Julita harumphs. They’ve obtained to slide up a method or one other. Then we’ll have them.

However are they going to slide up whereas I’m right here to witness it?

Then a crunch of dried leaves reaches my ears from the path of the camp.

Each muscle in my physique tenses. I peer between the branches of the bush I’m crouched behind.

A girl is striding away from the camp into the forest a brief distance to my left. She holds herself stiffly erect, decided however a bit nervous, her hand resting on the knife sheathed on her belt.

Ah ha, Julita crows.

This have to be a scout. If we may take her prisoner, query her?—

However how precisely are Rheave and I going to try this? I can’t pressure solutions out of her with out utilizing my magic. I doubt even Rheave may drag her away with out her elevating sufficient of a ruckus that somebody on the camp would discover.

And do I actually wish to carry this lady again to the others within the hopes that, what, Stavros can torture info out of her?

My abdomen lists queasily.

No, that’s not who I’m. I’m not a monster.

You’ll be able to’t let her merely stroll away, Julita says. You took on Ster. Torstem’s complete membership of scourge sorcerers—you’ve obtained to have the ability to deal with one.

Her phrases mild a spark of inspiration in my head.

I’m not a monster—I’m a thief.

I’m the girl who satisfied the complete royal school that I used to be a minor noblewoman fairly than a avenue rat.

A smile curves my lips with a flicker of exhilaration.

I don’t must bully this lady. I merely must steal her belief.

Gathering myself, I draw back from the bush and straighten up behind a tree. Then I stroll ahead rapidly so I can cross close to the scout as if I’m simply returning to the place she left.

On the mushy crinkle of my footsteps, her gaze snaps to me.

I faux that I’ve solely simply observed her as nicely and lift my hand in greeting. “Hey, there. Heading out to do the rounds? All’s quiet the place I’ve been to this point.”

The overwhelming majority of the Order of the Wild members have by no means gotten a transparent have a look at me. With lots of of them in camp and newcomers becoming a member of right here and there, I’m playing that this lady received’t discover it completely unusual that she may not acknowledge me as a colleague at a look.

She slows, uncertainty flickering throughout her face via her hesitant smile. “That’s good to listen to. When did you exit?”

“Oh, the solar wasn’t even up but,” I say simply, as if it’d by no means happen to me that she may not consider me. “Most have been nonetheless sleeping. However we want the remainder if we’re going to see our objective via, particularly after that mess final evening. Any adjustments to the brand new plan?”

The Order member nonetheless seems puzzled, however my chatty tone has lulled her sufficient that she solutions robotically. “Not that I’ve heard. There can’t be a greater technique than hitting the citadel proper earlier than daybreak, whereas they’re largely sleeping.” She pauses, gazing me extra carefully. “How lengthy have you ever been marching with us?”

My pulse hiccups, however I maintain my easygoing smile plastered on my face. “I suppose it’s been a couple of days now? We have been a late bunch, needed to catch up however glad we did.”

I give her one other wave, this one supposed to ship her off. “Might you uncover no hassle.”

I transfer as if to amble on by, figuring out I can’t stroll too quick or I’ll be seen from the camp. The girl takes a step however stops, twisting again round. “Wait.”

I flip with a hitch of my coronary heart and carry my eyebrows. “Is one thing fallacious?”

She stares at me for a couple of seconds.

There have to be one thing about my demeanor or my garments that solely an Order member would understand is off. I can see the shift in her from uncertainty to hostility instantly.

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