Another chuckle cuts the tension, this time from Henry. “We’re definitely going to need that dinner, brother.”
While Cal tries to catch something large enough to feed four mouths, Henry carefully constructs a fire. Logs meticulously stacked in a woven pattern guaranteed to burn through the night. Theo, clearly the more extroverted of the brothers, downs a truly impressive amount of wine while he attempts multiple times to engage in conversation with me.
“I hope we didn’t get off on the wrong foot.” Theo takes another swig before offering it to me. “Meeting someone at knifepoint isn’t usually how good relationships start.”
“The daggers weren’t personal,” I say, taking the wineskin from him. “A woman should never walk into a circle of strange men unarmed.”
A half-smile quirks up on Henry’s face. He slides something from his pocket as he settles against the trunk of a nearby tree. The polished blade of a small knife glints in the firelight. There’s a small chunk of wood in his hand that is just beginning to take an odd humanoid shape. Perhaps an effigy to the gods or the figure of a woman.
“Smart,” Henry says. “... but you have nothing to fear. Any friend of our brother’s is safe with us.”
My stomach clenches at the way Henry says the word ‘friend’. Theo clears his throat and exchanges a pointed look with his brother across the flames. There is definitely something they’re not telling me.
“And compulsory travel companions? Are they safe as well, or should I pull out my blades again?” I provoke.
The brothers exchange another glance, quicker this time. It’s the younger brother who answers me.
“Our brother can be a bit of an acquired taste. But once you get to know him?—”
“I doubt that will happen.” I sigh, laying it on thick in hopes that his brothers’ lips will be looser than Cal’s. “Your dear brother has told me next to nothing about himself. I didn’t even know his name until two days ago.”
Henry pauses his sharpening briefly, waiting to see if I’ll press on. But I have nothing else to share.
What am I supposed to say? It’s not like I know anything of substance about Cal. Hells, I only learned his age and that he had a brother a few hours ago. It’s not like he confessed that he’s waited a lifetime to be poisoned by me or anything … that would be ridiculous.
No, if I want to make any progress on learning Cal’s secrets, I need to focus on getting Theo to unwittingly divulge them. If a life in politics has taught me anything, the best way to keep people talking and covertly extract information is to ask them about themselves.
“Are you two in the military as well?”
“I’m wounded that you haven’t heard of the famed Captain of Corinth’s prized lieutenants,” Theo jokes, clutching his chest. “We’re prettier than him. You think they’d write songs about us instead.”
“They did write a song about you, brother. It’s called ‘The Lieutenant Who Can’t Keep His Pants On.’” Henry chucks a small rock that Theo barely dodges before it smacks the tree behind his head.
“You’d know all about songs, wouldn’t you brother? Tell me, did Marianne sing you to sleep after she was doneplaying your flute.”
Theo takes a small instrument from his bag and tosses it towards the fire. Henry, murderous rage filling his eyes, scrambles to catch it before the flames claim the silver flute.
“Marianne?” Cal approaches the fire holding two dead rabbits by their ears. “I thought you ended things with Marianne, Henry?”
“He did.” Theo takes another drink from the wineskin. “And then he un-ended things. What was it your letter said, brother?All the sapphires in Corinth couldn’t compare to the sparkling blue of your eyes.”
Henry forcefully chucks another rock at Theo with a concentrated effort to hit him. I jump to my feet, barely dodging the rock as it ricochets off the younger brother’s head.
Marianne?Is Cal’s brother in love with the twin sister to the heir of the Sapphire Region? There’s no way her father or brother are okay with her love affair with one of Marks’ lieutenants—not after what the Lord General did to their region.
The men seemed primed, spun up from Theo’s reckless words and ready to fight. When anger rises, lips tend to loosen. And if they think I’m not around, perhaps they’ll spill more than they intended.
“I’m going to go wash up for dinner,” I say, excusing myself. “I think it’s my turn to ask you not to kill each other while I’m gone.”
I’m just beyond the tree line when Henry’s voice echoes through the clearing. “Touch my shit and I’ll break your fucking nose.”
“I’ll quit touching your shit when you quit playing that godsdamned flute every night while I’m trying to sleep.” Theo snaps back, squaring up to his older brother.
“That’s enough, Theo.” Cal’s voice is commanding.
“I should have known you’d side with him. You’re no better than he is,” the youngest lieutenant scoffs.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Cal snaps.
