And now, the Arbinji army base sprawls before us in the distance. Soldiers roam about, their rumbling voices echoing through the air. In the center of the camp, a large metal spire reaches toward the sky.
I cast Mayah an apologetic glance. “The safest way to alert them of my return is to summon a storm.”
She nods, my brave girl.
No. Not mine. Never mine.
My hand twitches, desperate to comfort her, but I keep it firmly at my side.
Instead, I summon my power, and the sky darkens overhead.
Beside me, Mayah takes deep, steadying breaths.
I raise a hand.
Thunder shakes the earth.
The sky tears open, and a powerful bolt of lightning hits the spire.
A soft cry escapes Mayah’s lips, and this time, I can’t stop myself. I grab her hand, squeezing it tightly. She squeezes back, her grip firm around my fingers.
And my heart.
“The Commander has returned!” one soldier shouts, tearing my attention away from Mayah. The soldiers line up in formation.
“Ready?” I ask her.
She nods, though I know she isn’t.
We walk into camp, side by side. The men cheer when they see me, though their voices hitch when they catch sight of thewoman beside me. Irritation skates up my spine, but Mayah keeps her chin high.
“Commander!” Sulon greets, elbowing his way to the front. “We had thought you dead. The attack—”
“We survived, Sulon. Clearly,” I interrupt. No time for his monologues. “Tell me the developments. Quickly.”
My second-in-command’s narrowed gaze flicks to Mayah, then back to me. I grit my teeth, tempted to push her behind me so my men keep their fucking eyes off her.
“The Tundrayni forces found the attacked carriages. It was difficult to identify the bodies—it’s tense, sire. Tormik blames Arbinj, says we planned the attack to kill his daughter.” Another glance at Mayah. “The only thing that prevented a retaliatory attack is the fact that you’ve been missing as well.”
“You didn’t send search parties for us?”
He shakes his head. “Tormik wouldn’t allow more Arbinji soldiers on Tundrayni land. He said he sent his own search parties.”
I sigh, raking a hand through my hair. “We leave for the capital immediately. Ready a squad to accompany us.”
Thirty minutes later, our horses are ready. I watch from a short distance, strapping on fresh armor, as Mayah stares at the large stallions, worrying her lower lip between her teeth. I force my gaze away but keep her in my periphery.
“Sulon,” I snap. The bulky man jerks his head toward me. “We passed a cottage on our way here—a middle-aged woman and her young son.”
He stares at me blankly.
“They had a well. Soldiers siphoned it dry weeks ago.”
Recognition dawns on his face.
“Were you aware?” I grit out.
He averts his gaze. “We were low on water, sire. A handful of soldiers returned with a few barrels. Said a family had provided them willingly.”
