Ezkai Bjorn has deemed me unworthy once more, after I left Phoenix alone to hunt the dragon. All the camaraderie points I’ve gained back at the monastery…gone.
Can’t say I blame him.
As I circle the camp, more Ezkai rise and get ready for the day.
So many unfamiliar faces.
I bet even Phoenix hasn’t learned all their names yet. She has had so little time as the Ezkai General. Is Noire sure all of them are loyal?
All I can do is trust in his judgment. But trust is one thing I don’t have.
Once I’m back to our tents, Phoenix is up, too. With a frown wedged between her eyebrows, she watches the grey sky.
“Good morning, sunshine,” I say, approaching.
“It hasn’t stopped raining for days now,” she says. “Is it like…rain season in Ekios or something?”
“No,” Ezkai Bjorn answers, his voice rough.
He speaks so little it’s startling to hear words coming out of his mouth. Phoenix’s gaze snaps to him.
“Rain is a sign,” he adds.
Immediately, my chest tightens.
This can’t be good. Even Phoenix must see it.
She must hear my thoughts, because her gaze hardens before she whirls on her heel and returns to her tent to pack up.
The urge to follow her and try once more to change her mind is overwhelming.
I close my eyes and inhale a deep breath.
I can’t.
There’s no point.
She has made up her mind, and nothing in this world has the power to change it.
I can only make sure she doesn’t get hurt due to her stubbornness.
“Let’srun through the plan once again,” Nix says after a long silence.
We’re in our carriage together with Noire. It’s been hours since we last stopped. We’re traveling at a rigorous pace.
“Of course, General,” Noire says with a nod. “We’ll arrive at the location late at night today. It’ll give us perfect cover.”
Nix nods. “Good. We’ll lead the men to Reizei’s gate and demand that he comes out to face me.”
“Why don’t you send your spies to investigate the area before?” I glance at her.
Nix pouts. “The longer we linger outside his house, the longer he’ll have to come up with a plan to evade us.”
“Oh, he’s got a plan already. Potentially six different ones,” I murmur.
Noire nods thoughtfully. “Highly likely.”
Phoenix throws me a long stare before continuing. “We don’t send spies. But we should have men watching all sides of the estate just in case he chooses to run.”
