Thax quickly got dressed and used the bathroom before they stepped out of the tent together. The sun was up, soaking the fortress in orange light, and Nethren soldiers glared at them from the walls, through the shimmering ward. It had come down briefly the night before, just for a few minutes, but nothing had happened. The Nethren hadn't attacked, and the ward wasn't down long enough for Paradefense to do much either. It was yet another nonsensical occurrence to bother Liria.
“Thaxvarien!” Evellor came striding up to them, his wings drooping and circles under his eyes.
“Are you well, Evellor?” Thax stopped and turned toward his friend. “You don't look so good.”
“Just tired. I didn't get much sleep.” He grimaced. “Do you know where Rallorival is?”
“I just emerged from my tent. Why?”
“We need to find him and bring him to the general.” Evellor looked around and then leaned in to whisper, “I believe he's the one who fired those shots on our people.”
“What?” Thax growled.
“Oh, sweet convergence,” Liria whispered. “That makes sense.”
Thax swung his head to look at her. “What do you mean? Why would Rallorival do that?”
“To get Lena away from the Nethren. He doesn't want peace. He wants my sister, and that asshole doesn't care who he hurts to get her!”
Thax blinked. “Holy shit. No, he's a good man. He wouldn't do that.”
“Those soldiers were unharmed,” Evellor said. “Not one mark. Rallorival is an excellent marksman, from what I've heard. Top of his class.”
“Fuck me,” Thax muttered. “How did you discover this?”
“I saw a weapon in his coat. A Nethren weapon.” Evellor glanced around again. “There he is! Hurry, we need to grab him before he gets rid of that thing.”
Liria and Thax hurried after Evellor, who strode quickly toward Rallorival, but didn't run. He was smart enough not to spook the man. Luckily, Rallorival didn't notice them until they were upon him.
Rallorival turned toward them with a smile. “Good morning.”
“Open your coat,” Thax growled.
“What?” Rallorival blanched.
Thax grabbed the sides of Rallorival's coat and jerked them apart. In a pocket on the right, the butt of a weaponshowed. Thax moved to grab it, but Rallorival spun away. He spread his wings and jumped into the air.
Both Evellor and Thax followed, leaving Liria to watch from the ground, grinding her teeth in fury. But they didn't go far. Without wings to hinder him, Thaxvarien's convergence sent him shooting up faster than any Aethari could fly. He grabbed Rallorival in a chokehold and dragged him back to the ground, slamming him onto his back, wings still stretched wide as if they hadn't realized they had left the sky.
Evellor landed seconds later and helped Thax wrestle Rallorival to his feet and then bound his arms behind him with cuffs that Evellor happened to have on him. Once Thax had Rallorival restrained, Evellor took the weapon from his coat. Together, they muscled him to the general's tent. Releasing her jaw, Liria followed.
General Caden was already outside his tent, speaking with his assistant. He turned as he heard the commotion. Rallorival's flight had caught the attention of several soldiers, and they tagged along, gathering more as they went through camp. By the time they stopped before the general, word had spread, and a crowd circled them.
“He's the one who shot at our people.” Thax shoved Rallorival at the general, sending him to his knees. “Show him, Evellor.”
Evellor handed the general the weapon. “We found this on him, General. It's a Nethren weapon.”
“I took it from a Nethren prisoner!” Rallorival growled as he struggled to his feet. “So what? It doesn't mean I fired at our people.”
“You're the only one with any motive!” Liria glared at the Aethari as she stepped up to the general. “He wants to keep us at war so that we take Lena away from Commander Vor.”
The general frowned at the weapon. “This is a serious accusation.”
“Aethari do crazy things when we think we've found our destra,” Thax said.
“Lenaismy destra!” Rallorival roared. “And you dare to order me away from her? You have your woman, but I'm not allowed mine?”
“Just admit what you did.” Thax met Rallorival's glare with his own.
