“Marson, she’s the one you need.”
“What are you doing?” I hissed at him.
He turned, his hood slipping back slightly, revealing a broad, clean-shaven face and dark hair cut short and messy. Blue eyes held a hint of regret as he met my wide-eyed gaze.
“This trailfinder is the best of the bunch. I hear she’s one of the best in the region. You need her.”
“I take back my thanks,” I spat at him as I felt a hand wrap around my upper arm, turning me back to face the one who knocked me down. “I told you I made a?—”
“She’s lying,” the man who was no longer an ally said with boredom. “I checked all the merchants. None has entered into a bargain as yet.”
By the mother, how was I supposed to get out of this now?
“You’re the first one I’m leading off a cliff,” I muttered over my shoulder as I wasaccompaniedback to the captain.
His low laugh, which followed me, only fueled my anger.
Once again, I was face-to-face with Captain Marson. My flat, insolent stare made him consider me more carefully.
“Three silver to lead myself and my company to our destination.”
“No.”
He took a deep inhale. “Yes. Three silver.”
“No.” I showed him my teeth. No one would call it a smile.
The captain looked at me and shook his head. He stepped closer to me and lowered his voice. “Three silver, or I report you for the coin purse you took from the silk merchant in Claswik. What’ll it be?”
I held his stare. “One gold, one silver.”
He almost smiled. “One gold, one silver.” He didn’t let go of my arm. “No harm comes to my men or me.”
I sniffed loudly, quickly casting my eye over the soldiers gathered. “I won’t make a promise I know I won’t keep.”
The grip on my arm tightened. “Girl, you swear it now, or?—”
“What?” I mocked him. “Let me go? Oh no, what a disaster that would be.”
This time, he did smile. “No harm comes to my men or me. Agreed?”
I shook my head. “Your men are wearing metal shells. Depending on where your desired trail may end, they’re going to freeze before the first nightfall. I’m not taking the blame for that.”
He looked insulted at my assumption. “We’re going to change before we head out.”
“In that case, make sure some of them change their attitude as well as their clothing.” I pulled my arm free. “One gold. One silver. No one touches me. You do what I tell you when I tell you.”
“I am the leading officer.”
“Well then, you can lead. You won’t be needing me.” I walked a few paces before my arm was caught again.
“You are difficult.”
“I am. I’m also going to keep your sorry asses alive, so when I say run, run. When I say do not move, I suggest you don’t. And when I sayno one touches me,I mean it. Touch me again, and you’ll lose a hand.”
He dropped his hand.
“We leave in the morning.”
