“He really hates us,” Ashley whispered, baffled behind me, fighting for her cool.
“Great,” Nate sighed, crossing his arms in an intimidating stance towards the others.
“Don’t worry,” Malakai’s voice cut through like a sword, killing the buzz immediately. “I’ve given you all names. Hassle squad, Shit Squad and Nonsense Squad.”
I pressed my lips together, trying to hide a smile as I saw the man who had made fun of us had paled and became quiet.
“Does this mean he favors us?” Mey asked, scratching her neck. “Technically kids can still be taught, I mean.”
“No,” Lionel’s voice remained calm, hushed and cold. “He’s just above all of us.”
This mission was intended to be longer than the previous, our packed bags were heavier, the mood stiffer. Mages had been seen around our lands towards the west and we were to take them out.
“Nothing like the smell of trees and the promise of explosions, eh? West isalwaysa good direction,” Ashley smiled, swinging a satchel with far too much enthusiasm.
“Only because you’ve hidden half your stash in that satchel,” I said, flatly.
A smile played at her lips. “Correction,mostof my stash. You never know when a tree might need to be… removed.”
Lionel shook his head, adjusting his gun. “You mean wheneverythingmight need to be removed. I’ll stay two paces away, just in case.”
“Make it ten. Safer for everyone,” Malakai added, dryly.
“And here I thought the Lieutenant’s words only extended to actual strategy, not bad jokes,” I murmured, glaring at his back.
A low huff sounded, but he never turned. “When my squad carries a walking powder keg, it becomes strategy.”
“See? Hedoesthink about me,” Ashley gasped mockingly.
Nate elbowed Mey in her side. “Don’t worry, sis. If the bombs don’t kill us, the bickering will.”
“Better bickering than silence. Silence means something found us,” Mey muttered in response. “Unless they find us because you’re all too loud.”
A slight pause around us, a moment, as if everyone was listening for any sound of movement besides our own.
“Not that silence would be so bad… I wouldn’t mind listening toyoufor a while, Lio,” Eve purred lightly, keeping her pace even with Lionel.
He scratched his neck, with a diplomatic smile on his lips as he kept his gaze forward. “Uh… the birds have me beat. They’re singing plenty.”
“Oh for the love of… She’s already starting,” I muttered in Ashley’s direction, as we both glared at our sworn enemy.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got enough explosives to make her flyfaraway if she gets too annoying,” Ashley snickered, pretending to keep her voice lowered.
“I heard that,” Eve snapped, sending us both a sharp glance.
“Good. Saves us repeating it,” I smiled, sweet, yet filled with venom.
“Ladies, ladies. If you’re going to fight, please make sure I’m not in the blast radius,” Nate urged, raising his hands like a referee.
Mey coughed into her sleeve.
“You okay?” Lionel asked, looking over at her, but she merely waved him off.
“Eyes forward. West means mage territory. If you’re busy tearing each other apart, you’ll miss the real threat,” Malakai cut through, his voice sharp.
We all turned our heads forward without hesitation, but my lack of manners got the better of me.
“Don’t worry. If a mage shows up, I’ll be sure to throw them atyoufirst, Lieutenant,” I muttered.
