“Marcus believes he knows everyone’s hands,” Killian said. “He’s confident, and we need to shake that confidence with something unexpected. Something he didn’t predict.”
“Teriana is our wildcard.”
“We’ve already played that card. We need to play another. We need to rattle him.”
Malahi was shaking, and as her imploring eyes turned on Lydia, she fought the urge to tell Killian it wasn’t worth the risk. That Agrippa’s life was worth too much to throw away on a gambit. Instead, she turned to look at the man in question. “It’s your choice, Agrippa.”
The ex-legionnaire shook his head. “I know everything about how they fight. Having me on your side is an asset, and even if Marcus isn’t inclined to execute me for desertion, he’s going to recognize that having me on the opposing side is a liability.”
Killian shrugged. “If his victory is assured, then he can afford to let a liability walk away to maintain face in front of his men. Killing you will only prove he’s not half as confident as this little performance indicates. You aren’t betting on my gut, Agrippa. You’re betting on your interpretation of Marcus’s show.”
Agrippa looked up at the sky, countless emotions warring across his face, then he pulled off his helmet and tossed it behind him. “All right, then. Get me a white flag.”
101MARCUS
Marcus rested his elbows on the table, on which sat his helmet, a glass of wine, and nothing else.
You’re close.
Lydia was here, and was once again the Queen of Mudamora, judging from the crown she wore. She was in the company of her general, Killian Calorian, as well as several others whom his men hadn’t been able to identify due to their hoods and helmets.
They’ll surrender.
He twitched at the certainty of the voice because surrender was never likely when a force had its back against a wall. Or its back against another army, as was the case here.
Make your acceptance contingent on them handing over their queen. Then you’ll have her. The woman who ruined everything for you because she didn’t stay dead.
“It wasn’t her fault, it was mine,” he muttered, and was rewarded with a sharp stab of pain in his head, his defiance faltering in the face of the agony.
Kill her.
The fists were pounding against his walls, and Marcus put his head in his hands, exhausted by the war inside his mind that would not end. The two halves of himself seemed not to care that their battle was destroying him. Breaking apart his mind bit by bit. Part of him welcomed the moment he’d finally collapse under the strain.
“You all right, sir?” Gibzen asked.
“Headache.” He hated to admit it, but since they’d come throughthe xenthier and stepped onto Mudamorian soil, the pain had been intense. “Go ask Racker for something that won’t numb my ability to think.”
“You’ll be better once we’re back in Revat,” the primus replied. “It’s this place. I don’t feel right here either—makes my skin crawl. Like I’m being watched by unfriendly eyes. I should stay with you.”
Irritation filled Marcus’s voice as he snapped, “Go talk to Racker. Now.”
Gibzen looked ready to argue, but then shrugged and departed, leaving Marcus to rub at his temples.
Felix ducked into the tent. “They’re sending a rider under a white flag.”
“Good,” Marcus muttered, wiping at his nose and then staring at the crimson smeared across his fingers. “Let’s get this over with so we can head back to Revat. I don’t want to be here. There’s too much…” Too much ofsomething, but his mind couldn’t put a finger on what.
“The stink is giving everyone a headache. With any luck, being delivered their rear guard will have cracked their resolve,” Felix said. “They have to know they can’t win this.”
Marcus was certain that they did know, but that didn’t mean they’d surrender without a fight.
“Oh, shit!”
The astonishment in Felix’s voice caused Marcus to lift his head, shock radiating through him as his second said, “The rider—it’s Agrippa!”
“What?” Marcus stood up so abruptly that he hit the table, only quick reflexes keeping the wineglass from tipping sideways. “You can’t be serious. He’s in Bardeen.”
“Unless he has a twin on this side of the Endless Seas who knows all the names of our men, it’s Agrippa.”
