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‘Don’t we need to get going?’ she asked with a frown.

‘Allies aren’t meeting until noon,’ Cal explained, helping himself to the pot of tea on the table. ‘We’ve got the morning.’

‘Well then,’ Thea said, sitting down as well. ‘You’d best tell me what the fuck you’ve been up to all this time.’

Kipp’s answering grin told her there were many stories to be shared.

‘Don’t you dare,’ Cal cautioned him.

‘I would never. That tale is a main course, not a starter.’ Kipp wiggled his brows at Thea, and she laughed. She would never tire of time with them, and here in their presence now, she realised how much she’d missed being with them on the road. The journey had been long and hard, with little amusement along the way. Cal and Kipp were a gift in that respect.

‘So where have you been, then?’ she asked, settling in.

Cursing the empty teapot, Cal set the kettle above the fire to boil before answering. ‘Well, after you left for the Rite, we travelled to the Guardian barracks around Aveum.’

‘Just you two?’ she asked.

Cal nodded. ‘Torj wanted to stay close to Artos, so he sent me as his apprentice under his banner.’

‘He has his own banner?’

Kipp produced an embroidered patch from his pocket, offering it to Thea. A bear surrounded by flames was stitched there.

‘Is that a…’

‘Cursed bear? Yep,’ Kipp replied, tucking the fabric away once more. ‘Anyway, the barracks were as you’d expect. No one really knows what’s going on, but with Artos still acting the role of the benevolent king, there’s little we can say in broad daylight that doesn’t fall under treason.’

‘And when it’s not daylight?’ Thea prompted.

‘Where we could, we started telling the truth – about Artos, about the Daughter of Darkness and what he did. What Osiris did…’

Thea could only imagine what her fellow Thezmarrians would think of King Artos being in league with the reapers, of him framing a little girl for his own attack on the fortress and the longstanding Guild Master of Thezmarr, Osiris, helping him cover it up.

Kipp seemed to read her thoughts. ‘Reactions were mixed. Got ourselves into our fair share of trouble.’

‘You do that no matter what tale you’re telling.’

‘I resent that.’

‘That’s generally how you feel about the truth,’ Cal retorted.

Kipp waved him off. ‘No one has seen poor Princess Jasira, though most hope that she was taken into hiding by those loyal to her mother. The most pressing worry for our cause, though, is that no one has heard from Esyllt in weeks.’

Thea faltered. ‘No one? But he’s the weapons master! First port of call for all our resources, for all Guardian strategy. How can no one have —’

Kipp shrugged, though the bounce in his knee belied his concern. Esyllt was his would-be mentor, his fellow strategist. ‘Word is that the shieldbearers’ training has been downright dangerous back at Thezmarr in his absence —’

‘It was plenty dangerous when we were doing it,’ Thea interjected, picturing Kipp’s swollen face and her own knife wound courtesy of Seb Barlowe.

Kipp grimaced with her. ‘It’s worse. Osiris is using his power as Guild Master to force people to take the initiation test early. He’s bowing to pressure from the rulers that we need more Guardians.’

‘They won’t be Guardians if they’re dead,’ Cal muttered.

Thea had to agree, recalling the dangers of their own initiation trials. They had risked their lives several times, and had they not had adequate training… She shuddered at the thought.

‘Where’s Torj?’

‘Last we heard he was still playing the role of loyal Warsword at King Artos’ side,’ Cal told her. ‘But with Esyllt nowhere to be found, it’s only a matter of time before those associated with him are picked off.’