“The supplies were stolen, as reported, but the two soldiers in question are blameless.” Nyx bowed her head. “The truth of the matter is I asked Mendel to omit the details of the report to spare Bolton’s squad—and myself—the embarrassment. I feared the king might come to question my command if he saw them.”
The prince’s eyes narrowed to slits. “Why would the Crown be upset?”
“When you know what it is to lead, Your Highness, you view every loss as a reflection on yourself. An irrational fear, I suppose, but one I am guilty of all the same. I feared the Crown would see the circumstances—a sleeping draught—as a result of my negligence. One incident might have been forgivable, but three…”
Darren scowled. “A sleeping draught?”
“Bandits, perhaps they were rebels, drugged our supplies. When Mendel was writing up the report, Bolton thought it best to make the guards appear negligent and I agreed.”
The knight expanded on Nyx’s lie. “We didn’t realize what was happening at first. Like you, I blamed my men and took away their privilege of drink… But after a second occurrence, I started to suspect something else. They hadn’t touched ale in months, and still they had slept through a theft on duty.” The knight adjusted his belt. “The two went a month without pay. But the third time it happened, one of the other guards had taken ill and foregone his evening meal. He noticed the unusual slumber—too early for most, it was barely dusk—of our entire squad during a run to the latrine, and while he was too late to prevent that final theft, a healer was able to confirm his suspicions. We’ve taken on a taster ever since, and the theft has stopped. I assure you, we will never be caught unawares again.”
“Your men never mentioned this in questioning. They led me to believe it was their own negligence.”
“Bolton’s squad was given orders to never say a word.”
Darren’s jaw clenched. “Your orders to spare your keep of embarrassment almost cost two of your soldiers’ lives. You didn’t think to mention this little detail before you submitted your reports? Are there any other omissions you failed to mention before I consider another innocent man’s life?”
“No, Your Highness.” Nyx exhaled. “None that I am aware of.”
“Good,” the prince barked, “because this is not a good reflection on your command. Should it happen again, I will have no choice but to recommend a replacement.”
Nyx hung her head as the knight shuffled his feet guiltily. I drew in a sharp breath, praying Nyx didn’t miss anything more in her reports. If the Crown recommended someone else for command, their whole operation would be at risk.
“I understand.”
Darren turned heel and stormed out the passage behind us.
I started after him.
“Ryiah.” A rough hand caught my wrist.
I paused to look the commander in the eye.
“Thank you.”
I tried to keep my anger at bay. “I can’t do that again.”
“I know.” Her lips pressed into a thin line. “Two more days. I have the traitor on Sir Maxon’s squad. We gave him time to prepare for interrogation. I thought it best for the rebel to be a man of Derrick’s final squad, it’d be the easiest conclusion to draw.”
“Who is it?”
“A young knight named Tallus. Recruited to the keep a year before last.”
“How will I convince Darren?” I dug my heel into the dusty stone tile. “What proof can he offer?”
“Tallus will have an incriminating letter hidden in his personal cot. It will be up to you to lead the interrogation.”
I started to turn and then paused, glancing back. “You will need two healers for the soldiers in that cell.”
Nyx took a deep breath. “Yes, I will see to them right away… I’m so sorry.”
“Not as sorry as them.” I retreated back into the hall. Not as sorry as me.
5
The rest of that day passed with the subtlety of a storm. Sir Bolton’s squad was furious. After two healers carried out the two soldiers, squinty eyes and hard jaws promised a hate that would remain long after we were gone.
Our interrogations were filled with stony silence and little else. By the end of our second day, the exhaustion was palpable to all.
I wondered if any of the rebels believed Nyx’s faith in my word. Either way, the grasp of peace was tenuous at best.
After that second night, Darren was quick to call a meeting with the rest of our own. “The distrust has shifted toward me. Keep your eyes open and your sword at hand at all times. I want everyone patrolling in pairs.” His laugh was cold. “Until we discover the rebels, the men of the keep will continue to blame us for what transgressed with those soldiers. I’d love to direct them to their errant commander… But they prefer to fixate on their prince.”