Page 122 of A Reign of Chromes & Shadows

Rain blinked, amused despite himself.

“Rise, please,” he said gently. “Captain, I’m sorry to intrude at such an hour. I require two vehicles to transport myself and my squad into Grey Territory. I also need a way to contact a few friends after speaking with King Taffy.”

“We can assist you with that. We can, can’t we, Rosenberry?”

Shailon looked to the Duke with the desperation of a man terrified of making the wrong call.

“Yes, Captain,” Henry replied smoothly. “The Blue Prince is our ally. We are authorised to help him in any way he needs; provided his requests are reasonable. And I would say they are.”

Shailon nodded vigorously, clinging to Henry’s words like a lifeline.

“Yes, yes, of course.” He turned back to Rain; hands braced on his lower back as though it helped him stay upright. “Your Highness, bring your troops. Take advantage of our hospitality.”

“His Highness has politely declined,” Henry interjected before Rain had to repeat himself. “Moe is waking M’Harrah now. She’ll contact the palace for His Majesty. We should escort the Prince to communications.”

He turned to Rain.

“How many do we need to transport?”

“I will need to borrow two vehicles,” Rain said. “It is imperative that we travel alone.”

Both men stared at him, suspicion flickering in their energy.

“It is in your best interest not to ask too many questions,” Rain added quietly. “I wouldn’t wish to incriminate anyone from Pink.”

Shailon sputtered.

“We can’t allow you to travel without an escort, right, Rosenberry?”

Rain exhaled sharply.

Why was he negotiating with the captain if the captain relied on the Duke to answer for him?

Henry offered Rain an apologetic smile; he understood the frustration.

Rain stepped forward, voice low but razor-sharp.

“Captain, I don’t have time for niceties. We are exhausted. My squad and I have spent two days walking through this climate across equally brutal terrain. I have lost one man. Another is injured. And there are four vulnerable persons among us.”

Shailon’s eyes widened.

“I am telling you what I require,” Rain continued. “I hope you will help freely, as per our alliance. But I will be leaving with what I need regardless. Forgive my bluntness; I do not have the capacity for diplomacy right now.”

The captain’s jaw dropped. He looked helplessly at Henry, silently begging for rescue.

Henry cleared his throat and patted Shailon’s shoulder.

“Come. Let’s take the Prince to communications.”

Shailon nodded, cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Rain suspected the man rarely dealt with anyone of importance; likely why he’d been stationed at a quiet border post.

They led Rain through a maze of tents. Soldiers slept inside, their energy signatures stirring as dawn brightened the sky. The Pink Kingdom’s tents were a design of whimsical pale pink and cream stripes, reminiscent of festival pavilions rather than military structures.

They stopped at a smaller, square tent with a flat roof. Henry held the flap aside.

Inside, a tall aetherial woman worked over a tangle of wires on a long white table. She froze when Rain entered, then dropped to her knees.

“Please, don’t bow,” Rain sighed, pulling out the nearest chair and rubbing his face.