Theos didn’t try to deflect the words. “I don’t understand what’s going on, that’s certain. But I knowsomethingis.”
The captain nodded again and stood up from behind his desk, coming to stand next to Theos with a tired smile. “We know it, too,” he said. “And we’re doing what we can. But Sacrati . . . We’re in a delicate situation. The balance of power between the warlord and us has grown very, very fragile. We’re being careful not to push too hard, and so far, so’s the warlord. But we can’t be sure how long he’ll keep the peace. Everyone’s stuck in this valley for the next five months or more. Until the spring comes, we can expect no outside help, and have no real way to escape. Can you see why that makes it important that we all get along?”
“It’s that bad?” Theos wasn’t sure he believed any of it.
“We’re still figuring things out,” Galen said. “But, yes. Potentially, it’s that bad.”
“So I . . . ignore it? I don’t know about the big picture. I’m not good at ideas, or big strategies. If we’re trying not to anger the warlord, should I just give him the Elkati spy?” Theos tried to ignore his gut’s reaction to that idea.
“The damage has been done, there; the warlord is angry, but he hasn’t exploded. So we should maintain the current situation, which means the Elkati should stay with you until we figure out why he’s important. Keep an eye on him, and keep him safe.”
Theos shook his head. “I should have just walked away,” he said, mostly to himself.
“Too late now,” Galen responded. “You own him; you need to take care of him.”
“Don’t suppose either of you is looking for a bedwarmer?”
Tamon snorted. “I’ve got enough troubles of my own; I’m not taking on yours.” He gripped Theos’s shoulder. “Keep an eye on him, Sacrati. That’s an order.”
Theos couldn’t think of any way out of it. So he nodded his understanding, if not his approval, and left the office. He was halfway down the square on the way to the practice yards when he heard an unfamiliar sound, or perhaps his warrior’s instinct kicked in . . .somethingmade him turn around and look at the headquarters building. Even from a distance, there was no mistaking the blond hair and pale skin of the figure striding away from the building and back toward the barracks. Finnvid was supposed to be with Andros, but here he was, marching out of the headquarters building, prancing about as if he owned the whole valley.
What in the name of a rust-stained sword was the Elkati up to? Who had he been meeting with, and what had been said?
Theos wanted to run after the boy and grab hold of him, beat him until he spoke the truth, and find out what was really going on. But Galen and Tamon had made it clear that Theos was stuck with the Elkati, and they’d given him no instructions about interrogation. They hadn’t expressly forbidden it, of course . . .
He tried to imagine striking the boy. In anger, maybe. But as part of a cold, purposeful interrogation? He could do it if necessary, he supposed. He didn’t want to, though, not at all.
So he swallowed his frustration and made himself continue down to the drill yards. His mind might be confused and useless, but his body? His body would fight. It was all it knew to do.
Chapter Nine
“He was here,” Andros said. “I mean, I slept a bit in the afternoon. But he was here when I went to sleep, and here when I woke up.”
“Well, he was sneaking around sometime in the middle.” Theos frowned. Even injured, Andros was Sacrati, and he should have been more alert and aware of his surroundings. “Did he give you anything? To make you sleep?”
“Some medicine,” Andros admitted slowly. “He said it was just a tonic, to make sure I kept healing. But I did fall asleep pretty soon afterward.”
Theos nodded. Drugging the man he was supposed to be healing; one more crime to add to the Elkati’s long list. “Don’t take any more medicine from him.”
Andros frowned for a moment, but then sighed and nodded. “Aye. Okay.”
“I’ll take him with me from now on. He can . . . Well, I guess he can do some training. He isn’t infirm, after all.”
“He’s not—”
“Not the enemy? Not a liar and a spy? Not apoisoner?”
Andros shrugged. “Aye, but he’s reallyverypretty.”
“You’re hopeless.” Theos stood and headed for the hallway, jerking the door open to see if Finnvid had been eavesdropping. But the Elkati was too clever to be caught like that. He was sitting against the wall on the far side of the corridor, face as sullen as always, and he barely looked up when Theos stepped out of Andros’s room.
“Heel, Elkati,” Theos ordered. He took three steps, then scowled back at the boy, who hadn’t moved. “You don’t want to test my temper today.”
Finnvid seemed to be thinking about it, but instead he rolled to his feet and ambled in Theos’s direction.
“Laundry,” Theos said when they reached the bathhouse. He practically dragged Finnvid to the service room, then waved a hand to summon the recruit in charge. “This slave needs to clean my clothes. But he can’t be trusted, so you’re in charge of keeping watch over him. If he misbehaves, come get me from the bath. Understood?”
The recruit nodded, eyes wide. This was probably a bit more interesting than the usual laundry duty. Then Theos turned toward Finnvid. “You clean my clothes while I clean my body. You can’t get into too much trouble in the laundry room, I hope. If you want a bath, you can splash yourself with laundry water.”
