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Anyway, his desire to avoid bloodshed had been eroded by the events of the last few days, and he couldn’t muster any real regret that this was the least risky option.

Luc moved quietly behind the man, still sitting on his rock. He weighed the knife in his hand and then slit the guard’s throat at the same time as clamping a hand over his mouth. It was a technique he’d been taught as a teenager in the Chosen camps, but never had any call to use before now.

The guard gave a grunt, and Luc lowered him backward from his perch, twisting him as he did to lie on his side.

Then he moved toward the stream.

He could hear the guard humming softly as he filled the pot.

Luc disposed of him in the same way.

He rinsed the small amount of blood he had on his hands in the cool water and then turned back to the camp.

Dagar had turned to look at the fire and Luc saw him go still at the sight of the guard sprawled out on the ground.

He hoped the healers wouldn’t make any sound of surprise or distress. He remembered to pull the scarf off and made his way back to them.

Dagar’s head snapped toward him in fear as he noticed Luc in the flickering firelight. Luc put a finger to his lips and after a long moment, Dagar gave a nod and leaned across to grab Calintha’s arm.

The other healer turned to him. “What is it?”

“Time to go.” Luc spoke softly, and she gasped as she twisted to look at him over her shoulder. “Sierra’s baby needs you.”

Calintha let out a sigh of relief and stood. Her eyes went wide at the sight of the dead guard.

“Quickly now,” Luc said. He started moving and the healers were silent as they fell in behind him.

He cut across the camp, reaching the edge of it as fast as possible. They were free of the sleeping soldiers and completely out of sight in less than a minute.

“You aren’t from Versai.” Calintha’s voice was almost a whisper, even though they were far enough from the camp now that they wouldn’t be heard.

“He’s the Commander of the Rising Wave, Cally.” Dagar’s voice was just as soft. “I saw him eight months ago, coming through Versai on his way to Ta-lin. What are you doing here? Did we lose against the Kassians?”

“No, we won.” Luc would never get tired of saying that. “I had scouts watching the Jatan border, and they were able to get the message to us that the Jatan had ventured into Kassia and Cervantes.”

“You came to stop them?”

“Too late for Versai, but hopefully not for Ta-lin.” Luc caught a movement up ahead, and gave a low call.

Rafe returned it. “You got them out?” He sounded surprised, but he allocated the two healers an escort and had them up in the saddle in moments.

They disappeared into the night, and the mood among the soldiers around Luc changed.

There was no reason to tread lightly anymore.

“Most of the Jatan are sleeping,” he said, pitching his voice so everyone could hear him. “There are three tents; I’m assuming Hurst and his senior officers are using them.”

Rafe tapped his forehead above his eye, and Luc reached up to his own forehead and rubbed there with his thumb. It came away bloody.

Every eye seemed to focus on it.

“Can we go now?” Revek asked, voice close to cracking.

“You can go now,” Luc agreed.

And they went, silent with rage. Keeping their roar of fury trapped in their throats, to strengthen their arms and focus their aim.

Chapter 23