“Thank you both. Now, I understand it’s hard to be put into these situations, but this is what we all risk for the sake of the cause. For Dajahim and all the eadi suffering. How can I, in good conscience, allow you two to stay safely on your island while the rest of the rebellion risks their lives? Are you somehow more important than them? Does your life matter more?”
Dammit. She had us there. And after my realization yesterday no less.We are selfish,I’d said.
Sighing, I shook my head, earning a scoff from Altair. Maitoza only offered a momentary soft smile, nodding. “I appreciate both of your understanding. Onto the mission at hand. When my spy saw you yesterday, they mentioned you didn’t look like yourselves. Do tell me, are you capable of brewing shift, Nova?”
“Yes,” I said warily. Where was she leading me? How could I be ready? Would she ask me to make the shift for the rebels? Would she put me to work getting supplies for large batches?
“Oh, that’s perfect. And Azazel, you’ve been to elite events, correct?”
Unlike me, Altair didn’t give her an answer. “Why?”
“You see, I’m actually in need of a very specific set of skills that I think only the two of you can provide. Will you follow me?” Commander Maitoza stood, waving for us to come. Altair and I both rose slowly, him waiting for me to round the end of the table and reach his side before he began walking.
Though I’d been given a tour, I struggled to recall which building was which as the commander led us outside and down the path. We passed a handful of the brick structures before stopping at a dingy, almost painfully unkempt single-story one. It was square and made of the same brick as the others.
“I don’t like this,” Altair whispered, placing his hand on my mid-back as he scanned the area.
Commander Maitoza opened the door, motioning for us to go first. Reluctantly, we did, waiting for her to enter before moving through the bare, short hall. She led us to the only other door, unlocking it with a large, iron key. This time, she went first.
When we walked through, a putrid, stomach-turning smell barreled into us. I grimaced, holding my hand to my nose. Altairgagged at my side, probably the least used to any unseemly scents. Surprisingly, the commander didn’t so much as flinch.
“Apologies for the smell, our guests admittedly haven’t been given great amenities.”
“Guests?” I asked, nearly choking on the smell as it hit the back of my tongue.
She motioned down the hall to the right, walking before we could even look down it. When we followed, I realized exactly why the building was ragged and the smell foul. This was a prison.
Iron bars lined the walls, cut into sections by columns of brick. We passed by only empty cells as we walked, the smell growing in intensity the farther we walked. Though it was early in the day, no light shone inside, because there were no windows. Instead, torches were placed periodically, casting deep, flickering shadows.
We arrived at the end, where the commander waved a hand towards the cell on the right. Altair tucked me behind him as we approached, annoying me to no end. Clearly, he had a problem. Maybe he thought I was weaker than him or something, but—
My thoughts were cut off by a cough from whoever was inside the cell. I approached it hesitantly, catching sight of Altair’s slack jaw and wide eyes before my gaze landed on the couple.
They were coated in dirt from the dingy limestone floors, but I could still make out their features and clothes. In fact, I knew the clothes intimately. They wore elite leathers.
Beyond that, the man and woman were clearly well built before. They still had muscled bodies that the fabric clung to, though their malnutrition showed in their gaunt faces and the way their tan skin had taken on a grey hue. Their hair was both dark, with the woman’s being nearly black and the man’s more of a dusty brown.
“Do you know these people, Azazel?” Commander Maitoza asked. Based on her sure tone, she knew his answer before he gave it.
“Yes.” He was stiff, his hands at his side and his face stern.
Were they important to him?
“Good. Nova, let me introduce you to Adam and Jenna Harmen. They’re both elite soldiers who are quite close to the core families. Often, they attend elite events, such asballs.”
Neither of the Harmens spoke, though they glared openly as Altair.Traitor,their eyes seemed to say. But it wasn’t them that had Altair and I both deflating. No, it was the realization that did it.
“You want us to impersonate this couple at an elite ball.” It wasn’t a question. It didn’t need to be. I knew I was right.
“Precisely.”
“What information are you hoping we’ll glean?”
Altair still hadn’t spoken, his eyes not leaving the couple in the cell.
“I need to know their plans for the rebellion. Do they know where we are? Have they captured any high ranking rebels? Do they have a grasp of our numbers? I believe they are aware the movement is larger and more dangerous than they previously believed, but what knowledge do they really have?”
“They think you’re a handful of eadi who aren’t worth their time. They delegate it to the officials.” Altair didn’t seem to believe his own words, his voice hoarse.
