and saw a figure hunched next to the rock in front of a small campfire. Silas.
Julian turned to Robin and placed a hand on his shoulder. “You’ve been a good friend to me, Robin. You will lead the troops well, I know.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. I am honored that you think so.”
Julian didn’t look back to see the concern on Robin’s face, but he knew it was there. There just wasn’t time to explain himself.
Julian walked steadily up the hill, passing Inga on his way, but she was in no mood to talk. She didn’t even seem to register his passing nod. But he wasn’t walking up the hill to talk to Inga.
He did not regret his decision to give command of his army to Robin tomorrow. Anithistor was by no means the only enemy that remained to be killed. Somewhere out there was the Possessor, Hroth, in charge of two very dangerous Sleepers.
Marcus would remain a dangerous fighter, but he knew that Damon was the more menacing of the two. Somehow the man had the ability to change his appearance to look like anyone alive. That could be a very perilous weapon indeed. For all Julian knew, Damon could be planning to appear as Kaden so he could get close to Silas and kill him. This was just one of a number of possibilities. Whatever the Sleepers had planned, Julian intended to cut them off at the source of their power. His plan was to find Hroth and kill him.
When he came within feet of Silas, he found that he didn’t know what to say. For so long, they had been working together for the same purpose, but they had only minimal interaction with each other.
“Lady troubles?” Julian asked feeling stupid.
“Something like that,” Silas answered numbly.
“I think I might know how you feel.”
“I don’t think this war is good for long-lasting relationships,” Silas mumbled.
“May I sit down?” Julian motioned to a spot across from Silas in front of the fire.
“You are the king.”
Julian sat, not saying anything at first, looking up at the sky. He could see the darkened outline of a few sarians flying above them, keeping watch for the entire camp. He was sad to leave Eden with someone else, but he wasn’t necessarily leaving forever.
“When I became part of The Reckoning, I never thought it would be like this,” Julian said. “I always envisioned some grand adventure where we would destroy the Stühocs with ease and without loss.”
“Sorry to disappoint.”
Julian shook his head. “I’m not disappointed. It’s all too real. I should have known it would be.” He picked up a blade of grass and tossed it into the fire. “I was a fool.” He watched as the green instantly wilted into a brittle gray ash and floated away into the air. “I’ve been a fool this whole time.”
“It doesn’t have to be that way anymore,” Silas said.
“And it won’t be. After tomorrow I’ll likely have no chance of being a fool anymore.”
“Same here,” Silas said. “None of us may survive.”
Julian sat up straighter and looked Silas square in the eye. “I want you to know that I have your back.”
“Sorry, but I just told Inga that she can’t come with me tomorrow.”
“That’s not what I mean. Tomorrow, I’m going after Hroth. I want to take out the Sleepers before they can get to you.”
Silas looked up from the flames, finally returning Julian’s hard stare. “I see.”
“You saw Hroth. What kind of power does he have?”
“Actually, not that much it seemed. He obviously has a lot of power with his mind, but if you can get him in a room alone, I don’t see why you couldn’t kill him easily enough. Though, that’s the hard part.”
“What is?”
“Getting him alone,” Silas answered. “He has a place in the tower above where they keep their prized prisoners. Last time I was there, I barely escaped with my life. He has Maroke’s Leapers. He may have a lot more with him this time since they probably know about the coming battle by now.”
Julian nodded. He stood and walked over to Silas who also stood. He extended a hand and Silas accepted it. “Good luck tomorrow,” Julian said.
“Where are you going?”
Julian sighed and looked out toward the dark horizon. He, like many in the camp, didn’t fully expect to survive the next day, but he was all right with that. As long as he could finish the job he set out to do, he would die happy. He looked at