My initial impression of a pipe was correct, except both ends flared out in a cone shape, leaving the middle narrower. The edges were thicker and had been rolled, so it wasn’t sharp. About four inches high and ten inches in diameter, it didn’t resemble anything I’d seen before. I handed it to Ursan.
“It pulls apart,” he said. He demonstrated, breaking it into two halves. “Like a manacle cuff or a gauntlet.” Ursan stuck his forearm inside. “You can cinch it tighter, but only so much. You’d have to have really thick arms for it to be of any use.”
The word thick triggered a connection. Horror welled as I realized what the cuff was for.
They were neck protectors for Tohon’s dead soldiers. If we couldn’t decapitate them, they would be impossible to kill.
KERRICK
“No. Shift your weight to the balls of your feet,” Kerrick said to the young man. “Then move.” He clutched two of Flea’s juggling stones—one in each hand. It helped to keep him from screaming in frustration at the young men and women who had been assigned to his squad.
“Once more, same drill,” he ordered.
Ryne had given Kerrick, Loren and Quain each a squad of eight soldiers to command. They would take point and ensure the passage was safe for the rest of the battalion. In order to be effective in their job, Kerrick and the monkeys had to teach all twenty-four how to move in the forest without making noise.
Ryne would have liked the entire battalion trained before they’d left for Zabin. All eight hundred of them. It sounded like a huge amount, but was considered small for a battalion. Not many people had been willing to leave the northern realms. And Ryne would never force anyone to sign up. Either way, Kerrick wasn’t going to have the patience or the time to train them all.
Kerrick listened as the squad finished the exercise. Not terrible. After five days, they’d finally caught on. Now all they needed was practice. He squeezed the stones. Ryne had been prepping and planning for the past seventeen days, and Kerrick wanted to strangle him.
It has been forty horrible days since he and Avry had parted ways. Once he knew she was safe, then he could concentrate on training and scouting. But that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. So he sucked in a deep breath and sent his squad into the forest to try again.
At the end of the day, the squad gathered around him as he critiqued their efforts and dispensed advice.
“That’s it for today, gentlemen,” he said, dismissing them.
“Excuse me, sir, but we’re not all men,” one of the women said. She stood with her hands on her hips as if challenging him.
“Sorry, it’s a habit. I meant no offense.”
She blinked at him in surprise. “Oh. Okay.” She followed her teammates to the mess tent for supper but glanced back at him before ducking inside.
“She likes you,” Quain said as he joined Kerrick.
“Shut up.” Loren punched his friend on the arm.
Quain didn’t flinch. With wide shoulders and thick muscles to match his occasional thick head, Quain was as solid as Belen. However, he was a foot shorter than Poppa Bear.
“Why? I’m just stating a fact. Doesn’t mean anything,” Quain said.
“To you, but—”
Kerrick interrupted Loren. “While I’d love to chat with you, I’m late.”
Loren smirked. “Got another tea party to attend?”
“Yep.”
“Don’t forget to bring Mr. Bunny a carrot.” Quain sniggered.
“Good idea. Thanks for the tip.” Kerrick strode to the castle, leaving the monkeys behind.
He avoided everyone as he headed to a tiny dining room beside the kitchen. Zila and Danny were already waiting for him. Smiling, he joined them at the small table. Far better than eating in the mess tent with dozens of sweaty and smelly soldiers.
Zila beamed at him and described her day in minute detail. As he listened to her, he remembered how she had managed to avoid being found that night he’d told her about Avry. Little imp had slipped back into her room soon after they had all left to search for her. Kerrick had figured it out only after the entire castle had been torn apart and he’d put himself in Zila’s place. He’d found her sound asleep in her bed.
Ever since then, he’d been taking his evening meal with both kids. For him, it was the best part of the day.
When Zila finished listing all the books she’d read that afternoon, Danny jumped in before she could start with another topic. “When is the army leaving?” he asked Kerrick.
“Soon. We’re almost finished with the preparations.” He hoped.
Danny twisted a napkin in his hands. “I want to go with you.” Before Kerrick could reply, he rushed on. “I can help. Do stuff like fetch water for the troops, fix armor, work in the infirmary. Whatever they need. I’d be safe behind the front lines. Please?”
Kerrick’s first instinct was to say no. However, he’d learned … or rather, Avry had taught him … that just because he said no didn’t mean the other person would listen. She certainly hadn’t.
Instead, he considered Danny’s request. The boy might develop healing powers, which would make him very valuable. Tohon was aware of Danny and Zila’s potential, and he had to know they were staying here. Would they be safer with Kerrick and Ryne? What if Estrid discovered their potential? Or Jael?
Flea had only been a year older when he had joined Kerrick’s group. And look how that turned out. You couldn’t keep him safe.
Danny stared at him, waiting for an answer.
“I’ll talk to Ryne.” He held up a hand before Danny could celebrate. “Don’t get your hopes up. His decision is final.”
Later that night he discussed Danny’s request with Ryne in his office.
“No. He’s safer here,” Ryne said.
“Tohon—”
“I’m leaving an elite squad to guard them. They’ll be fine.”
“Even if Tohon sends his dead after them? And a couple of ufa packs?” Kerrick shuddered at the thought.
“You’re the first to see the ufa pack. It may be the only one he has. Tohon probably doesn’t have the time to create more and train them. Estrid’s been harrying his troops.” Ryne tapped his fingers on the table. “Still, it would be even safer to have them staying at an unknown location. How’s that?”
“Danny won’t be happy, but I will.”
Ryne smiled. “Good. Now about the point squads—”
The door opened, and one of Ryne’s guards poked his head in. “Sorry to interrupt, but there’s a messenger here from Krakowa.”
Krakowa was in northern Ivdel near the border with Gubkin Realm.
“What’s the message?” Ryne asked.
“He won’t tell me. Only you.”
It was a bit unusual. Most messages didn’t need to be given directly to the prince.
“All right, let him in,” Ryne said.
Kerrick gave him a questioning look. Ryne motioned for him to stay. He stood behind the prince with his hand resting on the hilt of his sword in case the messenger had been sent by Tohon.
The man hardly glanced at Kerrick. His pale face was drawn, and he looked as if he hadn’t slept in days.