Page 83 of The Turncoat King
His low chuckle brushed air across the back of her neck as he slid his arms around her from behind and then he rested his chin on the top of her head as she worked.
“Best I give you something to scream about, then.” He kissed the side of her temple. “To test it.”
Chapter 26
“You look rested.” General Ru sent Luc a laughing glance as they rode together.
Massi and Dak were on his right, and Kurvin and Fervanti were on the general’s left, ready to discuss the most likely Kassian points of attack.
“I got a quiet night,” Luc said, with a straight face.
General Ru’s quick look made him wonder if she somehow knew something about Ava’s working a sound dampening spell into his tent.
He would have to ask Ava if there was a chance of that.
“Good.” She gestured with her hand. “So what do we have?”
Kurvin leaned forward. “Dak and I looked at frontal attacks, and we think our approach to the Bartolo River is the most likely place for that. The map marks it as open plain, so it would be difficult for them to hide the size force they’d need to take us on in an ambush.”
“However, an ambush would be much easier once we’re all across the river, because we’d have to go through thick forest. They’d be wise to wait until we had all just gotten across, and then attack when we have no place to retreat except back into the water.” Massi seemed calm, almost serene this morning.
Luc had thrown her cup into the fire for her last night. They had stood together and eventually Luc had had to tug it from her grasp.
He thought he saw a brief flare of green flame as it burned, but he couldn’t say if that was his imagination or not.
“So the Bartolo River is the place?” The pace of the column meant it was easy to hold this talk on the move. He unrolled a map and leaned across so the general could look at it as well.
“I agree it’s very likely, but they’ll know we’ll know that.” General Ru studied the topography. “What’s the most unlikely place?”
A lively conversation began, and Luc was pleased to see the way the lieutenants interacted with each other.
There was respect on both sides.
A call from the Venyatux side silenced everyone, though, and Luc saw it was Ava’s friend, Deni, warning them of someone’s approach.
The Skäddar rode up. He had a scarf around his neck that matched the markings on his face, and something about the style made him think that Ava had done it.
“Kikir.” Fervanti nodded in warm greeting.
Luc had forgotten about the Skäddar. He knew the man had traveled with the Venyatu column in order to speak with him, but so much had happened in the time since he’d scooped Ava up after finding her sparring with him, he hadn’t given the man a thought.
Obviously, the Skäddar warrior had been using his time to make friends amongst the Venyatu.
“If you are discussing the Kassian attack that is to come, I would like to be included in the discussion.”
“I thought you wanted to return home as soon as possible.” The general turned on her horse.
“I was waiting to speak with the Commander.” Kikir nodded toward Luc. “But now I think it would make sense for me to continue on with you for a little while longer. I think I’ve learned a lot that would be useful to the Skäddar Collective.”
Luc glanced over at General Ru, happy to allow her to make the decision.
“We accept.” The general inclined her head. “We are talking about places where the Kassian army may try to intercept us on the way to Fernwell. What are your thoughts?”
Kikir held out his hand for the map, and Luc passed it to him.
They had to trust potential allies. It was how he’d got both the Venyatux and the Funabi to join the Rising Wave. His decision to trust others was also how the Kassian had managed to capture him, but even that had led to him meeting Ava.
So, on balance, it had always worked out for him.
