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Using her own map, Verve had divided the area into sections, and spent each day searching a particular area for traces of renegade mage activity. The nearest village was Mara’s Hope, well over three hours’ journey away by water. Verve had already resigned herself to spending several nights camped out if she ever needed to take her search to Mara’s Hope. But first, she would properly scour this area.
As she traveled east, she got a clear view of the rising sun; how it painted the grasses in shades of pink and gold, how the brilliant light reflected off of the pools of water that lay between the tall marsh grasses. The birdsong brightened with the sun, accompanied by a chorus of cicadas and croaking frogs. A spring breeze tugged at Verve’s hood, bringing her the clean scent of water mixed with the musky, earthy smell of the marsh itself.
Alem was right. It was beautiful here.
Verve came to an expanse of water too broad to leap across and spent a few moments searching the depths for signs of malicious life. She saw no snakes, swamp-chompers, or anything else that might want to harm (or humiliate) her, so she carefully stepped into the shallow water. Cool but not cold, the water didn’t reach the top of her tall boots, which was a mercy.
As Verve waded through, a snort of laughter sounded from the shore. She sprang into action, drawing her crossbow and aiming for the direction of the noise. “Show yourself,” she called. “And I might let you walk away.”
The tall grasses parted, revealing Usko, teeth bared in a brief but delighted grin. “And to think I was jealous of you for this assignment.”
Verve swore and stowed her crossbow. Conflicting emotions squared off in her heart: delight at seeing a friendly face; anxiety, for there were only a few reasons Usko would be here, and none of them were pleasant.
She sloshed ashore, and they clasped hands in greeting. “What are you doing?” Verve asked.
Usko glanced around, face impassive. “Trying not to gag at the stink. And I’ll never get this mud off of my shoes.”
Verve gave him a mock-punch on his shoulder. “Going soft, huh? Danya won’t like that.”
His mouth twitched like he wanted to frown. “No, she won’t. That’s…kind of why I’m here.”
“You could have just sent a message. I’d have gladly met you.”
“You’re one to talk. We’ve not heard a whisper from you all month. Danya was getting worried about you, so she sent me to make sure you weren’t dead.”
Verve tried not to roll her eyes. “Sure. Worried about me. Not my mission.”
“That, too.” Usko studied her, his gaze scraping up and down her form. “You don’t look dead. Any luck finding Damaris?”
Verve’s stomach flipped, so she gestured to the ground ahead, which was solid enough to walk upon for a bit. “Not yet, but I’m making progress. Tell Danya she’ll have her mage before the three months are up.”
Usko nodded and toyed with his coat, where new hematite beads sewn into swirling designs gleamed upon the dark fabric. He was moving up among the ranks of Atal’s Chosen. “Look, Verve… Danya wants to talk to you. She’s… unhappy you’ve not reported in.”
Verve paused and glanced over at him. “I still have two months. And how in the stars and moons am I supposed to report in? There’s not a fleet rider station for leagues out here, and the trip back to Freehold isn’t exactly quick.”
“I know,” Usko said, palms lifted. “But Danya’s worried about you. We all are.”
He’d already said that, and Verve didn’t believe him any more the second time. But the concern in his gaze was real. As the sun rose higher, Verve studied her younger counterpart. Aside from the new gear, she recognized the hilt of the sword he now carried as being the work of Freehold’s best weapon-smith. But his round cheeks bore a fresh scar, and he was leaner than Verve recalled. How had his life been in the past month?
He looked at her, eyes wide, and his youth struck her more than it ever had before. Nineteen years was too young to kill for a living.
But he started younger, she reminded herself. As I did. The world was a brutal place to live, as Danya often said. To survive, one had to be ruthless.
Verve kept these thoughts from her face and tried to sound confident. “Thanks for your concern, but I’m safe and on the job. Tell Danya—”
“You don’t understand,” he interrupted. “Danya wants to see you. In person. Now.”
Ice bloomed in Verve’s veins. “Impossible. I’m—”
“You can come back, just for a visit,” Usko said, hands clasped before him. “She just wants to talk to you. She has…” His lips trembled. “A mission for you. A little one. But you must return now.”
Verve stared at him, her mind already racing ahead. “I’m already on a mission.”
“Danya has another one for you. Well,” he amended, “sort of.”
“What are you talking about?”
Usko blew out a breath. “Look, Danya asked me to come all the way out here to give you this message. You don’t have to be difficult, Verve. Just…do as she says, and everything will work out.”
Something in his voice gave Verve pause. She took his gloved hands in hers, met his gaze directly. “What do you mean, everything will work out?”
He flinched, tried to slip his hands free, but Verve held him fast. “This is my first proper mission on my own,” he said at last. “I can’t fail, Verve. I just can’t. You must go back. Please.”
Verve’s gaze caught on his fresh scar, and her own cheek burned at the memory of Danya’s slap. She released Usko and stood back, her heart suddenly beating too fast. “Very well,” she said, her voice cool. “I’ll return as soon as I can. I’ll need a day or so to tie off some loose ends here, then I’ll head back to Freehold.”
Relief shone through his eyes, but he did not smile at her as he once might have. “Oh, Atal, thank you, Verve! I have to get back now, so please hurry, all right?”
Her chest ached at the joy in his voice. Danya would crush that soon, too. What would be left of the jovial boy she’d once known? But to Usko, she only said, “I will. I promise.”
