“Name.”
“B-Bastian. I’m just a scout, I wasn’t?—”
“I didn’t ask what you were.”
Kairos’s mist curled along the ground, wrapping around the scout’s ankle. “How many soldiers are in Skalgard?”
“I-I don’t know.”
The mist tightened and yanked, and acrackechoed through the clearing. The male screamed, collapsing to his side.
“How many?” Kairos asked.
The scout trembled. He raised his head, tears cutting through the dirt on his face. “Three warbands. A hundred men, maybe less.”
The warriors scoffed, and Kairos crossed his arms.
“It’s the truth. I swear it!”
“A hundred men,” Kairos murmured, exchanging a look with Uther. “That’s all Vaeris spares to guard his own throne?”
“It’s all he has,” the scout raved, spittle dribbling down his chin. “The northern lords are dead, someone has to occupy their lands. He’s got warbands burning villages across the border, garrisons in every city to keep order. People are panicking?—”
“What about the rest of his forces?”
“Outside the city,” he blurted. “I swear on my blood.”
“Blood is easy to spill. It doesn’t hold oaths very well.”
The scout blanched.
Kairos crouched, bringing himself level with the scout. “The forces outside the city. Where are they positioned?”
“East and south. They’re waiting for you to commit to the gates before they close in.”
“And the girl. Where is Vaeris keeping her?”
Bastian’s eyes darted to me, then back. “Which girl?”
“Young. Slight of build. Dark hair.”
He licked his lips. “I-I haven’t seen anyone with that description.”
My heart lurched. Was he lying?
“What about the seal?” Kairos pressed. “What’s he doing to it?”
“I don’t know. He’s forced everyone to evacuate the market.” Bastian swallowed. “Something’s wrong. The runes in the city are flickering.”
Kairos studied him for a long moment.
“Please,” Bastian whispered. “I’ve told you everything.”
“I believe you.”
The scout sagged, and for one breath, I thought Kairos might let him go. Then the mist moved. It crawled up Bastian’s body, giving him time to look down. The tendrils wrapped his throat and squeezed, and he choked as his eyes bulged.
Kairos watched, unmoved, but his fist was clenched.
