Siege (The Warrior Chronicles, #5) - K.F. Breene Page 0,79
sight.
Sonson turned to her. Shadows mostly masked his grin. “Forgive me, Chulan. But we need revenge. I do not trust that you can live up to the terror of the land.”
Shanti felt a zing through the connection as everyone, Rohnan included, made it through the gate and stood silent. Arousal and lust poured out of the guardhouse to the right. The urgency to find the boys called to her. “You are nothing but a tall tale. When they realize you are only men, you’ll just be the enemy again. But us? We are dead men and women walking. We are ghosts and phantoms. We are back from the dead. Way scarier. And we’ve always been better.”
“I accept that challenge. Go hunt for the boys, but kill as many as you can. We’ll check in on Alena and kill as we go. Give us plenty of room. Whoever gets caught automatically loses.”
“We’ll all lose if someone gets caught,” Shanti said as she stepped toward the guardhouse. Ruisa and Maggie were in there somewhere, disgusted.
“Not necessarily. Let’s just hope the Captain shows up with my people at the right time.”
Shanti touched her hand to her heart. “Stay alive.”
Sonson touched his heart as well, before stepping forward and embracing her. “I’ll see you take the city, or I’ll see you in the next life.” He kissed her cheek. “Happy hunting.”
“Captain!”
Cayan turned on his horse without stopping. Whoever it was would catch up to him. He could barely feel Shanti’s pulsing Gift, flaring and throbbing. If it hadn’t been for the Joining, they’d be much too far away to feel anything. She was up to something, which meant she was no longer waiting for him. That meant something had gone wrong.
“Captain, Daniels has a message.” Tomous pulled his horse out of the trot. “The prisoner claimed that Xandre would recover him. That it was only a matter of time.”
Cayan’s horse stumbled on an unseen rock in the road. If only the moon were a few more days into its cycle. Its light was meager and visibility was poor. “He is an incredible asset. We know that. Hopefully we’ll be behind large walls before they come.”
“Daniels also says that they should put him to sleep for the battle. Just in case.”
Cayan nodded, bracing a hand on his thigh. The man was almost delirious with lack of sleep. It hadn’t got him talking much, as they’d hoped. Right now, though, they couldn’t do anything about it. Once this city was in their possession, they’d have more time to plan. That was when they’d need the information in that man’s head.
“Anything else?” Cayan asked, without sparing another glance. A surge rose up from Shanti. He knew that collection of emotions, however faint they were. She’d just killed.
He sucked in a breath and leaned forward on his horse, wishing he could run the horse hard all the way to the battle. They wouldn’t have long to go, but they’d arrive in the dead of night. They’d have to wait for dawn, when another large force of the Shadow were supposed to meet them. That was if the Shadow showed up at all. Daniels had not received a message from them. They might have their own battles to fight.
“He thought we might stop soon to rest the men and horses,” Tomous said hesitantly. “Just half a night…”
Half a night might be too long for Shanti. “We continue.”
Shanti shoved the Graygual into a closet and leaned against the door so it would latch. “Oops.”
“Think anyone was monitoring that one?” Kallon asked, coming out of a room at the back.
“We’ll find out soon enough.”
Maggie followed Kallon with an annoyed expression. Ruisa stood next to the guard slumped at the table, adjusting the supplies in her pouch. A woman dressed like a prostitute swapped out the drugged whisky, making it look like the man had passed out. She undid his fly and tossed a pink undergarment on the ground.
It seemed Ruisa and Maggie had enlisted the help of professionals. How, Shanti did not know, but she couldn’t hide her pride.
“We’re good?” Shanti got a nod from both girls, and a blank stare from the helper. “What about the other girl?”
“She’s adjusting the man in there.” Maggie jerked her head back to the room. Her mouth twisted in an uncomfortable expression. “These girls…service the guards a lot, I guess. They get food and stuff.” Maggie shrugged. “Anyway, they’ll make their way back. The Inkna on patrol know to leave them be.”