Page 115 of Pretense

She shrugged and flexed her grip on her wooden staff. “I know you do not like it, but you may need my magic, both to ensure that your magic and Farrendel’s work together and to heal anyone if things go wrong.”

Rharreth nodded, his mouth grim even as his gaze softened when he regarded Melantha. “You’re right, of course. But if things do go wrong, Zavni will throw you over his shoulder and get you out of there.”

The troll who understood Escarlish grinned and drew an ax from its place strapped to his back. “Of course, my king, my queen.”

“I would expect nothing less.” Melantha lifted her staff, a fierce light in her eyes.

She had found her place in Kostaria. Farrendel had few fond memories of that kingdom, but it was good to see his sister happy, as if in Kostaria she had finally found the place she belonged.

Rharreth faced the stretch of mountain highland before them. “Then enough chatter. Let’s get this done.”

Chapter Thirty-Six

Farrendel had Weylind on one side, Melantha on the other. Iyrinder provided a reassuring presence at his back. The feeling of eyes upon him came not just from those they had left behind, but also from the tower far ahead of them, though he could not see any movement yet.

Ahead of them, the squad of Escarlish soldiers escorted the captured spies, approaching the border under a flag of truce.

Farrendel and the others strode a little way behind them, still shielded from view for the most part.

At the border, the squad halted. The commander said something to the group of spies, then the Mongavarians were pushed across the border. After a moment, once they realized they were being set free, the Mongavarian spies ran toward the tower, their hands still bound behind their backs, as if they believed this was all a trick and the Escarlish soldiers might yet fire on them while they fled.

Farrendel flexed his fingers, itching to draw his swords as he watched the spies flee into their homeland. Averett and Weylind had made the decision to release most of the spies back to Mongavaria. Neither of them wanted to provoke Mongavaria through a mass execution, nor was keeping a whole pack of spies locked in a dungeon indefinitely worth the hassle. In the end, it had been decided to let them go to carry a message to their king that Tarenhiel, Escarland, and Kostaria would not stand for any of Mongavaria’s meddling.

They had, however, kept back two of the spies to question them for more information on any lingering remnants of Mongavaria’s spy network in Escarland.

The Escarlish squad of soldiers turned and marched back the way they had come, meeting Farrendel and the others only a few yards from the border.

The commander saluted Weylind and Rharreth, but, strangely, his gaze focused on Farrendel. “Are you sure you don’t want us to stay to provide cover?”

Why was this commander looking to Farrendel for orders?

Farrendel glanced around. Right. He was the only one here with any connection to the Escarlish royalty. That must make him the ranking official in this commander’s eyes.

He gave a stilted shake of his head. “No. Our magic will protect us. Protect your king. And be prepared to guard our retreat if necessary.”

That last order would give this squad of soldiers something to feel useful, even if it would not be needed.

The commander nodded and barked orders. The squad parted, marching in two columns on either side of Farrendel, Rharreth, Melantha, Weylind, and their guards, before combining again to continue toward where Averett, Julien, Ryfon, and Brina waited at the base of the Escarlish tower.

Then, almost before Farrendel was ready, he and the others reached the single block of stone standing upright in the field. What looked like words had been carved into its face, but the stone was too weather-beaten and covered in moss for the writing to be legible.

The Mongavarians in the far tower had yet to react, likely too busy getting the reports from the returned spies.

Rharreth placed his hand on the stone and, next to him, Melantha did the same. Farrendel positioned himself next to Melantha, making sure she remained fully shielded behind the column of stone.

Melantha huffed and glared at him and Rharreth in turn, as if to show them that she knew exactly what they were doing. But she remained where she was at least.

Weylind halted on Farrendel’s other side, the only one of the four of them who was fully exposed without the rock to shield him. Kneeling, Weylind tangled his fingers in the grass, though he did not reveal his magic yet. He kept his gaze focused on the tower.

The four guards also arranged themselves so that they had both a view of the tower but could also bodily shield their charges.

“Ready?” Rharreth met first Melantha’s gaze, then Farrendel’s.

Farrendel nodded and cautiously placed his hand on the stone as well.

A frosty dusting swirled around Rharreth’s fingers a heartbeat before his magic burst into the stone, filling it with a chilly, immovable kind of power.

Farrendel braced himself for the spike of pain from touching a stone so laced with troll magic, but it did not come. After a moment, he reached with his free hand and touched where the stone Melantha had given him hung beneath his shirt against his skin. He had nearly forgotten about it, until now.

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