It wasn’t common knowledge. Her father was the Kassian queen’s much younger half-brother, and he had disavowed his connection to the throne twelve years ago.
But the general came across as someone who would be well informed.
And if she was, and if she told Luc, every hesitation, every delay now, would make the moment he discovered the truth worse.
It might be the end of them.
The thought of that was a dark, endless pit in her stomach, a pain in her heart. And she bargained with herself that she would find a better moment.
And knew she was a coward.
She laid her cheek against his chest so she wouldn’t have to look in his eyes. “The general wanted me to use what influence I have with the Grimwalt Council to advance Venyatu’s interests as well as approaching the trade department with the Skäddar’s request. I promised to use whatever goodwill I have there because of my grandmother and my parents. The general seems to think that is a good bargain. I’ll keep my word and try my best to help. It’s a good bargain for me, too.”
“You never considered telling the Venyatux the truth when you reached the column?” He pulled her up on top of him, and she pressed a kiss to his neck.
“I was being trailed by at least one, but I think two, men from Grimwalt. I couldn’t risk being turned away.” She thought of the tug on the working in her cloak the few times her hunters had been near her, searching for her among the tents, and shivered.
“I remember you saying that last night. Why were they tracking you?”
“More than tracking. They want me back in Grimwalt. I wouldn’t go to Taunen at the Speaker’s request. The last time I refused, the messenger and another man came to my grandmother’s estate and tried to kidnap me. We chased them off, but I don’t think they went back to Taunen, they waited and followed me when I left to find you.”
“Why wouldn’t you go to Taunen?” He tangled his fingers in her short hair.
“Because it would have taken me another two weeks at least, and I refused to delay leaving to join the Rising Wave that long.”
“Good choice.” He kissed her, his hands tracing her sides to grip her buttocks.
She had to go soon to start her shift on guard duty, but she would skip breakfast for this. She would do without a lot of things.
She wouldn’t be giving him up.
And his friends would just have to deal with it.
Chapter 7
Luc started dressing after Ava left, pulling on the shirt she had pressed against his chest before she crawled out of her low tent.
“I’ve been working on this for you.” She smoothed it out over his torso and down his arms, and gave a pleased nod when it seemed as if it would fit. “I hope you like it.”
She hadn’t waited for his response, scrambling out and striding away.
Her tent was too thin for the coming winter, he noted. Too thin and too small.
A traveling tent, he realized. Something she had strapped to her saddlebags.
He would have to convince her to sleep with him from now on.
He laced his boots and grabbed his jacket, shrugging it on as he rolled to his feet.
“There you are.” Dak sounded a little frantic. “You popped up out of nowhere.”
Luc shrugged. He was tired of Dak’s bullshit, and he refused to let his good mood be soured.
“New shirt?” Dak extended a hand and touched the embroidered edge of his sleeve.
“Ava made it for me.” He hadn’t paid much attention to the stitches, but he saw now the intricate pattern of swords and waves done in pale blue and yellow. “Sewing is her thing.”
“It’s exceptional.” Dak hunched his shoulders. “Let’s get something to eat.” He pointed to the rising smoke of a campfire and Luc realized he was starving.
“I apologize.” Dak didn’t look his way as he spoke.
“For?” Luc did not feel like making it easy for his lieutenant.
“For my hostility toward Ava. It wasn’t fair of me.”
“No, it wasn’t.” Luc was silent for a beat, and then loosened the tension from his shoulders. “Just treat her with respect, that’s all I ask of you. She doesn’t deserve anyone’s contempt. Quite the opposite.”
They had moved between the tents to arrive at a campfire, and Dak simply nodded his head instead of answering.
Everyone turned to look at them.
“You’re the messengers from the Rising Wave?” one of the soldiers asked, and handed them each a bowl.
“We brought a message for the general. I’m Luc Franck, and this is Dak Xaven.”
“Luc Franck.” One of the other soldiers twisted around to look at them. “The Commander?”
“Some people call me that.” Luc took his bowl to the pot sitting over the fire and spooned in some thick, fragrant porridge.
“Wasn’t there something to do with you and Avasu last night?” The woman who’d handed them the bowls asked.
They had everyone’s attention now. Even people who weren’t sitting around the campfire.
“Ava . . . su and I escaped the Kassian together. We have known each other for some time.” That was a lie, they’d known each other less than a week, as his lieutenants were quick to point out, but it had been enough for him.
Enough for her, too.
He smiled at the thought.
“She walked away without winning her fight when she saw you.” The soldier who spoke sounded grumpy. “I had a lot bet on that fight.”
“She didn’t lose it, though.” Dak spoke for the first time. “Or do you consider someone leaving the ring as a concession to defeat?”
They started discussing the rules of the sparring ring, and decided because it had simply been a friendly sparring match, a training exercise, and Ava had been interrupted by someone of much higher rank, perhaps it was a draw, and they could organize a rematch.
They seemed to be a lot more cheerful by the end of the conversation.
“How did Avasu come to be captured by the Kassian with you?” the soldier who’d recognized his name suddenly asked.
“I think that is hers or the general’s story to tell, not mine.” His words caused sidelong looks. He finished his breakfast and crouched by the small barrel of water placed beside the fire for clean-up, rubbed it clean with the cloth, took Dak’s and cleaned his, too, and then rose up.
“We’ll see you later at the Rising Wave,” Luc said to the group. “Thank you for your hospitality.”
The men and women responded with enthusiasm, and Luc walked away, pleased with the camaraderie he sensed.
“The general may have been right about Ava’s ability to tie the two columns together. I thought that was the weakest of the reasons she gave last night, but seeing what happened over breakfast, I think she was right.” Dak buttoned up his jacket, and for the first time since last night, Luc relaxed.
Things would be all right.
His friends were his family. They had gone through more together than anyone should, and they had come out of it stronger and closer. He had fought for them over and over.
For them to turn their back on him because of his love for Ava would be very hard to accept.