Hopefully they didn’t catch anyone else.
It’s well after noon before someone knocks on the old wood door. “They’ve cleared out of the area.”
That sounds like Chelle.
There’s a loud combined sigh of relief in the cellar.
Chelle looks worried as we start to climb out. “Are you all okay down there?”
“Yes. Roderick has some torn skin from running through brambles, but no one is seriously injured down here. What’s the word from the others?”
“Everyone made it except poor Troy.” Chelle’s face works for a moment before she controls it. Everyone loved Troy. “But we got his body back. The guards just left it there on the ground. Bastards.”
“Well, that’s something. Did Ben and Ryan return?”
“Not yet.”
“Shit.” I force myself to push back the worry because there’s so much else to deal with right now. “Anyone spot Jasper? He—” My voice breaks unexpectedly, more from lingering shock and betrayal than any attachment to the young man.
He might not have been deeply embedded, but he was one of us.
It’s a wound.
“Georgie saw what happened and got a few people togo after him. They caught him. They put him in the cell to wait for you.”
“Good. Good work. Let’s head back then.”
The moodat the outpost is tense and subdued. It’s recognizable before I get even a few steps in.
I spend a few minutes on logistics, checking in on what’s happened and making sure Roderick gets some medical attention.
Before he limps off with Tony, who is as close as we have to a medic, I touch his sleeve. “Hey, Roderick.”
He turns to look at me.
“You saved my life. Thank you.”
He gives me a tired smile. “It was my honor.”
Vella gives him a small salute when he passes. Then she moves to stand close to me.
“Thank you too,” I tell her.
She shrugs off the thanks, as she always does. “I’m worried about Ben and Ryan. Shouldn’t they be back by now?”
“Yes, I would have thought so. But maybe they’re waiting to get the information they need. Ben will know to get back before dark today at the very latest, so I’m not going to worry until then.”
I’m telling myself as much as I’m telling her becausemy stomach is twisting with nerves. And not only about Ben and Ryan’s continued absence.
I need to do something about Jasper.
As if she read my mind, Vella asks in her nonsoft version of a whisper, “What do we do about the traitor?”
“I… don’t know.”
“Probably should make an example. Can’t let folks think they can get away with betraying us like that.”
“I know.” I make a reluctant face, something I wouldn’t do with anyone but Vella or Ben. “Shit, why the hell did he do that?”
