“That isyourpriority, General,” Thaxvarien growled. “I cannot stop you from doing what you see fit. But I am here for my destra's sister, who is nowmysister.” He turned toward Liri. “You're right, sweetheart. I will contain my attacks to the wall from here forward. Once the wall falls, we'll have them.”
“Thank you.” Liria took his hand again.
“Fine, I cannot force you to obey my commands either,” the general grumbled. “You've both been relieved of duty. But you're here on my tolerance. So, although I have no authority over you as soldiers, I have authority over this camp and who remains in it. Everyone in this camp is under my command. Do I make myself clear?”
“Very, General.” Thax tucked Liri in against his side. “But you've just seen what I can do. Do you really want to send me away just because I refuse to target the main building?”
The general grimaced. “Yes, all right. I'd like you to stay. But when we infiltrate the fortress, you will obey my orders. Agreed?”
“Agreed.”
“Good. Now, let's have some breakfast and discuss exactly what you're capable of, Mr. Rennux.”
Chapter Fifteen
Lena
Lena walked beside Commander Vor through the fortress corridors. He looked angry, but she didn't care. Had he really thought his promise of protection would go over well with her? The only reason she needed protection was that he had abducted her from Liria's wedding! He had put her in the middle of a battle.
Vor opened a door she recognized. It was the room they had first come to upon arrival—the command room. The same people manned the desks there. The same man lurched to his feet and came to speak to Vor. This time, he looked nervous. A glance at Vor made her pause. Maybe his anger wasn't directed at her.
“I did not give you leave to proceed!” Vor shouted, his voice sending the other man back a few steps.
“I'm sorry, Commander. I thought you said I could?”
“I said I liked your idea and that I'd be joining you. I never told you to proceed. You accosted me fresh from my sleep, and I wasn't able to give your plan the thought it required. Once I had, I realized it would be better to implement it at night, when darkness would conceal our soldiers. You had better have goodnews for me, Zucar. If this plan of yours failed, I'll hold you accountable!”
The dark-haired Nethren winced. “I'm sorry, Commander.”
“Damn you!” Vor grabbed the man by his throat and lifted him off his feet.
The man gasped, the metal tube in his neck creaking, and flailed as his feet left the ground. Lena drew back with a cry of terror and pressed back against the wall.
Vor's expression went horrified, and he turned his head to meet her gaze. Without a thought for the man he held, Vor dropped him and hurried over to her. “Lena!” His hands hovered before her as if he knew touching her would only make things worse. “I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that in front of you.”
“You shouldn't have done that at all!” Lena edged away from him. “That's not how you should treat people.”
“He's my subordinate, and he failed because he didn't obey my orders.”
“It sounds as if your orders were unclear.”
The other Nethren in the room watched their exchange with wide eyes, especially the dark-haired one. Vor didn't seem to care. He kept his focus on her.
“They were not unclear.”
“How do you know? You said you had just woken up and weren't thinking clearly.”
Vor paused. “Yes, I said something to that effect. Perhaps you're right.”
The dark-haired man made a startled, strangled sound.
“Here, sit down, Lena.” Vor ushered her to a chair. “I know you're still shaky from the attack.”
Lena sat down, gaping at Vor as much as the rest of the room. “You . . . you're not going to hurt him?”
“No, that was unnecessary. I can handle this without violence.”
“Dear Tech,” someone whispered.
