Fear of Fire and Shadow (The Fade #1) - Samantha Young Page 0,67

as long as we don’t ask them for a place to sleep.” He flicked a glance at me before staring straight ahead again. “I’m afraid it’ll have to be a campfire bed for you, my lady. I hope that doesn’t distress you too much.”

He had said it loudly to needle me in front of his men. I sensed the anticipation in him, waiting for me to retaliate. He wanted me to. He wanted something, anything from me. I turned away, ignoring the shaking in my hands. “I think I can manage well enough, Captain.”

Feeling his eyes burning into me, I slid off my horse, letting my hair fall to cover my hot cheeks.

“Tyler, Szorst!” Wolfe called out. He dismounted his horse and approached the two men, holding out a bag of coins. “Go back into the village and procure us some coal. It should keep us warm at camp and perhaps soften the locals.” He nodded in the direction of the bridge to some villagers who had come out of the village to peer at us making camp.

As the two men started off on foot, I worried my lip between my teeth, watching them. Remembering the looks on the coal miners faces, I decided that sending the men in alone was a bad idea. But I couldn’t very well say that to Wolfe and I couldn’t rush off alone—that had not worked out well for me in the past.

“Lieutenant.” I approached Chaeron as he settled the horses with some water.

“Yes, Miss Rogan?”

Telling Chaeron I thought his men were in danger wouldn’t work. The Royal Guard were somewhat arrogant about their prowess and didn’t take lightly to having it called into question. I’d have to approach the subject sensitively. “We’ve been riding all day and I really would like to stretch my legs. Would you walk with me into the village?”

He frowned. “Miss Rogan, you saw how unfriendly the people were.”

“Then perhaps a few of the other men would like to stretch their legs with us.” I used my take-no-prisoners tone that Haydyn hated. She could never deny me when I used that tone. I usually brandished it when she was daydreaming during her tutorials or refusing to get out of bed.

I blanched inwardly at the thought of her. Shaking off the familiar growing panic that thrummed beneath my skin, I raised an eyebrow at Chaeron as he just stood there. I remained unwavering and he finally drew himself up. “Of course, Miss Rogan.”

As we passed two men, Chaeron called to them to come with us, and then informed Wolfe that he was escorting me into the village. Discerning the coming argument by the look on Wolfe’s face, I drew out my heaviest artillery and stilled him with a look so cold, it made him flinch.

I gulped down my guilt and hurried on, my skin prickling and muscles twitching at the feel of his eyes on my back.

As soon as we crossed the bridge, I felt the charge in the air, a sense of violence and anticipation. Chaeron and his men must have felt it too because suddenly, we were hurrying into the town and through the narrow streets to get to the main village courtyard. Sure enough, Tyler and Szorst stood with their hands on the hilt of their swords, surrounded by a group of angry coal miners, spitting and shouting at them. Just one spark, I thought. That’s all it would take.

“Halt!” Lieutenant Chaeron bellowed, and I startled in surprise. He sounded terrifying and intimidating, and looked it, too, as he strode forward with the two guards at his back. The villagers stumbled a little but did not move away from Tyler and Szorst who looked relieved to see us. “An attack on the Royal Guard is a high offense and will result in imprisonment!”

Some of the villagers seemed to deflate, their faces drawn and wary. Others grumbled but slumped away. Others grew even more aggressive. A tall, stout man with a round face hardened with hatred stood forward from the group to face Chaeron.

“Who gives a damn about the Guard? We’re left to stew in this forsaken place, working our fingers to the bone in eighteen-hour shifts in the mines under order from management! Three months ago, we worked good hours, decent hours, until management started adding an hour here and there until eventually we exist on no sleep, bad food, and broken bodies. Our children grow sick! Our wives grow weary! Where is the Royal Guard in