Page 29

Cole surveys around us, his voice dropping low. “That was far too close.”

I gently smack his arm, hissing under my breath. “Yes, but what the hell, Cole? Apprenticing ahealer?”

“It’ll be an excuse if we get any questions. You know visitors aren’t allowed in military outposts. So if your guise is as an apprentice, it could cover us.”

Daeja pokes her head out between a layer of my hair and tilts her head at Cole.

I quickly usher her back into the cover of my hood. “What happened to staying near the lake and reassigning patrols?”

Cole grimaces. “I might have...panicked. Look. Let’s get you something to eat, first, and we can figure out a plan. Can you leave her in the forest for an hour or two?”

“Absolutely not.” I slip a hand back into my hood to scratch Daeja. “I can keep her quiet.”

Cole’s copper hair rustles as he shakes his head. “Too risky.”

“Well, either I stay with her out in the forest and you tell the rest of your squad there’s a change of plans—”

“I can’t do that, it’ll raise suspicion—”

“What do you propose then, Cole?”

“She can’t stay with you. She’ll get the both of you killed.”

“Well, then I leave with her on my own to the Dragon Lands,” I bluff. I’m not a fan of manipulation, but I’m hoping it’s enough of a threat to convince him.

His body goes rigid, confirming it worked. At least partially.

“Trust me. I can keep her…” I hook a finger under Daeja’s chin and lead her out from the cover of my hair, then double tap two fingers against the side of her neck, “Hidden.”

Daeja evaporates from view.

A collective murmur hums around us as we pass rows of crowded tents and reach the heart of the camp. Staring eyes weigh on me as we pass other soldiers. Cole guides me with a light touch on my lower back.

We approach a cluster of long tables accompanied by groups of soldiers bent over their breakfast plates. Cole briefly announces and introduces me to the squad, before pulling out a chair for me to sit.

Archie slides a plate in front of me. The smell alone would make me groan if I weren’t surrounded by strangers. My mouth salivates as the steam off the fresh pancakes snakes up into the morning air. I grab a fork and steady myself to take small bites. Choking may be an embarrassing first impression here. The first bite melts into my mouth, and I sag at the taste.

Daeja growls in my ear, and Archie flicks a questioning look at me as he sits across from me.

I lean my head to the side to nudge her quiet. “Sorry.” I laugh sheepishly. “I haven’t eaten in awhile.”

Cole sits next to me, subtly throwing me a side glance. As Archie directs his attention to Cole, I stealthily nab a piece of the pancake and bring it up to my neck. Daeja’s hot breath warms my fingers as she sucks the food out of my grasp.

Now please, stay quiet.

Archie’s words are muffled around his mouthful of pancakes as he asks Cole, “Do you think Kat and I could be sparring partners?”

“Kat’s here as Marge’s apprentice, so she won’t be sparring,” Cole answers.

“Ohh…got it. Well that’s too bad, Kat, because you could spar with the best.”

“I don’t doubt that,” I say with a smile.

Archie mirrors my smile, his cheeks stuffed full of pancakes. He absent-mindedly flicks a knife round and round his fingers, nearly slicing himself in the process. The metal knife gleams with an expensive sheen compared to the dullness of mine and Cole’s.

“Where did you get that?” I ask, digging out any excuse for conversation to mask Daeja’s sounds.

“Oh, this?” Archie twirls the knife in his hand again. “I brought it. It’s from my home back in Helmbrook.”