by Cait Ashwood
“That sounds like an organizational problem.” Zeche turned to the north, where Tops’ tower stood.
“Delegate everything. That’s your answer.” He didn’t like it. Hound always led from the front, and those were footsteps worth following in.
Zeche picked at his fingernails, cleaning dirt from beneath them. “Are you an expert in any of those fields?”
“You know I’m not.”
“Delegate, and learn.”
Ace dipped the quill in the ink and paused with it poised over the paper. “We have maybe one hundred of our own men. I don’t know how many you’re brining from your side. Am I splitting them evenly among the classes?” He sincerely hoped the answer was ‘no’. The Ravens’ assistance was a tricky thing to procure, according to Tops, but Ace needed numbers, facts. They had few enough facts about the compound, the women, any mobility issues, or any other number of problems that could arise. Hell, for all I know, they’ve been told we’re cannibals and will fight us, too.
He dropped the quill in frustration, running his hand through his hair. “I know you can’t promise me numbers, Zeche, but you’ve got to at least clue me in, here. We don’t have manuals on this shit.”
The assassin gave him a smug look. “If you come out of this alive, perhaps that should change.” Zeche plucked the quill from his hand and turned the parchment around, tapping the feather against his chin before scratching some numbers beside his neat columns. “That should get you started, Seeker.”
“Started. Great.”
Zeche tossed him a wink over his shoulder, heading for the window.
Please tell me he isn’t going to— yep, out the window again. How does Audrey even put up with his theatrics?
Zeche was as good as his word. By the time Ace had gotten back to the Manse, after a fair bit of time spent dallying in a tavern to ease his nerves, Audrey was already up to speed on their plan. She wasn’t thrilled, but she didn’t give him any lip about it, either. Still, with every day that went by, he could sense her patience thinning.
A month had passed since he’d contacted his instructors and ordered classes to begin. The Seekers hadn’t been this mobilized since their formation. Even the recruits were taking the additional classes. They’d be running supply lines in the event of a longer-than-expected battle.
Ace appeared on a mountainside far to the north of the Institute. Zeche was a prime reminder that one didn’t have to be tainted to be a spy, and they were hoping that spreading the classes out to the four corners of the world would make it harder for any single party to sabotage their efforts. The classes changed locations daily, and only those in class the previous day had the coordinates for the next meeting. Except for Ace. He had all the locations, all the time. He’d been bouncing between the different classes, though he rather enjoyed the close quarters training. He wanted at least a rudimentary understanding of all the different tactics so that he could make decisions and command his forces as well as possible during the assault.
He tromped through the rocky terrain, following the sound of excited male voices. This was Blaise’s class, and so long as the man wasn’t turning it into an orgy, Ace was more than content to keep his distance. Energy waves not far from his location made him turn, and he wasn’t at all surprised to see Tops phase in.
“How’s he doing?” Tops moved up beside him, crossing his arms over his chest as he stared down at the class.
Ace opened his mouth to answer, but closed it as one of the trainees started yelling at the top of his lungs. The class vanished in an instant, seconds before a new crater opened in the earth below them. Blaise was the first to phase back in, taking stock of the incident.
Ace didn’t even know what to say and just waved at the smoldering ruin, letting the smoke plumes speak for him.
“Well…at least they can blow things up.” Tops’ enthusiasm was obviously false.
“Yeah. They’ll be great help if they blow themselves up instead of the enemy.” Ace turned on his heel, shaking his head as he walked off. This is going to be a disaster. A complete, raging disaster.
Racing footsteps approaching made his heart thump harder with dread. What now? The twins had ear infections and wouldn’t sleep, he had grown men blowing themselves up, and a month into training, they were no closer to freeing those women than they were when they’d started. He already knew the messenger was going to have more bad news, he was just waiting for the specifics.
“Message for you, sirs.” The boy nodded first to Tops, then gave Ace a hesitant look.
“Spit it out.” Ace was in no mood for trivialities.
