“Please, Voski. I need this. I need to besomethingthat offers me some kind of control. I can’t control people with my strength. But I’m a lot better with my mind.”
Voski scratched his chin. “I’ll have to talk to Ronen, I’m not making any promises. He’s the one with the choice for the squad.”
“Really?”
He nodded.
“Please! If I could find a way to focus, er, all my duties in the same area then I’d have more hours for some of the other things.”
Voski’s expression grew intense. “You’re really feeling the pinch, huh?”
I tried to brush it off. “Terra overreacted yesterday. I want to addmoretraining—some time with some women. And I need to make gaps to do that.”
Gil looked confused. “Women? What women?”
“Women who can help me do better in things men can’t do. Or won’t.”
“Like what?”
“Like how to keep others interested in talking to me.”
“Tell them you’re the first female Furyknight. That’ll do it,” Gill snorted.
I blew the joke off, but Voski folded his arms and stayed serious. “You know, as I think about it, there’s an argument here that you’re actually better suited to subterfuge than scouting anyway. It would mean you’d do the physical training with the squad, but the rest we’d fit in other spaces. Right?”
I nodded. “That’s what I was hoping.”
“I’ll handle it,” Voski said firmly.
Gil nudged him. “I saidI’ddo it.”
“We’ll do it together,” Voski said seriously. “Paint the picture so Ronen’s on board—then they’ll all agree. That’ll give us more time to train with her one-on-one, as well.”
Nerves bubbled in my stomach. Not because I thought Ronen would say no. But because I knew I was taking a risk. Changing my role in the squad meant remaining on this course even after this mission was done. It meant keeping my focus in subterfuge—spying—even when warwasn’timminent. Maybe being sent out even in the times of peace.
But, even though I went cold at the idea of having to leave Donavyn, when I thought of the missions… Ilikedthat idea.
And, as it turned out, so did my brothers when the idea was presented to them at the meeting.
“I always said you were sneaky,” Einar said, nudging me that afternoon when Ronen posed the idea to the rest of the squad.
“She’s even more sneaky than you know,” Gil called from the other side of the room, winking when I looked at him.
“I don’t have time to be sneaky,” I said. “That’s why I need training.”
“I don’t see a problem,” Ronen said easily as he looked around to make sure no one else had a protest. “If your Fang Wing brothers are willing to take a greater hand in your squad training, I say it’s a good fit. And it would be nice to havesomeone on the team other than Voski who can make Gil jump out of his skin.”
Everyone chuckled except Gil, but then we moved on.
I struggled to focus for the rest of the meeting, partly because they were talking about duties for the coming weeks, when I assumed I’d be in Fyrehold, and partly because there was a low, simmering thrill in my chest.
I was getting somewhere. I could feel it. Now if I could just convince Donavyn to get me in front of the queen before we left Vosgaarde. But until then…
I had an idea that gripped so tightly, it was difficult to sit through the rest of the meeting. And the moment we were done, I ignored the coming meal and went on the hunt.
24. Sisters in Secrets
~ BREN ~
