After an hour or so, the captain announced that they needed to do some hunting. Victor picked up a bow and quiver and asked if they were going alone.
"Hunting is normally done in parties of four," came the reply, "but I could see how two could play into the apprenticeship." They left and told Ian on the way out of camp that the captain was taking Victor out hunting.
They had barely gotten out of camp when Victor whispered to the captain, "You are making too much noise. Stay still for five minutes." It was then that the captain realized he could not hear Victor’s footsteps. Before he could say not to, the boy had vanished. The captain sat down an
The rest of that day was without consequence. A scout reported sighting of the opposing army a day and a half away, so the men set in to relax for the evening. They knew that for some this would be the last chance and no one could know if they would be included in that some. Since the day was hot, they requested permission to go swimming in the river. The captain granted their request."Hey Victor, come with us!" one of the soldiers shouted as they headed for the river. Victor paled, but his back was to the soldier who had said it so only the captain could see."Victor has been set to guard duty to learn discipline," replied the captain calmly. He gave a slight smile to Victor when he saw him mouth "Thank you".The same man approached Victor later and said, "Tough gig. I’m glad I
Chapter 4 The MountainsThe next morning the camp was buzzing with the excitement of the impending battle. Victor had gone scouting and returned to say that there was an enemy encampment not far away and that if they were quick, they could take the enemy by surprise. They were quick.The battle was fast with few casualties. The enemy soldiers, when they saw Mikail’s men bearing down on them, decided to flee. "I saw how well you fought today, Victor," said the captain after the battle, "if you did not have my trust before, you have it now." He put his hand on Victor’s shoulder.
"I was not hurt in the battle and am not wounded now." There was a certainty in her voice the captain recognized, but the fact that she was speaking through gritted teeth made him doubt her words. Then he realized that she was using her own voice, not that of Victor. Now he knew something was wrong."Then sit down and tell me why you are moving like your insides are trying to come out!" concern would have been evident in his voice if she had not been too distracted by pain to listen."Have you forgotten that I am female under this disguise?" she asked him as she sat down like he ordered."I wish I could, but that is hardly the point right now."&nbs
"With one leg on either side of my horse, just like you. Remember that I have to be Victor and will be allowed to be preoccupied with my assignment." He smiled slyly. After dinner he said, "I must congratulate you, by the way. It seems that while I was in prison, you saved the city of Tshen from an oncoming attack.""Tshen?" asked the captain, "I thought they were going to invade the small village west of Tshen and could not understand why. That makes better sense to me now. You got that out of that journal?""Yes. And some other stuff. I am not finished with it, but it looks like you have been a real pain." Sylvia smiled at him, though he could see the pain etched in every line of her face."I did find two other journals among some of the lower ranking soldiers
Chapter 5 Ian’s SinCaptain Tane was aware of Victor moving around the tent only because there was a black shadow that wasn’t staying still. "See ya in a while!" he said as the shadow slid under the back of the tent. There was a light pat on the tent near his head in reply.Victor made his way silently up the river to the pool at the bottom of the small waterfall. He navigated through some tall reeds to the shore and started removing his disguise. Finally, Sylvia thought as she unlaced her corset, it feels like forever since I have had this thing off. She thought it felt like heaven as she walked into the water.
"I think I’d rather the captain do that,ifyou don’t mind," Ian said spitefully."Suit yourself." Victor passed the Veritásto Captain Tane."Ian, you can’t say anything to anyone," the captain told him as he cut the vines, "Sylvia has made a bond with me and if they find out Victor is Sylvia in disguise, then she will be dead and so will our chances of winning this war.""If she has earned your trust, I will do nothing to dispel this illusion. I, however, still do not trust her. I will have my eyes on you,Victor," he pronounced the name harshly, "Captain, what kind of bond did she make?""Ian I always feel better when I know you are watching carefully over me, bu
Ian looked at her. He had wanted this. His captain would banish her before she could do any more damage if he said nothing. She had fallen to her knees and Mikail was preparing for the strike. "Wait." The captain turned toward Ian."Is there more?""Yes...and no. She is telling the truth. It was before you took her on, so there would not have been any promise to keep. I have born the weight of this sin for quite some time."The captain looked at Ian hard. He was trying to decide if Ian was reacting to her influence or if he was acting out of his own will. His answer would not come from Ian."Ian, you did nothing wrong.""How can you say that? You know what happened better than I do m
Chapter 6 Retribution’s ContractFor another week, everything seemed to be going smoothly, then they had word that there had been sightings of a small band of enemy forces near the city of Nash. It was not far from where they were, but they had been headed in the other direction. Sylvia was just getting back from scouting to find Ian in the tent with the captain."Nash is closer anyway and we do need to restock our medical supplies." The captain was telling Ian as she slipped under the back of the tent. They were facing each other with one side to the opening and the other side in her direction. "We will not now have time to gather the herbs ourselves and then to dry them."