Bonds of Brass (The Bloodright Trilogy #1) - Emily Skrutskie Page 0,125
Somewhere in the free fall, I’d convinced myself that this would feel good. Heroic, even. That I was finally going to do the right thing.
I feel nothing but sheer, mind-numbing terror as I turn toward the distant plume of the patrol truck’s dust, lift my hands over my head, and start walking.
CHAPTER 26
WHEN THE TRUCK rumbles to a halt, six armored Umber soldiers pour out. Their faces are shielded by helmets and goggles, but one of them nearly takes off at a run when he recognizes me. “Ettian?” Ollins shouts, like he can’t believe what he’s seeing.
Despite everything, I have to hold back a grin. “Been a minute, hasn’t it?” I call back. The tension in my stomach lessens as I register that not a single gun is pointed at me.
“We counted eleven chutes,” the squad leader says, narrowing his eyes.
“Those were Archon loyalists who thought they’d be taking out the big fellow over there,” I say, nodding to the communications tower in the distance. “When they realized we’d dropped them off the mark and I intended to meet up with you fine folks, they cut and run for the nearest gate. You might be able to catch up to them, but I think it’s more pressing to get me in a room with the academy head. I’ve got intel for him from the Umber heir himself.”
The Umber squad blinks at me.
I hold out my wrists.
Ten minutes later, I’m crouched against the mounts of the chain gun in the bed of the truck, sitting shoulder to shoulder with Ollins and worrying away at the zip ties binding my hands together. The relief of still being alive is tempered only by the fact that I have absolutely no idea where Wen and Gal ended up. They must have made it to our rendezvous point. I have to believe that, because the alternative is too crushing to think about.
The fact that I’ve betrayed Gal is less crushing, but it’s dragging my thoughts to a dark place as we rattle along the dirt road leading back to the academy compound. I try to convince myself that it doesn’t matter. From our point of view, the plan is still on track. We didn’t need those Archon soldiers captured—we just needed to make sure they didn’t take out the main relay and destroy the nexus of Umber’s military communications network in Tosa System. With their comms fried and the base alerted to their presence, the Archon squad won’t have time to relay my treachery to the main fleet until well after Gal and Wen have made it to safety.
All that’s left for me to do is meet with the academy head and tell him every detail of the Archon invasion strategy.
The thought of it, combined with the swaying of the truck, is bringing a swell of nausea slowly but surely up my throat. I duck my chin, trying to brace more firmly against the chain-gun mounts.
Ollins leans over. “Just tell me, was he with you?” he mutters in my ear, low and urgent. “He’s alive, right?”
My orders are to save the details for the academy head, but I oblige Ollins with a tiny nod.
His shoulders go slack with relief, even though his grip on the rifle slung around his chest stays tight. “Knew it. Knew there had to be more. They tried to tell us you were some kind of seditionist after you took off, you know? But everyone thought that was bullshit. Anyone who knew you and Gal knew. Heavens and hells, I gotta tell Rin and Hanji. And I think Rhodes owes me money.”
The mention of our friends sends another guilty pang through me. They never gave up on us. On me. And with the invasion force closing on Rana, there’s no telling what they’ll be roped into if Iral’s advance isn’t stopped in time.
If I don’t tell the academy head exactly how to stop it.
* * *
—
The next part in our grand plan to destroy Iral’s onslaught happens in a tiny interrogation room on the third floor of the academy’s detention center. The squad leader gives Ollins permission to cut