“Thank you.” Fenn nodded, then turned to Rynna. “These two will be joining us as well. I may need the snake’s expertise when it comes to enemy capabilities in the field.”
Arthur looked to Kaelith, his brow furrowing in doubt. “Are you sure? Wasn’t Skarn his apprentice?”
Before Fenn could answer, Kaelith hissed. “Don’t worry, youngling.” The sudden gleam in his eyes caused Arthur to take a step back in alarm. “If we do find Skarn, I owe him a great deal of suffering.”
Fenn’s gaze darkened, and a quiet understanding passed between the two men. “We all owe him a great deal of pain, Kaelith. In that, we are aligned.”
Then, the Commander of the Third Regiment looked around the tent, surveying his team.
“Calli, excellent work giving us a target. Get some rest. Rynna, snake, you’re with me.”
Chapter thirty-eight
“Ahhhh.”Kaelithrubbedhisraw, cuff-marked wrists. “So much better.”
Fenn frowned, tucking the cuffs into his pack. “They can go back on just as easily.”
The ten Hollow-born who had volunteered to join the mission, a mix of men and women in dirty, blood-splattered uniforms, tensed, their eyes darting to Kaelith. Now that he was free to use his Source power, they were scared.
Kaelith noticed their nervous glances and offered an exaggerated bow before straightening to swipe imaginary dust from his sleeves. “I will behave, Commander. Just tell me who to kill.”
“Kaelith.” Rynna planted her hands on her hips.
The Hollow-born were already uneasy about going behind enemy lines to rescue the villagers; they didn’t need Kaelith making them more jumpy.
“Fine, fine.” He raised his hands in surrender, then paused, taking on a rigid, almost military stance, clasping his hands behind his back. “I will endeavor to be more like our beloved Commander.”
Fenn leaned over to Rynna and whispered, “I know what I said, but I still might kill him when this is over.”
Rynna’s mouth quirked into a smile as Kaelith slouched, his lips turning into a pout.He’s absolutely no fun, the man’s voice drifted through her mind.
Fenn then straightened, and his voice took on the firm, calm cadence of command, his eyes scanning the men and women in front of him.
“As you’ve been briefed, there’s a group of civilians holed up west of our position with a unit of the dead heading their way. Our mission is to get in, extract them, and return to camp safely.”
The Hollow-born snapped to attention, their fists rising to their hearts in silent acknowledgment.
Fenn continued. “We’ve also received word that Skarn, the mastermind behind the horde, may be in the vicinity. He is extremely dangerous. If you see him, disengage or lead him to me.”
A murmur rippled through the group, low whispers of disbelief. Fenn raised his hand, and the noise died instantly.
“The intelligence is not one hundred percent reliable.” His gaze briefly turned to Kaelith. “But there’s a chance that if we can take him off the map, the dead will follow him back to their graves.”
“We will find him and tear him apart, Commander!” one of the younger women snarled.
“As I said, Skarn is extremely dangerous. I don’t need to remind you that he defeated one of the legendary Demons.” He looked at Kaelith, who gave a derisive sniff. “Leave him to me. Your priority is the civilians.” His eyes drilled into them. “Is that understood?”
“Yes, Commander!” they shouted in unison, fists slamming to their chests.
Fenn nodded, then turned his attention to a middle-aged woman with hard-set eyes and two swords crossed on her back. “If I fall or become engaged with Skarn, you will lead everyone back.”
“Yes, Commander.” She bowed deeply, then straightened and looked to Rynna and Kaelith. “And what purpose will the Awakened and the traitor serve?”
Fenn considered Rynna and Kaelith, weighing his words carefully. “The snake fights for us today. The Awakened holds his leash.”
Kaelith’s lips parted slightly, the storm in his expression settling into something almost sincere. “I haven’t fought for a worthwhile cause in many, many years, but today I do.”
Then, as if a switch had been flipped, a smile crept across his face. It grew slowly, unnervingly, as his lips stretched too wide for a human mouth. “Skarn bested me with trickery. Today, you will see what one of the Ember Demons can do on an open battlefield.”
