“Your father promised me that in return for my silence, you’d help this movement. Isthishelping?” Commander Maitozagestured to the three cores and Zura, a disgusted sneer on her face.
“Commander, it wasn’t her fault. It was my plan!” I insisted. She turned back to me, her eyes blazing.
“Yes, it is your fault. And don’t think I haven’t noticed your eyes. Care to explain that?”
“She doesn’t have to explain anything to you,” Az cut in again. I grabbed his hand, trying to pull him to my side. Slowly, he stepped back, returning to his spot next to me.
“Again, I am the commander of these forces. I will not tolerate such disrespect and defiance. Not only did you skip training yesterday, but you went behind my back to bring potential spies onto our base!”
“They are willing to help us,” I said. “Isn’t more help a good thing?”
“We don’t need more cores! The numbers are already against us!” She reared back suddenly, as if her own words smacked her in the face. Around us, rebels stared. No one had begun training, too interested in our shouting match to start.
Commander Maitoza seemed to become aware of the watching eyes, heaving in deep breaths before straightening her back and dusting off her pristine jacket.
“You know what? How about all of you meet with me at fifteen hundred tomorrow? We can discuss this in a more appropriate manner then. For now, go ahead and train.” With that, she turned and walked away, her steps lighter now that she was consciously putting on her calm facade.
“Did you catch that?” Az whispered to me, bending low.
I nodded.“The numbers are already against us.Sounds to me like whatever ulterior motive she has is contingent on how many shaytan are in the rebellion.”
“Are we really going to sit here and let her talk to us like that?” Otarn asked from behind me.
Looking over my shoulder, I said, “For now we don’t have a choice, but I’ve got an idea. First, training. Otarn, Dofrel, and Elders with Azazel. Zura, you come with me. Desi, you go ahead and continue on as you always would.”
We split up, Zura looking terrified as we moved through each part of training. With every stretch, punch, swipe, and run, I plotted.
***
“Here’s the thing,” I said, my breaths coming in heavy pants. I gulped down a cup of water, trying to speak through the pain. “The commander tells us only what we want or need to hear. She’s very reluctant to divulge anything beyond her primary plan.”
“Which is taking down the core families,” Azazel added. “What she wants aside from that has evaded us for a while. But what she said on the training field was a slip from her normal passive reluctance.”
The others stared at us from their places throughout Az’s cottage.
“Exactly. Now, we know she has an office. According to Desi, it’s in the same building that all meetings are conducted in. Az and I have been in there enough times that we pretty much know where it will be.”
“Pretty much is a gamble,” Elders noted.
“It is, but I think it’s a necessary one.” Az’s voice was sure and strong, clearly settling Elders as he relaxed back into the sofa. “Our biggest obstacle will be keeping Commander Psycho away from her office long enough.”
“We could do it while she’s in a meeting,” Caleb said. “Don’t important people have meetings all the time?”
“Or when she’s away?” Zura added from his side.
“Too risky. She could come back at any time and we don’t know her schedule,” Az said.
That was when it hit me. “Senna.”
Five sets of eyes landed on me.
“Who?” Elders asked.
“Not who.What,”Zura said excitedly. “Do you have some?”
Smiling, I crossed my arms. “I grow it outside in my garden. Took me forever to dig it up and replant it.”
“Wait, what’s going on? Speak full sentences,” Otarn cut in.
