he kept his focus on him, and Hana could see Bret hadn't noticed that Lia was moving a little faster along the path, putting more distance between them. She was a little unsteady on her feet but there was a determined look on her face as she suddenly dodged right, breaking into a run as she aimed for the trees.
She was mid leap when she collapsed, a SAL dart in her back.
Iver started toward Lia and then stopped, turned to face Bret. Hana couldn't hear their exchange from the hillside, but it looked heated. Eventually, Bret waved the SAL at Iver and he approached Lia slowly, then crouched beside her.
He said something to Bret, and they argued a little longer before Iver picked her up.
Hana saw blood on Lia's forehead as her head hung limply over Iver's arm.
Iver carried her to the river, then put her over his shoulder as he jumped the rocks to get across.
Bret was right behind him, standing over Iver as he set Lia down on the other side.
“Can you hear me?” Bret shouted.
Hana frowned. Who was he calling to? Iver could definitely hear him, he was only a couple of arm-lengths away.
“If you don't come in to camp by dusk tonight, Sugotti here is going to get hurt.”
He was shouting at her, Hana realized. Calling to her.
Iver very carefully didn't look up the hill at her. He shook his head and moved his arms around, arguing with Bret, although he spoke too quietly for her to catch what they were saying to each other.
Bret made a gesture that even from up the hill Hana could see meant conversation over, and in response, Iver ran straight at him.
He had taken Bret by surprise.
The camp leader jumped back, but Iver took him to the ground. They wrestled for the SAL and Bret threw it down the path.
Iver shoved him to the side, leaped to his feet and started to run.
Not toward her.
He was being careful to keep her safe from discovery.
He headed along the river bank, following the curve of the valley.
But Bret was already back on his feet, lunging for the SAL. He must have been a crack shot during the war, because Iver collapsed moments after he took aim and shot, the dart sticking out of the middle of Iver's back.
Bret ran toward Iver and stood over him, then looked down the valley and then up the hill, turning slowly, just as Grimms had, as if trying to spot her.
Then he kicked Iver in the ribs, a hard, vicious lashing out.
“He says you're too sick to move. That you won't be able to get to the camp by nightfall. Just know I'll do a lot worse than this to him if you don't come in, but I'll give you until tomorrow morning.” Bret put hands on either side of his mouth to shout his threat. “Don't keep me waiting.”
Some of his people were coming down the path from the camp, carrying stretchers. They loaded Lia up on one, while the others made their way to Bret. While she couldn't catch his every word from where she lay, she could hear temper in the snap of Bret's voice as he gave them instructions. They loaded Iver up and walked back to camp.
Bret did a last turn, saying nothing this time, and then walked after them.
Message delivered.
Hana slid back from the edge of the rock, deeper into the undergrowth, and turned onto her back, looking up at the impossibly blue, clear sky, before she sat up and took off her boot.
Her foot was healing now she was out of the null zone of the camp, but the magfield was high out here, and her upgrade was sluggish.
She had until tomorrow for it to do its work, but she didn't dare push Bret on the timing. She'd have to be there shortly after dawn.
Iver wouldn't want her to hand herself in to the enemy. He'd tried to break free of Bret even though his chances were almost zero rather than put her in that position, but she wouldn't--couldn't--let him get hurt if she could prevent it.
She knew what Bret wanted.
And if she had to, she would use that knowledge to get what she wanted in return.
Iver.
Hana was careful to limp heavily as she approached the camp. She couldn't see the wall, and she ran into it, rapping her knee. She swore softly, then braced her hands on the top of it, sat, and then swung her legs over.
Her