“I want to come. I’ll not let you down.”
“I said no.” Von glowered at him. The lad nearly joined the dead not a mere hour ago. They were heading to another battle and surely there would be more losses, but not on his end if he could help it.
“Let him go,” Yavi said as she approached. She stopped under the cover of the trees, close to his horse and out of view of the remaining Raiders readying the wagons. “He was in Corron with Bouvier. He’s learned his way around the streets.”
Geon nodded eagerly. “I know the best way in and out of the city. With my help, the Azure Guard won’t see us coming.”
That would be useful. Von groaned, “Fine, but only so you can relay a message to Bouvier. You’ll stay out of any confrontation with the Guardians. Go on, report to Abenon.”
“Thank you, Commander.” Geon cantered off to join the others as the men mounted their horses.
“You shouldn’t encourage him, Yavi. It’ll be dangerous,” Von said. He signaled to Abenon, giving the order to move out. The ground rumbled with the beat of hooves as the Raiders galloped northeast for Corron. They were to ride all night and should arrive midday after Dyna, if not sooner.
“Aye, it will be,” Yavi said, watching their departure. Her kirtle and hair fluttered in the strong wind like a stream.
“You’re worried about her.”
“That man is sending you to kidnap another person, and to snuff out the lives of two more. These people could mean our freedom.”
Von had not let himself think about that. His duty was to his master. The holy law decreed it. Betraying Tarn was the same as betraying the God of Urn.
“Have you imagined what would have happened if you had not been so selfless fifteen years ago? Tarn was at your mercy. He should beyourlife-servant.”
Von sighed. “His father was my liege. How could I keep him as my servant?”
“He had no qualms on his end,” she snapped.
The betrayal still stung. Tarn had been his friend, or perhaps he had been a fool to think so.
When Azurite fell to the Horde, the carnage in the field outside of the town was the same as this one. Covered in dismembered bodies, but with both human and troll. The grey-scaled beasts reeked of swamp and carrion, or it could have been the corpses left to rot in the summer heat during the day-long attack. Von and Tarn had been the only surviving knights. On their last breath as they fought their way through the Horde.
Tarn lost his weapon, and the trolls descended on him. Teeth crushed through bone, tearing through flesh, as they ate him alive. Von didn’t think twice about saving him or relieving him of his life debt. But when Tarn came to his aid immediately after, the same courtesy was not returned.
Von had wondered many times afterward if saving Tarn had changed the course of the world as it had changed the course of his life. They both should have perished that day.
“Do you regret it?” Yavi asked.
“What’s done is done.”
“He must not have the Unending, Von. What do you think he will do with that power?” She motioned to the bloody field. “How many more need to die? How many more must you kill for him?”
Von had lost count of all the lives taken by his hands. He wiped a stray tear from her cheek. “I don’t have any say in this.”
“You do. I wish you’d see that.” Her welled eyes looked up at him, pleading for him to make the right choice. But what was the right choice? Spare innocents or uphold his holy duty as a life-servant?
He didn’t know what was right anymore.
“I fear this task won’t be as easy as you’re used to,” Yavi murmured against his calloused palm. “Beware the Guardians, the Seer said. They won’t let you take her without a fight.”
“Well, they would be poor Guardians if they didn’t fight, eh?”
She shook her head. “I’m not jesting. I have an awful feeling.”
He smiled if only to hide that he felt the same. “I’ll come back to you. I always do.”
“You’d better, Von Conaghan. Don’t leave me alone in this world.”Not with that man.She didn’t need to say it. He heard it as clear as he’d heard the fear in her voice.
“How could I when I love you more than my own life?”