The boy seemed intimidated, taking a step back. “Uh, the Order is at the Institute. They say they have something that may impact the training.”
Tops cleared his throat to get the boy’s attention. “The Order being Gwyn and Audrey?” Gwyn being there was no surprise; she lived there. The puzzle was how had Audrey gotten transportation, since every Seeker in service was currently pressed into one of the training camps.
“Yes, sir.” The boy shuffled his feet, looking nervous.
“And how did Audrey arrive at the Institute?” Ace had a feeling he wasn’t going to like the answer.
“I-I’m not sure, sir. I was just sent to deliver the message…”
“Give the kid a break, Ace. Let’s go see what her highness wants.” Tops’ hand was on his shoulder, and Ace really appreciated the vote of support.
I guess all it takes is one night not sleeping at home and I’m gonna get the third degree. He’d only been trying to catch a break. The training had him running ragged, and it was only a small part of his job. He needed sleep. Badly.
Between one breath and the next, he left the mountains and reappeared outside the Institute. Work on the tower had temporarily ceased with the onslaught of training classes, and yet there was a small group of Seekers surrounding it.
Tops grunted. “The structural class decided to play interns to the architect.”
Ace nodded slowly. Had that been in the lesson plans? He thought he’d remember a group of Seekers staying in the Institute, strictly against plan, and possibly right under a spy’s nose. I am so beyond done.
He didn’t have to ask anyone where the girls would be. Gwyn had some new hybrid project going on between pea species in the courtyard, and if Audrey was here, Gwyn would be getting her opinion on it. It was all gibberish to him, but whatever kept them happy was good enough. It was strange, having Tops follow him around, but his own patience had long since expired. Audrey was here, probably without the kids, and it wasn’t going to be for a good reason.
He heard their voices before he pushed the door open, but it didn’t sound like happy female talk. The tones were lower, more serious, and he took a deep breath before breaching the courtyard.
All chatter stopped as the women took him in. Gwyn swallowed, visibly nervous, and Audrey seemed pale. Ace literally couldn’t convince his legs to carry him forward until Tops coughed behind him.
“You called?” He could feel the yawn building in his chest, but refused to let it out, clenching his jaw shut to keep it at bay.
Audrey’s concerned glance turned disapproving, and then she wasn’t looking at him at all, but Tops. “We have a problem.”
Of course we do.
“What’s up?” Tops was standing with his arms crossed, but he seemed much more relaxed than Ace felt.
Audrey looked to Gwyn, who cleared her throat and looked away. “You can’t send your men in there alone.”
Ace blinked. Alone? They’ll have the Ravens as backup. Theoretically, anyway.
“What do you mean?” Tops’ voice turned lower than usual, a sure sign the commander wasn’t having as good a day as he’d like Ace to think.
Gwyn fell silent, however, and after a meek glance, Audrey turned back to them. “Gwyn was telling me earlier about how the taint can be transmitted. A Seeker can be intentionally dosed, like Hound was, or…” she trailed off, looking at Gwyn with wri
nkles in her forehead.
“Or it can be transmitted via the air. It’s easily removed from the bloodstream afterwards, but it could be enough that you lose control of your men.”
Ace wanted nothing more than to turn around and walk out of the courtyard. He was done. It didn’t matter how much training they got. They could all became masters of their respective crafts, but no. All one had to do was breathe the damned air underground and it would cease to matter. Hell, all their training would basically be benefiting Zaddicus.
“You found a way to protect Hound. Can you apply it to the rest of my men?”
Ye-ah, no, I’m not thinking that’s a good idea.
Audrey’s face said much the same thing. Gwyn, however, seemed puzzled.
“I marked Hound.” Audrey said the words softly, and Gwyn’s eyes widened.
The demure, shy woman stood straighter, staring for once directly into Tops’ eyes. “Absolutely not. It’s far too intimate and lasts for a lifetime. I’ll not allow it.”
Ace blinked. She’ll not allow it? Hmm. Who knew our resident lamb had a lion hiding inside?
