“And I overheard them talking about a travel mission to Argora Vale. From what I know, if you even so much as step on one of those rotting branches of dark magic, it eats you alive. How do they maneuver it?”
“When one of The Eleven travels, they wield the capacity to control those branches. They step forward, the branches move out of their way, and anyone with them.”
I flashed a look of understanding. What could be so important in Argora Vale that they didn’t want others to know?
A bell chimed in the distance, and I sat up straight. “What’s that?”
“The Eleven are calling a meeting. Handing out assignments.” From the way Dae stiffened, I wondered what he knew. “Let’s go,” he said. “Attendance is required.”
He pat Braxius on the head.
“Can I come with you?”the little dragon asked.
“No, buddy, I don’t think that’s wise. I need to understand what’s happening first. I know you’re tired of being cooped upin here. We’ll try to leave soon,”I reassured him. He circled like a puppy over the bunched pile of clothes and settled in. I think I heard a little harrumph when he did.
Dae sheathed his daggers and handed me my bow. Before he let go of my weapon, he leaned in and kissed me. My heart fluttered, and the world quieted for those glorious seconds. Standing as tall as he could, craning his neck to the side, he offered a hand and lifted me from the cot, letting me walk in front of him.
I wore the clothes I’d traveled in from Rahana. The familiarity filled me with confidence since I could use my weapons without worrying about baggy clothes impeding my movements. Five new arrows sat in my quiver. Not enough to make a scene or getaway in a camp this size, but something should I need it.
We joined the stream of bodies headed toward the designated meeting place. No one seemed outright panicked or worried, but tension permeated the air.
“Gods,” Dae muttered beside me. I might have missed it had I not been so tuned in to his every move.
“What?” Following his shocked stare, I saw the soot covered remains of a tent. “Oh. People were screaming about a fire after your fight. Must have been that.” Tiny wafts of smoke curled off the ashy ground.
Dae’s jaw clenched. “That was your tent.”
I looked at the scene anew. “Well shit. Was I supposed to put a candle out? Am I going to be punished for that?” Panic turned my blood cold. Of all the things to possibly die considering what I was doing here, an accident that I didn’t mean to cause? That’d be a wasteful way to go.
“New recruits aren’t given candles,” he said gravely. “This was intentional.” Anger flared behind the browns of his eyes.
“Ihavemade enemies, I guess.”
“Only someone who glimpsed the records would have known it was your tent.” He ground his teeth together.
And he’d said that woman had been strange about it. Insistent that I stay there. But I didn’t even know her. “Is there anyone whodoesn’twant to kill me here?” The crowd continued to funnel around us, making it difficult to remain stagnant in the midst of the rush.
“I won’t let that happen.”
I should have resisted when he placed his hand on my lower back, protested so that no one perceived us as anything more than two regular members. But I couldn’t bring myself to say anything because I loved the way his hands felt on me, in any capacity. In fact, I sank into it as we walked.
There was no stage or balcony from which they spoke. The Eleven simply stood in a line, hands behind their backs, dark eyes marked with a streak of makeup peering out over the crowd, dissecting us.
A woman began, “Missions to be executed by tomorrow are as follows: A crew to travel to Argora Vale. A stock pile caravan sent to the south, along with a band of a dozen. We require several volunteers. First up, a trip to Devera. Scouting for supplies and magic wielders, retrieving either or both. Same with down south. We have selected Carr for another siphoning, so don’t disappoint by failing to retrieve a wielder.” She spoke over the crowd with authority, all of us near silent while listening. The rest of The Eleven stood stoically, like darkness feeding off our presence.
A shiver ran down my spine, but my hand flew into the air. “I volunteer!”
A few turned to look at me. Dae tensed in my peripheral. The eyes of The Eleven fell upon me, Marvoe’s mouth turning into a sly grin.
“Excellent. I need five more!” the woman shouted, and a dozen hands went up. Seemed they had something to prove since I spoke up first.
Dae didn’t waste time ushering me back through the crowd, his guiding touch a tad forceful. He wasn’t pleased, and when we retreated into his tent, he certainly let me know.
“What in the gods names are you thinking?! We’re supposed to be lying low, walking directly into the pit of their power?!” He wanted to yell, I could see it in the way his muscles strained, but he kept his voice strategically low.
“I told you I need to find answers. Leadership is hiding the importance of the trip to Argora Vale from the camp. I heard them talk about it. They’re looking for something and if I can figure out what it is, I bet I can go home, and Braxius can give more info about the curse to my people.” The weight of that hung in the air, and even though it was the one thing I came here for, the thought of leaving left a taste of dread in my mouth. Not for this place I’d be leaving, but who I would be leaving behind.
“They expect us to capture someone,” he said, insinuating I didn’t already take that into account.
