“Then let us find Elazar.” Fatemah stood, a wide parchment in one hand. “I’ll have my people use our Budwig Beans to listen for his location, his goals, how many defensors are moving on Port Mesi-Teab. And when we all rescue my missing Tuncians, as well as the Emerdians and Grozdans, Nate and Rosalia will beg the Tuncian syndicate’s forgiveness.”
Kari shrugged. “In the meantime, we will extend the sanctuary’s perimeter and solidify Port Mesi-Teab. Head Blaise and Rustici appeared to agree with that venture now, at least.”
“They will,” Fatemah stated. Her focus turned to Ben. “Or they will leave.”
He stiffened. “I want to earn your trust.”
Fatemah’s face was a slate of stone. She stepped around her desk and thrust the parchment at Ben. “Then earn it. This is a map of Fort Chastity.”
Ben took the paper and stared down at a rough sketch of five levels. Some places were labeled: a wide inner hall,guard stations, weapons storage; exits here, there—
He looked up at Fatemah, careful to keep his face impassive.
Her voice took on a note of maliciousness. “Rumors have spread through the city of a gathering at Fort Chastity happening in a few nights. We need to know what it is—and as Kari said, we need information. If your father”—the words came on a low growl—“plans to usher in his coming light, perhaps this is it. Get into the fort. Find out what the defensors are doing.”
Ben gaped. “You trust me with this?”
“No. My people will accompany you. But you will know your defensors’ inner rotations, how to avoid them, how to work around Argridian setups—and you will gather informationonly.No attack yet. Get my raiders in, get the information we want, and bring them all back alive, and maybe then, Prince, maybe then we will trust you.”
Kari tipped her head at Fatemah. “You do not have Budwigs in the fort? Could you—”
Fatemah’s lips crinkled. “The ones we hid there have been... removed.”
She said nothing else. The implication sank into Ben.
Cansu was still missing, along with other Tuncian raiders—who would have known the Budwigs’ hiding spots in the fort. If the magic was gone now...
Elazar had gotten at least one of the raiders to tell him about the hidden Budwig Beans.
Ben pressed the map to his chest. “I am honored to do this with your people, Fatemah.”
“Good. Take some time to prepare.”
She marched from the room. With a pause and a heavy exhale, Kari left as well.
Tension alone had kept Ben upright this far—now that it was gone, he collapsed on the edge of the desk.
Gunnar’s hand dropped onto his shoulder.
Ben couldn’t remember the last time anyone had touched him with such gentleness. Even with Jakes, they had been surrounded by courtiers who disapproved of a noble consorting with a guard, so they’d had to keep any caresses private. And Elazar—cruelty laced his every touch.
It was yet another shock to Ben that, with everything he’d been through, he wasn’t repulsed by Gunnar’s hand on him. As though every touch from Gunnar wiped away a bad memory and replaced it with something new.
“We should listen to her,” Gunnar said. “Prepare. Rest. We will need it.”
Ben cocked a look up at Gunnar. “You’re coming with me? You—” Realization sent his eyebrows lifting. “You agree with Lu, though. About making permanent magic. Why did you stay here? I chose not to side with her, but that doesn’t mean—”
“Did you want me to go with her?”
“Are you asking my permission?” Ben shot up from the desk. “You aren’t my prisoner anymore. This war hasalready cost you too much. I don’t want it to hurt you more than it has—you don’t have to choose either side. You can go home. Maybe the Tuncians can get you an escort to the coast, or a boat.”
Gunnar shook his head, once, quick and short. “I’m not leaving, Benat,” he stated.
Ben’s heart was a mess of beats tripping over themselves. “You aren’t?”
Gunnar turned to the window, the sanctuary beyond. The ramshackle buildings and refugees and volatile raiders. “I left because I could not help the Mechtlands. But I can help here. I can helpyou.I want to help you.”
Why?Ben almost asked. But Gunnar took his hand, and Ben forgot how to speak.
