Chosen (The Warrior Chronicles #1)(76)

“Fair enough.” To Sterling she said, “Should we ride back to the Captain or wait out of sight?”

“No sense riding back and wearing out the horses. Let’s duck off to the side.”

They did, waiting quietly, Shanti coating Cayan’s anxiety with tranquility so he knew they were okay. His turmoil dwindled but didn’t disappear. He probably looked calm and relaxed, but his mind whirled and his nerves were strung out. She selfishly hadn’t taught him how to hide his inner emotions. A woman in her position needed a failsafe. Hopefully there’d be no hard feelings if he ever figured that out.

With a slight tremor in the ground, the horses and men following came into sight slowly, the pace slightly picked up since Shanti and crew had left. As they thundered closer, Shanti slid off her horse and stepped closer to Sterling. “Was it discussed to sneak in and ferret Sanders out without raising the alarm?”

Sterling glanced to Lucius and Tobias, watching the approaching mass draw nearer. “The idea was presented, yes.”

“And discarded how quickly?”

A brief smile flashed across Sterling’s lips. “Almost immediately.”

“You don’t take one of ours and get away with it?”

Sterling answered with a small nod. “It was thought that they would come for us anyway. The Inkna raised the question. The Captain is answering.”

“So Cayan—the Captain—is sending a message. And yet, he is still facing tough odds. Interesting.”

Sterling’s intense, flat stare turned down to Shanti. “The Captain is doing what’s right. Taking our men, as they did, under the guise of trade, must needs an answer. A brutal answer.”

Shanti glanced at him briefly, then returned to mentally checking on the men to come. “Oh yes, I agree. If I were in his shoes, I would’ve planned to devastate this People as well. But then, I know what they are capable of. I know how they operate. I am just surprised by the Captain’s foresight. He is a capable leader.”

“Did you doubt before now?”

Shanti shrugged. When you were near death half the time, and getting into trouble the other half, it was hard to properly assess the leader of a prosperous city. But now, in a time of peril, away from protective walls and early morning raids, she had a chance to take notice.

As Cayan came to rest beside their small party his gaze scanned Shanti’s body, probably looking for wounds. Not seeing any he turned his attention to Sterling. “Report.”

“Shanti thinks there are citizens—“

“He knows what I do,” Shanti interrupted in the interest of time.

The Captain turned to the young man on his right. “Bring up Leilius.” To Shanti he said, “Any reason to believe these people have your coloring?”

“Leilius would stick out like a tree among bushes if so,” she said with a smile. “But no. The Inkna are from near my neck of the woods, but their people wouldn’t be farming out here. They probably moved in and took over, similar to what they are trying to do with you. Whoever was here first still works the land. So…”

The Captain nodded. Apparently the coloring was bronze skin and dark hair, like him. It was a hot climate, so that made sense. Natural sunblock prevented constant sunburns. She should know, she had to be covered most of the time.

Leilius skulked up a few minutes later, looking sheepish and happy to see Shanti. He didn’t feel like he belonged in this battle-hardened crew twice his age. Shanti understood where he was coming from, but he was just about to earn a reputation, whereas she never would. She didn’t know if that was a blessing or a curse.

“Leilius, I need you to change into poor man’s clothes and travel up the road,” the Captain said without preamble. “Blend in. Find out everything you can. If you get into trouble I will know. Go.”

Leilius got changed with a fearful glower and took off at an easy walk, seemingly an average boy going to market. Shanti got caught in a moment of panic as his slouch carried him down the road, away from her protection. His thin body bent like a reed in a gale as he trudged, fearful but observant. He was ready for this—he needed to learn to operate on his own—but he was so young. Shanti still owed him for her life, but more than that, he and her Honor Guard were as close to friends as she had in this strange land. They were shining lights in a year of solitary darkness. Even Sanders, as much as he raged and bickered, was someone she cared for. Was someone she wanted to see safe behind his large stone walls. She was so afraid she’d lose someone else she cared about it choked her, closed her throat until sweat beaded her forehead. She pushed the feelings down, trying to get control, and felt a pulse of relief ping through her body.

It was Cayan trying to ease her mind. He was about as deft as a deaf man learning to sing, but the thought of it did help. She wasn’t a mother bird, and she needed to remember that this was a war. There would be casualties. She needed to stay focused.

If they killed Cayan, though, she would tear that city down around their knees without mercy. If they had killed Sanders, same result. Then she’d beat them bloody with their own limbs.

“Easy mesasha,” Cayan murmured.

Shanti took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Hope and wait.

It was two hours before Leilius came back up the road, a dead bird clutched by the feet hanging at his side. As he approached, his slouch more prominent, he handed up the large fowl in embarrassment. “I was offered this by a woman trying to marry me off to her daughter.” He shrugged. “She was pretty but older.”