Page 29 of Ruling the Green

“We will. But first, let’s meet with a possible guard.”

“Who is this one?”

“She just graduated last week. So hopefully we got to her before the system could really corrupt her.”

“That it?”

Vishen shot me a smirk. “Her file noted her as ‘unnecessarily violent’ during sparring drills. As well as ‘headstrong,’ ‘outspoken,’ and ‘independent.’”

“All marks against her when it comes to the military,” I observed.

“But makes for a good guard,” Vishen said. “She was orphaned in her teens, enlisted as soon as she was old enough, hasn’t seemed to make any friends…”

“So, there are no connections to worry about.”

“And being so deeply untrusting of other people, she’s not likely to let anyone within five feet of your wife.”

“Good. Let’s interview her. Get her hired. I don’t like leaving her alone when she’s not even able to scream. What?” I asked when Vishen shot me a look.

“You’re uncharacteristically protective of your new bride, don’t you think?”

“I don’t want her silenced or dead before I can question her. It’s different.”

“Is it?” he asked, shooting me a smirk. “I’ll send for the guard. Meet me behind the shed in twenty.”

I ducked back into my quarters.

Seeing the way Serin was trembling, I made my way back to the hearth, piling the wood and lighting a roaring fire.

“Sorry, Knight,” I said, petting his head before bringing in a large bowl of water for him. “I won’t be long. Then you can escape this hell.”

I made my way out of the room, checking the lock, then continuing down the hall and out of the castle, trying to avoid being seen by any of the staff, who might then try to get into my room while I was away.

I somehow managed to avoid the damn redcaps who were standing, staring at the usual exits. They were too dumb to think I might come out a side door.

Vishen was waiting for me behind the shed.

“How is she?”

“Shivering hard again.”

Vishen winced.

“Hopefully, when she wakes up, she will be able to speak. Then we can figure out what’s wrong with her. Maybe she has some sort of tonic she needs for a chronic ailment or something.”

I hadn’t considered that.

But it made sense.

Why else would she get so unwell so quickly, revive a bit, then get worse again?

“Get your fucking hands off me, you hedge-born loiter-sack!” a female voice snapped as footsteps crunched closer.

Vishen shot me a smirk.

“I guess Serin’s guard is here,” I said, chuckling.

Just as she rounded the shed, one of the male soldiers reached out again to shove the woman’s shoulder, making her stumble. And that, it seemed, was an indignity she could not forgive.