“But you saw what I did.”Did her voice crack, even in her mind? Somehow unable to resist swelling with emotion?
“I did.”How was I supposed to respond to that without sounding like I was judging? I attempted to keep my mental voice flat and unaffected. Her state was too unstable to offer my assessment, how I surmised she’d done it out of mercy. Given her reaction to the boar, I knew she wouldn’t have time to fortify herself if her emotional dam broke right now.
She didn’t say, or I guess, think, anything after that. We proceeded in silence, somehow louder than before. I sent the occasional order to steer her in the right direction. Eventually we found ourselves back by the riverbed where we’d originally departed. Dalin and Johni had returned, but I couldn’t scent nor see Harlson or Val.
“You did it!” Johni rose from the log he’d been perched on, tossing the weed he’d been picking at to the ground. Thesmile on his face was pure elation. How he’d deluded himself to believe his life wasn’t already forfeit was beyond me, but I wouldn’t dare shed light on the fact.
“Thank gods we’ve only a day and a half’s travel left. We should return with a couple hours to spare.” The relief on Dalin’s face was evident as our countdown neared its end.
“Tell them we’ll start a fire at the next outpost, cook our portions,”I told Ro.
“We’ll cook our portions once we reach the next outpost. Nothing more than a reasonable serving each. I’m not sacrificing more of my bounty than I have to,” Ro said with authority that offered no warmth.
“Nice touch.”
“Thanks.” Not one tell on her face gave away that we were communicating.
While we waited for the rest of our party to join, we relaxed by the river. My ears twitched when footsteps approached. Harlson and Val marched toward us, hands empty. Ro stood there, arms cross, hip cocked to the side, the perfect picture of impatience when they greeted us.
“About time. Let’s go,” Ro ordered, starting to walk off.
Tension permeated the air. They’d barely accepted her, and now to be bossed around by an outsider? Harlson’s jaw ticked before Val said, “You said the king sent you, yes?”
Ro stopped abruptly, facing the volatile woman. “He did.” There was a challenge in her voice, one that scolded Val for doubting.
Val crossed her arms, rocking her hips in place. “How long have you been working for him?”
A tingle pricked my skin. Whatever Val was goading for had unease brewing a tempest in my gut. “Careful, they’re trying to lay a trap for you.”
“About two years.” To Ro’s credit, her body language held firm. She showed not a moment of hesitation.
“You’ve never been to our camp before. As a matter of fact, the king has never sent anyone north.” The curious flair to her voice was a deception, thinly veiling her distrust.
Ro’s heartbeat became erratic, but she held an air of indifference as she replied with a quick-witted jab, “Why, oh why, would he ever have robbed anyone else of the pleasure of your company?”
Val blinked, the only reveal of the anger simmering beneath her skin as she held that feigned smile. “Why didn’t you return with the last convoy? Surely you know of the established trade route.” Val was gearing up for something, and Harlson was nervous, evident by the thin sheen of sweat gathering by his temple.
Ro rested her arms on her hips, letting out a deep sigh as she said, “Are you going to bore me with logistical questions all day?”
Val’s smile was vicious. “We could have killed you on sight. No one informed us you were coming, and that makes me question if you were meant to at all. And if you’ve truly been sent by the king, why not send more than just a girl with arrows?”
“Thisgirl with arrowsis apparently the only one capable of doing your job.” Ro gestured to the boar.
Any evidence of Val’s entertainment faded in an instant. “Tell me, who are you meant to report to upon your arrival at The Order? Carmin or Graycin?” Vines crawled almost imperceptibly slowly, inching toward Ro’s feet. Harlson’s fingers twitched, showing his preparation to grab his axe.
The first indication Ro had lied, they’d kill her. She wouldn’t be worth the magic in her veins if they suspected and ended a spy. It might be the one thing that would save Harlson and Johni from certain death.
“Say Marvoe.”Thank the gods Ro had this magic. I hadn’t named any of The Eleven to her before.
“Listen, believe me or not, that’s your choice. You can take it up with whomever you want when we get there, but I have a job to do, and I don’t plan on displeasing Marvoe by wasting precious time on asinine questions.” She batted her hand in the air, like she was swatting away an annoying fly. “Let’s move.” She maintained that steady, level, commanding tone, and walked away, leaving her back exposed to them. A display of arrogance, but total confidence.
Clever, albeit dangerous.
Val and Harlson exchanged a look that had them both questioning their intuition. Killing or harming someone sent by the king for aid would surely get thembothkilled. Doubt seeped from their pores and tainted the air. Dalin and Johni trailed behind Ro, and I cast Harlson and Val a narrowing stare before I retrieved the kill and followed.
I didn’t bring myself closer to Ro. If I showed allegiance to the huntress, it might cause speculation that I’d fed her information. Learning how to strategically place myself during my time in the north had been my greatest skill. If I hadn’t been careful, I would have been dead long ago.
This was just another part to play, another tactic to deceive. So why did it feel so gods damned hard to put distance between us?
