the remaining crust from his bread.
She eyed the pitiful tidbit then shook her head. “I’ll wait for mine. What’s on your agenda for today?”
Will told her about the recent reports, then added, “With any luck all I’ll be doing today is talking. After the sun is up, I’ll try to parley.”
Laina exhaled, then sagged, putting her head and arms on the table. “So, she woke me for nothing.”
“I’m afraid so.”
“I could hardly fall asleep, and just as soon as I did, she woke me up again,” she groaned, talking into the table.
“Are you all right?” Will asked.
“Don’t bother me until the tea gets here,” she mumbled.
He smiled faintly. Will understood her trouble perfectly. He’d been through it many times during his first stint in the military. Sleepless nights had been common for him, but over time he’d learned to sleep despite the anxiety. He might have gone to bed late last night, but he had fallen asleep rapidly once he’d finally closed his eyes.
“Another scout has returned,” said Renly, ducking in once again. “This one says he is to report to you alone.”
“Send him in.”
The scout entered a moment later, then snapped to attention. “Scout Hendricks reporting as ordered, sir.”
Will nodded. “At ease. What did you find?”
“No sign of the enemy, sir, but the road had been dug up every sixty feet or so along a somewhat narrower section.”
“Similar to the area that was trapped on the other road?”
“Yes, sir.”
Will questioned him for a while longer, then dismissed the man. He sat alone for several minutes, staring at the wall of the tent, his mind blank. Somewhere deep down, thoughts were passing back and forth, but they were beneath his conscious awareness. At present he still didn’t know what to do with the information. Only one fact was clear, someone had betrayed them almost immediately once he had announced his change of course. But how did they get the information to the Darrowans quickly enough for them to shift their traps in time?
Lieutenant Renly entered. “The sun is up. What are your orders?”
“I’ll be out in a moment.” Will washed his face then went out to greet the day. After meeting briefly with the sub-marshals, he told them to stand ready. “Today will be boring, hopefully. Maybe tomorrow as well, but we have to keep ourselves ready.”
Sub-Marshal Spry nodded. “Boring is good, but if we keep the men standing on knife’s edge for too long it will hurt morale.”
“There’s no choice,” said Will. “Send someone out with a flag so they know we want to parley.”
“Who will you have meet them?” asked Sub-marshal Nicht.
“I’ll go myself.”
“We know nothing about the commander of the city garrison. What if he breaks his trust?” asked Nicht. “Shouldn’t you send someone else?”
“I don’t think they’d be foolish enough to ruin their chances at future diplomacy. Besides, I need to speak to the man face to face if I’m to—” Will stopped abruptly, remembering the possibility of a spy in their midst. Even a small hint might be too much. He rephrased his statement, “I want to talk to him myself.”
***
The sky was a barren dome of blue, bereft of any clouds, allowing the sun to shine mercilessly down on Will and his escort. The harsh light was welcome, though, for the wind was still bitterly cold despite the advent of spring. He and the man standing across from him were both squinting as they studied each other.
Klendon’s commander was a burly man with rough shoulders and a face that probably scared small children on a regular basis. It wasn’t that he was ugly, merely that his features lent themselves to a merciless expression. The intimidating appearance was backed up by rough, callused hands that were crisscrossed with scars.
“You shouldn’t have crossed the mountains,” said the commander.
Will narrowed his eyes further, then answered, “Who am I speaking to?”
There was the faintest of pauses, then the Darrowan responded, “The one in charge.” Then he added, “And who are you? Does the King of Terabinia send boys to negotiate for him?”
“King Lognion is still in Cerria. I’m the one in charge of this army, and the one empowered to negotiate with not only you, but the Patriarch himself when he eventually has to surrender,” said Will calmly.
The other man laughed, glancing back at his guards as he did. “I thought you’d be older.”
“At least I’m not hiding. I’m the one able to make decisions here.”
“Hiding?” The man raised one brow.
Will nodded, then looked at one of the