I nodded slowly “can’t you do anything to help? Antidepressants, slinks?”
“Shrinks.” Matthew corrected with a cackle “and yeah, I could, I just…don’t.”
“Slink sounds better.” I mumbled, pouting, before adding “you should.”
“Can we not?” Matthew sighed “I…”
“Okay.” I nodded once, jaw tightening “think about it though, okay?”
“Hmm.”
CHAPTER 27
Matthew
I was attendinganothermeeting, only the whole room was silent as we awaited our two missing participants; Stryker, of who’s whereabouts nobody knew anything at all, and Theo, who Johnathan had sent to go and look for him.
The commander was evidently growing increasingly impatient. Just as he opened his mouth to grumble something, the door slammed open.
“Guys, I walked in on Stryker and the ice queen.” Theo yelped, scurrying into the meeting.
Ah. That explained it.
The whole room roared with laughter; Nikolas and Johnathan were the only ones who didn’t seem remotely amused, the latter’s eyes narrowed at Theo.
“Sir, I- I’mtraumatised,it’s notmyfault!” He exclaimed, squirming under his intense stare.
The commander sighed heavily, exchanging an exasperated look with Nikolas before stating “we’ll start without him. The kid clearly has other…priorities.”
More sniggers filled the room.
I felt sorry for him already, because I knew Johnathan would be making sure that he faced the consequences of his actions.
“As you all know, the ships are set to sail tomorrow at dawn-“
I shuddered, grimacing. I’d been on more ships these past few months than the whole of last year here and I wasreallygetting sick of it. Pun intended.
“We shall arrive in Stadal by early morning and move in on them, block off all exits. The middle guard will be lead by queen Eleanor, constable Edgar will lead the cavalry, constable Silas will lead the vanguard and marshal Wilbur will lead the rearguard. Do you all have clear who these figures are?”
A murmur of ‘yes, sir,’ rippled through us.
“The cavalry will be going through first. The rest of the troops will stay down, allow them to pass, rise up andhammerthem, got it?”
More ‘yes, sir’s.
“You are my vintenary, as you should know, and so are commanded by me. You follow my orders. You don’t question them.”
That being said, he began announcing each of their roles. Theo, as I’d expected, was a billman. Stryker was part of the archers- Johnathan mumbled something about having to strangle him as he said so- and Jack and me were listed in the cavalry.
It was all very well, but we’d all mix into the same rank within the chaos of the battle, I knew that much.
“Before we leave, you are expected to meet at the armoury and gear up. Meeting dismissed.”
Johnathan pulled Theo aside as the others left, hissing- not quietly enough for me not to hear- “once he’s done, refer as such to your partner and pray add that his commander is one step away from wringing is goddamn neck.”
It was said extremely calmly, but the threatening undertone he managed to insert was more than evident.
“Yes, sir.”
