and speak as little as possible.”
“Okay.”
“You’ll also need to walk like me.”
Ruthar nodded again. If there was one thing he excelled at, it was imitating those around him. It was one of the main reasons Ackley had used him on missions in the past.
“Meet me over that ridge in twenty.” He pointed south.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Ackley headed to his tent to gather what he needed for his journey. Once he packed his provisions, he brought his six guards inside so he could explain the plan to them. He made it clear no one was to know he was gone. They were to address Ruthar as the prince, follow him around as if he were Ackley, and make sure no one discovered where Ackley had gone. He then proceeded to tell his men where he was going in case something happened, and they needed to get a hold of him.
Satisfied, the seven of them exited the tent, heading to the other side of the ridge Ackley had pointed out earlier. When they arrived, they found Ruthar there waiting for them.
“Here.” Ackley tossed a sack at Ruthar.
Ruthar opened it, pulling out Ackley’s pants and tunic.
“Put those on.” He unlatched his cape, handing it to Ruthar.
Once Ruthar was dressed, Ackley made him walk back and forth a few times until he moved like Ackley.
“The ones who’ll seek you out are either us or the six you sent on missions,” Harper said. “We shouldn’t have any problems.”
It was time to be on his way. “Head back to camp. Find Captain Gytha and send her this way. Harper, you’re in charge. If any decisions need to be made, if the camp needs to move, anything at all—the decision is yours.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Your priority is protecting my men.”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
Ackley watched the seven of them head back toward camp. Thirty minutes later, Gytha approached, leading two horses.
“You don’t think anyone is going to notice two of our six horses are gone?”
A smile spread across her face. “It’s taken care of.” She mounted her horse.
He had no idea what she’d done, but he trusted her.
Ackley also mounted, and the two of them set out.
“I’m glad you’re taking me along instead of trying to do this on your own,” Gytha said. “Maybe you’re not as pig-headed as I thought.”
If she could take a jab at him, he could take one at her as well. “It’s safer to travel with a female. Less threatening.”
Her shoulders stiffened.
Ackley chuckled. “Thankfully, appearances can be deceiving.”
They rode in companionable silence for several minutes. “I’m surprised you didn’t want to wait a day or two to make sure the camp was running efficiently before we left.”
He’d considered it. “I wanted to get out of there before anyone realized I was gone. There was still so much commotion setting up camp, it was the perfect time to slip away unnoticed.”
“I’m shocked you trust anyone enough to leave them in charge.”
He still grappled with it. “If there’s a deal to be made with the empress, it has to be with me.” And waiting for his man to reach the empress and then for the empress to send word back to him would take too long. This was far more efficient. And he hated sitting around doing nothing. To ensure his sister remained hidden and safe, and for Harley to not be under Lyle’s command for too long, Ackley needed to speed things along.
