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“Who told you that?” Deni asked.

“Yes, who did tell you that, Haslia?” The ranked officer asked. “I’ve heard that rumor and I’ve been trying to work out where it started.”

“It’s because Haslia shares pillows with Revek sometimes,” the remaining Rising Wave soldier volunteered. “I thought she got the story from him.”

Haslia shook her head. “I didn’t start it. And I didn’t hear it from Revek.” She slowly turned in a circle. “Do you feel eyes on you?” She spoke in a whisper.

“Don’t change the subject. You’re the one who tells it the most. I think you did start it,” the soldier who’d mentioned the women’s connection to Revek said. “The story I’ve heard that has more weight, though, is about his sword.”

“What about his sword?” Taira asked.

“Enchanted,” the soldier said.

“Enchanted?” Taira scoffed.

“Have you seen it?” The soldier’s face was earnest. “It’s got a gold pattern on the hilt. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before. He got it in the dungeons of the Kassian fortress where he was held prisoner. Found it there and used it to fight his way out.”

“Why does anyone think he’s been enspelled or carries an enchanted sword anyway?” Deni asked. “Has he been behaving strangely?”

“He was always a good fighter,” the soldier said. “The best, really. But now . . .” He lifted his shoulders. “There have been three assassination attempts on him since he got back to the Rising Wave from Kassia, and he’s stopped every one of them singlehandedly. It’s like he’s got a magical edge.”

“And that’s a bad thing?” Deni asked.

“Magic isn’t the way to fight a war,” Haslia said. She had relaxed a little and Ava focused on her again.

As soon as she did, Haslia began to fidget.

“If magic’s given, it can be taken away. Or perverted. What can be made strong can also be made weak.”

“I see the Commander out on the field every day, training.” The officer gave Haslia a long look. “There’s no sorcery involved. Just hard work.” He narrowed his eyes at her. “And I’ll tell you now, Haslia. If I hear another word about the Commander’s heart’s choice using spells on him, I’ll assume you aren’t busy enough, and give you more to do.”

“Beside, you’re saying that he’s been enspelled since he got back from Kassia, but he and Avasu only met up again two days ago, after two months apart,” Deni said. “She’s been traveling with us a lot of that time. Are you saying she’s such a powerful spell caster she can work a spell that lasts two months?”

Haslia shrugged. “I didn’t come up with the story, despite what Fredrik says.” She sent the other soldier a dark look. “And I won’t repeat it again.”

Frederik pointed a finger at Deni. “I hadn’t even thought of that, but you’re right. How could he be enspelled by your scout all this time they’ve been apart? A magical working only lasts a few hours.”

“Says who?” Haslia scoffed. “What do you know about it?”

“What doyouknow about it?” the officer asked.

“Enough to know with so few spell casters around, we don’t really know what they can do, do we? And if I could cast spells, I’d be sure to downplay how long they last. Wouldn’t you?”

“This story has been swirling around since your Commander escaped the Kassian?” Taira asked.

“Yes. Since a few days after he got back.” Frederik folded his arms and looked over at Haslia.

“So he told everyone he’d escaped with Avasu?” Taira frowned.

“No.” The officer drew the word out. “That’s a good point. Only someone who knew he’d escaped with a woman would be able to make up a rumor about a woman enspelling him.”

“Like Revek,” Frederik said.

“Or like the Kassian themselves.” Deni’s voice was low.

Haslia stopped looking around, as if for escape, and slowly let her gaze travel over each of them. “What, I’m a spy now because I passed on a rumor? I won’t repeat the stupid story again, all right?”

“I want to know who told it to you if you didn’t make it up yourself.” The officer took hold of her arm.