Utter bullshit. Even the soldiers with him had remained back at their fire to avoid listening to him.
“What the hells are you planning?” Serill breathed, his brown eyes flashing with wariness. “I’ve seen those hand signals you’ve been flashing all night.”
She shoved a bowl into the prince’s hands.
“I’m not going to kill them,” she grumbled. “I had my suspicions when I saw their packs, but then he said they had been traveling since Arkta.”
Serill ladled stew into his bowl at a glacial pace. “Yes, it’s a minor military outpost now.”
“It’s Anfroy’s best kept secret. Not minor, but theircommandoutpost. All orders and operations go through the Generals stationed there.”
“Do I want to know how you know that?”
Her grin was answer enough for him to realize that he would not approve of her methods in getting those details.
He rolled his eyes. “What are you planning?”
“Just follow Farrah’s lead while Cason and I distract Lyle,” Brela answered with a feral smile.
“Br—Lilla,” Serill hissed again, but Brela spun away from his grip, snagging a chunk of bread as she sauntered back to the fire.
She knew one of Lyle’s eyes had been focused on her since he’d noticed her earlier. She’d seen that blur of her Veil shard’s effect in his eyes—and seen the other, more hideous look in that green gaze. There was a bright side to having enough features to pass as Anfroidian, especially when it came to elitist men. Perhaps their only redeeming factor came from their obsession with glory and honor. Even someone with no magic could be respected in their kingdom, and Cason had opened that door for her by naming her as his second in command.
It was time to repay the favor.
“So it’s just me and the noglida circling one another,” Lyle was saying, his voice rising as Brela neared. Farrah and Elias both wore looks of mild amusement, though it was probably directed toward Cason’s look of absolute annoyance. Lyle didn’t seem to notice. “The thing is limping, blood gushing like a fountain from it’s missing tail barb yet it keeps trying to attack me as if the thing is still attached to its body. So really it just keeps showering me with red liquid every time—“
“Noglida blood is green,” Brela said through a mouth full of bread as she plopped next to Cason. She could almost hear Lyle grind his jaw. Might have even seen a flicker of fire behind his green eyes. “It’s also poisonous on skin contact and causes wicked hallucinations.” She didn’t reveal that she saw Cason’s look of relief and his quiet hand signal of thanks for shutting Lyle up. “I’d explain all the details, but I would hate for Prince Serill to miss the fascinating story. He’s already expressed his desire to sleep.”
To Serill’s credit, he took it in stride. “Yes, it has been a long day.”
Farrah dusted off her pants and stood, Elias following suit. “Lead the way, Your Highness.”
Serill gave one final glance at Brela before offering a polite nod to Lyle and walking toward the tent. Farrah inched closer as they walked, her fingers ever so subtly tapping against Serill’s hand as she whispered too quietly for Lyle’s senses to pick up.
Thank the gods the prince returned the gesture to Farrah, sliding his hand along the small of her back, pretending no one could see them. Brela watched Lyle watching them, curiosity flickering across his features.
As Elias posted himself in front of Serill’s tent, slightly concealed but still in perfect view of the fire, Farrah quickly glanced around and ducked inside after the prince.
“Wouldn’t be my choice,” Lyle said all too casually, eyes trailing up and down Brela’s body.
Baited perfectly. Carefully, she set her hand on the bench, fingers lightly brushing Cason’s while still hidden from Lyle’s view.
“So, Lyle,” she said as Cason curled a finger around hers. “Traveling from Arkta to… where is it exactly that you’re headed?”
He tipped back his canteen and waved her off. “Come now, sweetheart. You don’t want me to talk business.”
She rolled her eyes playfully. “You can’t fault a woman for wanting to know what anactualmilitary force could be doing out here. We saw the Anfroy and Rooke camp outside the shadow temple. A large operation for a city that belongs to looters now, scaring away all the Veil cultists.”
Cason’s finger tightened in warning.
Lyle leaned back, propping his arms behind his head. She didn’t fail to notice that he’d rolled his sleeves up just enough to show the ends of his perception and fire ink on either arm. “Itching for a fight, are we? You might be Anfroidian, but I can’t divulge our military operations with you.”
She returned a shrug. “Let’s just say I might have some… investments that would be in jeopardy should certain rumors about the wall prove to be true.”
The soldier chuckled. “Your prince has been spending too much time with that ridiculously superstitious Lord Gerrart, hasn’t he? Not to worry, sweetheart. We’ll take care of the shadow-cursed or their creatures should they make an appearance.”
Brela fought the impulse to swallow, squeezing Cason’s hand to focus on him rather than the implications of what Lyle had suggested. Whatever they were doing at the wall, Lyle expected it to break, and he expected the shadow-kind to be on the other side waiting.
