“We’ll give you two some privacy,” Calrain said smoothly. The four of them exchanged glances, then vacated the tent, Wellion and Natha followingbehind.
“The major doesn’t seem very happy with Lord Raffis’s decision,” Natha said, sounding worried. They stopped a good distance away from the tent, standing beneath a tree as they huddled together in the darkness. “Do you think he will try to arrestus?”
“You should be perfectly safe,” Riann assured her. “You are not getting the reward, and Lord Raffis has promised you a position in hishousehold.”
“We, on the other hand, may not be so lucky,” Calrain muttered. He scowled as he glanced back to the tent. “Major Gallington does not strike me as the dishonorable type, but I cannot place the same faith in his soldiers. It is possible that when they find out about this, they will string usup.”
“I would like to think the Carlissian army has more integrity than that,” Yarim said, his expression growing dark. “But I know better than most how deep corruption can run, even in the most civilized ofsocieties.”
Wellion gathered there was a story behind that, but now was not the time to ask. And even if it were, he had no intention of getting to know the prejudiced Maroyanbetter.
“I think we ought to grab our belongings and get on the road tonight,” he said. “We can head to the capital on our own, and collect our reward from Lord Raffis once he is returnedhome.”
“You don’t think Major Gallington will chase after us?” Tariel asked, biting herlip.
“Unlikely,” Calrain said. “I imagine he will be happy to be rid of us, thinking he can use the time to convince Lord Raffis to give him the rewardinstead.”
“The army will travel much slower than us,” Riann added. “So we should be able to reach the capital ahead ofthem.”
“We’ll need to get our belongings,” Tariel said, glancing back at the tent. “The abacus is in there. I cannot afford to leave Zolotaisbehind.”
“I can get them,” Wellion offered. “I am rather good at stealing things,” he added with asmirk.
He thought Tariel would scowl at him, but while Yarim did glower, she smiled and reached out to touchhim.
“Yes, your light fingers will be of use here,” she said. A shiver went through him as her magic seeped into his skin. “You should be able to move through the camp without making a soundnow.”
“Be quick, and meet us at the horses,” Riannsaid.
Wellion gave him a single nod, then approached the tent. The sound of Major Gallington and Lord Raffis arguing would have muffled his footsteps even without Tariel’s spell, but he was grateful for it. Soldiers moved about the camp, small campfires casting flickering light against the canvas tents, but Wellion was able to stick to the shadows, easily evadingthem.
He crept up around the side of the tent where the major had slept, and where they had laid out their bedrolls earlier. Pulling a small knife from his pocket, he carefully sawed a flap in the tent just wide enough for him to crawl under. The bags were only a few feet away, so it was easy enough to scoot forward and grab them while Raffis and the majorbickered.
“I’m afraid my decision is final,” Raffis was saying. “I am a man of my word—I cannot go back on it. But as I said, I will speak to the king on your behalf. Perhaps he will give you and your men abonus.”
“Pah!” the major scoffed. “King Fornis has no intention of giving my men a copper more than he absolutely has to. He has cut army funding down to the bone so he can dress up his Royal Guard in fancy uniforms and have them strut around the palace like flashypeacocks.”
Wellion smirked as he withdrew from the tent. He knew that Lord M had much to do with the king’s decision to increase his navy and personal guard over his army—the man had managed to convince him over the years that with no threat of invasion, there was no need to have a standing army, or at least not a very large one. The lack of army resources had made it much easier for his father to run his criminal empire, and for Lord M to profit fromit.
And now, no one is profiting at all,he mused as he made his way to the horses. Bitterness coated his tongue at the thought of all he had lost. He wondered what Lord M would do once he learned the bandits had been routed and Lord Traize was dead. Wellion imagined he would be in a towering rage at the sudden loss of income. He would have to be very careful not to run into the man once they were in the capital, herealized.
“There you are,” Tariel said once he’d returned. The others were saddling their horses, and the soldier who had been posted to watch over them was flat on the ground, snoring away. Her eyes lit up as she looked at the packs in his arms. “Do you have theabacus?”
“I didn’t have time to check,” Wellion said as he handed the packs out to the others. Tariel reached for the heaviest one, and he handed it to her. “I had to get in and out of there quickly before they spottedme.”
“Here it is,” she said fondly as she pulled the abacusout.
Wellion stared—it was a finely crafted instrument, with dark, polished wood and gemstones that were likely worth a small fortune. Why did she carry such a thing around with her when she could sell it and make enough money to live comfortably for a longtime?
“Here,” Riann said, leading a beautiful roan mare over to Wellion. “The soldiers brought back several horses along with the prisoners. I’m sure they won’t missone.”
“Thanks.” Wellion swallowed a sudden lump in his throat as the horse gently nudged his shoulder in recognition. Taking the reins in one hand, he gently stroked the side of her neck. “Hey there,Xia.”
Riann blinked. “You know thishorse?”
Wellion nodded. “She belonged to Sallara.” His sister obviously hadn’t been able to take her through the secretpass.
Riann’s gaze softened with understanding. “Perhaps the gods brought you twotogether.”
