“I brought snacks.”
I grinned at her, sitting up in my cot.
“What? No cheese?”
She rolled her eyes. “I have pockets, you know. Didn’t want this stupid weather to make them soggy.”
With a few steps in my direction, it looked as if she were about to plop onto the cot next to me. I held up my hands in warning.
“Don’t you dare even think about it.”
Cynthia stopped in front of me, glancing down at her mud-covered leathers with a frown, as if she hadn't noticed.
“Well, that’s going to be fun to get out.” She grimaced and shoved the bread and wine at me, turning and dragging the chair and table in the corner of the tent between us. Cynthia sat with a huff of breath, yawning as she waved at me in a rush to put the items on the table.
Chuckling, I did, folding my legs underneath me and pulling out the cork. I took a long gulp and passed it. Cynthia did the same and then pulled out a small wheel of cheese from her pocket and slammed a dagger onto the table next to it.
“You can do the honors. I’m too tired,” she said, taking another long sip.
I raised a brow at her, picking up the dagger and cutting into the wheel.
“Where have you been that has made you this tired?”
“Meeting with Lex.”
I almost dropped the dagger, my palm crashing to the table's edge and nearly toppling it.
“Watch it! I stole that cheese!”
“You were where?!”
She smirked. “I told them I would be helpful, it was my assignment. We would have been here yesterday if Theondrus hadn’t been so infuriating.” Grumbling, she picked up a slice of cheese and popped it into her mouth. “Anyway, I’ve made him aware of our plans, and Lex made me aware of theirs,” she said, waving a hand as if this information meant nothing.
“And?!”
Cynthia raised a brow. “And what?”
“What is the plan?!” Cynthia tilted her head. Her brows creased as if I said something outrageous. “Well, go on.”
“I can’t tell you, Zara,” she said it so softly, so gently that I wanted to rip her fucking head off. Can't tell me anything? What did she—my anger evaporated. Of course, she couldn’t tell me anything. Hadn't I just been deep in thought about that? Because if I knew anything, Morgana would.
The tension in my shoulders lessened, and I sighed. Cynthia looked pitifully at me, and the look on her face was only making it worse.
“Stop that.”
“Stop what?”
“Looking at me like that.”
Cynthia raised both her palms defensively, a smirk replacing the sad smile. “As you wish, princess.” She chuckled, winking at me as she held out the wine, waving it in my face.
I took it sharply, glaring at her, but a small smile stretched across my lips. Cynthia always knew how to do that. Make me smile, make me feel normal.
Cynthia’s grin dropped again.
“What’s wrong?”
“I can tell you one thing. It’s actually the reason I was allowed to come see you.” She lifted her warm brown eyes to mine, and something in my gut twisted. “Morgana and her armies will be here the day after tomorrow—at dawn.”
