Chosen (The Warrior Chronicles #1)(69)

“With respect, my Lord,” Daniels cut in. “She can fight, but outside that she is unimportant. Let her run to her death, if she wishes.”

A vein in the Captain’s clenched jaw started to throb.

Daniels didn’t realize he was mostly ignorant concerning Shanti. He wasn’t helping.

Cayan’s eyes flickered. He’d just made a decision he didn’t like. “If I allow you to go, you are under my command. You will do as I say. You are not a leader anymore—you no longer have an army. You will remember that.”

Ouch. “Okay.”

“You will follow orders or you will be outcast.”

I’ll be outcast anyway. “Yes.”

She felt his mind brush hers, then linger. He wanted more confirmation than her verbal acknowledgement. Smart. He thought mind touch couldn’t be fooled. Naïve.

Getting what he was after, he nodded and looked down at his desk, his shoulders tight with stress. “We have the trade location. Based on what the survivors said…“ Cayan’s words hitched imperceptibly, causing him to roll his massive shoulders, fighting down the rage. Shanti’s stomach wiggled—she was interested to see him in battle. “They didn’t make it that far. So then, based on their description, I would imagine they were taken somewhere along here…” He traced a groove in the map with his finger. Daniels leaned in to note the coordinates. “But we can only speculate where they were taken after capture.”

“I have the exact location, should you need it,” Shanti noted quietly, trying not to further ruffle his razor-like feathers.

All eyes found her. Lucius smirked.

“How?” Daniels asked with a pompous air, his voice as hard as his eyes. He still didn’t trust her.

“I asked the prisoner. Unfortunately, even though I said ‘pretty please,’ he tried to keep it a secret. I had to pry the knowledge from him. He’s no longer…much use.”

“Point to it on the map,” Cayan commanded.

She produced a hand drawn sketch made with a shaky hand. A boxy picture of a house or castle—not much was to scale—was on a bluff along a large river. Sterling took it and laid it in front of the Captain. He traced the areas that seemed to line up on both maps and put a big “X” to indicate the goal. They would have found it, but it would have taken a day or so. That one day could’ve made the difference in Sanders’ life.

Because it was Sanders who had been taken. Him and a few others. The half-dead man who made it back had said that in Leilius’ earshot. And if Sanders had even a glimmer of a chance at being alive, he would be. Shanti had to believe that.

“We leave at dusk. Assemble the troops.” Cayan straightened up.

“I would like to take Leilius,” Shanti said quietly with bowed head. Now was not the time to poke at the Captain, so she kept her tone light and small. “And you probably want to take Marc.” She cleared her throat into the thick silence.

Of all the incredulous staring, Cayan’s blue stare was easily the hardest. “No.”

“I think Leilius can be of great value. He can get to places where not many others can. He has a gift for it.”

“He’s too young. He’s not ready.”

“Well, he’s sitting ten feet from you, and since no one has noticed, I would say he might be close to ready…”

Everyone looked toward the nearest window.

“Stand up Leilius,” Shanti instructed, trying not to lounge in any way. Everyone else had such straight posture when the Captain was around, she thought it best to try and follow suit. At least until they were on the road.

The rustle behind Daniels had the older man jumping and whirling around, grabbing a big eyed Leilius. Cayan was still staring at Shanti.

“And Marc?” Cayan asked calmly, like an executioner sharpening his axe. All the men in the room stiffened.

“He is the most talented of all the medic trainees by far, and has been training for combat. He isn’t great with weapons, but he knows to stay out of the way, and he doesn’t balk when he is needed. Assuming the doctor is too old to go, of course. Obviously experience is better.”

“And the others?”

“Are too young and not ready. Except for Lucius, who is under your command. So that’s…uh, your choice. Obviously.” She cleared her throat again, hoping to dislodge a stare or two. This was starting to get awkward.

Cayan nodded his head slightly, his eyes on fire. “Dusk. Meet at the front gate. Daniels, I’ll hear your plan then, but you will be staying behind. If this goes sour someone has to take over, and Sterling stayed last time.”

“Yes, sir,” Daniels responded. The disappointment in his mind didn’t convey in his tone. His warning look at Shanti wasn’t missed, either.

Shanti stayed out of the arrangements as the day wore on. She wasn’t even allowed to sit in to hear the strategy, which was actually fine because she’d always had people to do that for her anyway. She was a decision-maker, not a planner. And now she was a follower and nameless fighter. Chosen, indeed.

When dusk finally came, she and the two Guard members waited at the back of a long line, mostly overlooked or ignored.

“Why me, S’am?” Leilius asked in a tiny voice as he and Marc huddled close.

Since they learned they’d be going to rescue Sanders, the two boys had been following her around with wide, fear-crusted eyes.