Tops glanced at Ace, who nodded. “All right, so that avenue’s out. Is there any other workaround?”
Audrey snorted. “You’re not going to like it.”
Oh no, I know where this is going. “You’re not going, Audrey.”
“We both are.” Gwyn moved to stand right beside her. “We can cleanse the air, and will immediately be aware if any of your men become compromised.”
Tops arched an eyebrow. “Let me get this straight. We’re getting ready to march into the bowels of hell, the place you’ve spent most of your life locked up in, and you want to come with us.”
Gwyn blanched, looked at Audrey, and seemed to draw strength from the other woman. “Yes.” She nodded firmly.
Tops glanced at Ace, but all he could do was shrug.
“I thought Squealer didn’t like dark places.” It was a low blow, and one that tasted foul on his breath, but it was his only shot.
Her eyes hardened and she stood up straighter. “Squealer doesn’t like being alone in dark places. There’s a difference.”
Ace ground his teeth together. You would have been better off alone, last time.
Tops had apparently used the distraction to think. “We’re rescuing the remains of the Order. Can’t they do this instead?”
Audrey opened her mouth to speak, but Gwyn beat her to the punch. “They won’t work for you, not unless I can convince them to.”
“While you may feel like white knights in shining armor, to them you’re just another brand of evil.” Audrey sighed, shaking her head.
Tops let his gaze fall on Gwyn. “Is that true?”
Gwyn nodded. “There are only three of the originals left, and they are all very old. The rest only know the Seekers we’ve been raised with, and those are no men to be trusted, followed, or saved.”
“If they feel threatened enough, they’re also taint users.” Audrey glanced apologetically at Gwyn, whose eyes widened.
“I hadn’t considered that.” She bit her lower lip, crossing her arms over her chest.
“They could deliberately turn your men, giving them an army at their beck and call, and not yours.” Audrey seemed intent on avoiding Gwyn, despite the girl’s proximity.
“So what you’re saying is, Gwyn, you absolutely have to go.” If Ace could find some way to keep Audrey at home, he was going to do it. The twins didn’t need to risk losing both of their parents in a single day.
Gwyn looked up, meeting his gaze. “We’re both needed. If this stretches on more than a few hours, I can’t guarantee I’d be strong enough to protect all your men.”
Audrey finally spoke up again. “And if the worst happens and the women intentionally try and turn you…”
Tops finished her sentence for her. “Then we’ll need both of you, and then some.”
Audrey glanced at Gwyn before nodding solemnly.
Ace crossed the distance between them, hesitantly putting a hand on her shoulder. “Do I get a say in this?” His voice cracked as he stared into her eyes, heart in his throat. He’d failed her so completely once. He couldn’t stand the thought of losing her again.
Her eyes widened and she took half a step back, hand rising to her throat. She opened her mouth but didn’t say anything, closing it again after a moment.
Tops’ hand landed heavily on his shoulder. “Afraid not. She’s necessary if we’re going to have any chance at getting out of there.”
Ace shrugged off the gesture, pacing.
Zeche vaulted over the wall with all the grace of the bird he’d taken as his namesake, landing in a roll to absorb the shock of the fall.
And now, an assassin leaping over my walls is a perfectly normal occurrence. Ace ignored Zeche and kept up his pacing for a few minutes, then turned sharply and marched up to him. “She’ll have nothing but the best.” With the assassin, you just assumed he’d heard everything.
Zeche met his stare, not once flinching. He inclined his head, dipping into a partial bow. “I’ll be at her side, myself.”
“And Gwyn?” Audrey’s challenging tone really wasn’t doing anything for his temper.
Shit.
“Tops, if I might suggest two combined teams of Ravens and Seekers be specifically trained as the Leaves’ guard.” Ace turned to look at Zeche. I really should have thought of that.
“An honor guard.” Tops scratched at the back of his neck. “That could work.”
“I’ll pick our half of the teams.” Ace crossed his arms over his chest, daring them to say otherwise.
