Page 14 of The Turncoat King
But some secrets were hard to let free.
Beneath her, Luc went still.
“Someone is coming.” He handed her her clothes, and she took them and scrambled up so he could stand as well.
They dressed silently, and Ava tensed a little when she swung her cloak around her.
Whoever was looking for them didn't mean her harm, exactly. But they weren't feeling friendly toward her.
“Do you think it's an enemy?” she asked Luc, glad he still had the handkerchief she had given him as protection.
When they had started kissing, started undressing each other in desperate, jerky movements the moment they were far enough away from the camp, she had been delighted to find it tucked into his shirt.
He had stuffed it back as she watched him dress. It pleased her immensely. Although it was possible the protective working had slowly degraded.
She had no sense of how long her work lasted, but she had something new she had been making for him. Something better than a handkerchief.
He shook his head. “My lieutenant, Dak, is my guess.” He drew her close to him, tucking her under his arm in a move so protective, Ava looked up at him.
She hadn't woven a working into Luc's handkerchief that included protection of her, so Luc must know his lieutenant didn't like her.
And yet, the man had never met her.
She braced herself as he appeared out of the darkness; for what, she wasn't quite sure.
“I was worried.” Dak spoke to Luc, but his gaze was on Ava. “They say you're from Venyatu, from the border with Skäddar. But you told Luc you were from Grimwalt.”
“I lied to get into the Venyatux column. I was being hunted by two men from Grimwalt, and I needed the Venyatux to take me in quickly and without suspicion. My weapons and defense master was from the Venyatux highlands, so I told them I was from his home region. It was the only place in Venyatu I could speak about confidently.”
“Who was hunting you from Grimwalt?” Luc asked, stepping away from her a little so he could face her.
“I'm not completely sure but I think . . .” She realized Dak was still glaring at her, and her words trailed off.
“We need to smooth things over with the Skäddar and the Venyatux here, Luc. This is going to complicate things.” Dak shifted, looking away from them both, back toward the camp.
Ava could see the dance and leap of the campfire flames, and hear the laughter and conversation drifting over to them on the evening breeze.
She felt her heart squeeze, because Dak was right. This was going to complicate things.
She'd thought she'd sneak through the Rising Wave and find Luc quietly. Secretly. Perhaps keep up the pretense of being Venyatux, with his knowledge.
But she realized that was a foolish strategy. He was the Commander.
There would be no way to hide a relationship with him.
And if General Ru ever found out who she really was, she would assume Luc had known Ava’s secrets all along.
His reputation would suffer and he and her new friends would be hurt at her betrayal.
“Dak’s right.” She said it quietly.
Dak turned sharply. “So what do you suggest?”
There was more than a little venom in his tone.
“I didn't stop the fight and carry myself off,” she reminded him mildly. “That was someone else.”
“So it was.” Luc pulled her close again and kissed the top of her head. “I'll face up to my transgressions. Let's go.”
