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He broke his stare-down with Einri reluctantly and turned to me, both men visibly calming. “I’m afraid it is, Arrow. I’m sorry.”
I nodded and felt another tear track its way down my cheek. “Okay.” I nodded. “Then he still has a chance.”
“Arrow,” Einri began, but I was fresh out of patience.
“You yourself said he has a one in five chance. That’s more than enough.” I really hoped it was. “Will is a fighter, and I owe it to him to find out for sure. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t at least try”
Both men looked uneasily at each other, and I momentarily appreciated the speed they could fight, and then join sides again.Men.“You would do it for each other.” I added, twisting the knife. Einri clearly felt it and winced.
“Could you live with yourself if you were the cause of hundreds of innocent lives lost from the Greenwoods?” Einri countered, and this time I was the one who winced. He had a point, but I wasn’t about to admit that.Time for a compromise?
I turned fully to Einri, knowing my best chance was to convince him of my plan. “Help me. I believe I saw Will, or a boy like him,” I conceded, “in the camp. Help me find out for sure, and in return I will help you save Greenwood.”
Einri mulled over my offer for a moment before he responded. “Promise you’ll give the same loyalty to the people of Greenwood as you do your cousin, and I will help you.”
I nodded solemnly. “I promise.”
He leaned forward a touch, and I stood my ground. Barely. “Promise me on your cousin’s life.”
I raised my eyebrow. “I promise on both the life of my cousin and my father, I will give the same fervor to protecting the People of Greenwood from the Bruralian threat as I do the life and well-being of my cousin.May Volena’s noose know you.” I whispered the insult for the goddess of death under my breath, and Einri’s mouth twitched, as if he’d heard.
Deal struck; I outlined my plan. “I thought I saw him in the middle tent, but just to be safe we should each check a tent. The cook’s tent seems to be to the far left, so our best shot would be to go during supper time which should be soon.”
Einri crossed his arms, bicep flexing distractingly. “No.”
I instantly bristled. “What?! We just agreed...”
“That’s a shite plan.”
Tuck sighed and shook his head.
“Well, I’d like to see you come up with a better one!” I hissed with venom.
Einri smiled, and I stood mesmerized for a split second. He had no business being that perfect looking. “Excellent.”
“Wha-at?” Distracted by his smile for a moment I thought he could read my mind.
“You go to the tent where you saw your cousin, while Tuck checks the other two tents. If neither of you find him, then the likelihood of him making it through the change are nonexistent. Bruralian’s don’t have the honor to care for the dead.”
I could feel my eyes narrowing at the nonchalance in his voice, but I had to admit that he was right. “And what about you?”
His smile took on a dark edge, and I admitted to myself that he made violence look good. “I will be ensuring there are no soldiers nearby.”
My eyebrow raised of its own accord. “And how do you plan on managing that?”
“That’s none of your concern. You just focus on your cousin.”
His patronizing was getting old, and I knew I would have to address it soon, but Will took priority. I nodded in response, and we turned in the direction of the enemy camp.
An hour or so later found us on the edge of camp. I turned to Tuck and pointed. “That’s the tent I thought I saw him at. I’ll take this path,” I motioned the way I planned to go, “think you can make it?” Honestly, I figured he could, but didn’t want to assume.
He just rolled his eyes at me and instead smirked his response. I grinned. With a glance at Einri, Tuck nodded, and we began slinking through the camp, Einri having already headed in the direction of the camp cook a few minutes earlier.
Fortunately, no one was in the area as we walked purposefully through, having all wandered to get food, Einri blended right in with them. I followed carefully behind Tuck, impressed by his soundless tread. I thought I was good at being quiet, but Tuck was masterful. I found myself watching him between scans of the area, trying to copy his silent technique.
Sooner than expected, I arrived at the tent. I took a final glance around, then slipped through the flap then ducked to the side in case they left anyone on guard.
I inhaled a breath then immediately regretted it. It smelled of wet dog, rotten meat, and piss. I placed a corner of my cloak over my mouth and nose in an effort to block out the stench. Blinking I positioned my back into a corner to give my eyes time to adjust to the shadows inside.