Zeche didn’t object. “And my men will be ready tomorrow.”
“Good. Sounds like we’re done, here.” Tops sighed, glancing around the courtyard.
“Not…quite.” Gwyn seemed hesitant, but the set of her jaw was determined.
Ace took a deep breath, schooling his features before turning to look at her. “Go ahead.” He tried to smile, knowing how hard it was for her to be around men.
“I’m going to need Hound.”
“Absolutely not. You used to be able to use the taint. There’s no way you’re getting near him.” Tops looked like one hell of a bull when he was angry, his wide nostrils flaring with every breath.
“It’s for me. Gwyn already knows how the half breeds will attack your men. I…don’t. It’s so that I can practice and make sure I can do it, when the time comes.”
Gwyn nodded, seeming to take strength from Audrey’s defense. “We will also need a few volunteers, men for her to protect.”
Ace arched an eyebrow. “You want me to find men to willingly place themselves under the control of the taint?”
“I suspect that will only happen in the beginning.”
Well. At least she knows what to do. Ace glanced at Tops. They were sharing leadership now, but this was too big of a decision for him to make alone.
“Please don’t make me go in there blind. If any of them fall because I’m not prepared…” Audrey’s voice wavered as she twisted her hands together.
“How do I know they won’t end up like Hound?” Tops pressed his lips into a thin line. He still wasn’t entirely comfortable with Hound’s condition, and he never ceased to let them all know about it if the occasion presented itself.
“Hound was slowly poisoned. His body was allowed to build up a resistance in between doses. Hound won’t be giving them anything to consume— he’ll simply be using his taint to overpower them.” Gwyn frowned. “It’s not exactly how my sisters will attack, but it is close enough for Audrey to be able to adjust on the scene.”
“We wouldn’t send our men into the field without training, Tops.” Ace knew he had to approach this carefully. Tops didn’t understand the taint, nor did he wish to. He would still have preferred to see Hound executed, but at the time, they’d needed all the help they could get.
Tops stared hard at Gwyn. “You’re the one that came up with this idea. Anything happens to m
y men, I’m holding you personally responsible.” He humphed, eyes flicking over to Audrey. “And nothing this one says will be able to get you out of it, this time.”
Ace glanced at Audrey, and her response was about what he’d expected. Her lips were pursed and her brows were so heavily furrowed that she had deep wrinkles across her forehead.
“I accept your terms.” Gwyn gave a brief curtsy before turning to Audrey. “Come. We have much to discuss.”
Ace watched the women leave, reaching out for Audrey’s arm at the last moment. “How did you get here?”
Her eyes widened, her mouth parting slightly. “Gwyn sent for me, and I came.”
She says it like it’s so simple. When did they get so close?
“If that’s all?” Her eyes fell to where his hand held her arm.
He checked their surroundings for any extra ears. “I don’t know that the Institute is clear of spies.”
Audrey’s expression darkened. “Then I wouldn’t be having tactical meetings here, if I were you.” She tugged her arm out of his grip and he couldn’t think of a damned thing to say to her as she swept out of the courtyard with Gwyn.
13
The Institute seemed nearly deserted as Audrey glanced around the empty center courtyard. Several areas were sectioned off for individual practice areas, but even these were deserted. The only signs of life came from the eastern tower, where structural teams still worked and trained.
“You called for him, yes?” Gwyn fidgeted at her side and it took everything Audrey had to remain calm.
“I sent it out, yes. He can’t phase directly here, though.” She’d purposefully picked a day when Ace would be out and about with his duties to start the training. He’d withdrawn from her somewhat, and while she wasn’t entirely sure how, she must have hurt him along the way. It’s what must happen. I’m not voluntarily throwing myself out there. Two little faces back home that were crawling into trouble faster than she could pull them out of it gave her every reason to stay out of danger.
Zeche had been hanging around the Institute like a leech, impossible to remove. She’d sent him out into the plains to meet with Hound and bring him in. See? I’m learning. That, and she’d always gotten along with the assassin.