Cold Iron by Leicht Stina

Author:Leicht, Stina [Leicht, Stina]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Saga Press
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

FIVE

Kaija Westola waved away a moth that had strayed too close to her face, with a bored expression. “It's about damned time, Reini,” she said in a hushed voice, and then shut the book she'd been reading. “I don’t care what you’re paying. It won’t make up for lost sleep.”

She and Corporal Mustonen occupied two camp chairs arranged outside a large, striped tent. Water barrels topped with lanterns were situated next to the chairs, standing in for tables and providing light. The gray- and black-striped tent appeared to be the only one whose occupants weren’t asleep. Perched among the ragtag cluster of wagons, threadbare tents, lean-tos, and baggage that comprised the camp, it also appeared far too merry for its dour neighbors. Nels knew where he was at once. Not all families stayed behind when a soldier went to war. Some of them traveled along with the army. Often considered equally unclean as their soldier family members, military families didn’t have much reason to remain behind.

“I almost went to bed,” Westola said. “Do you have any idea what time it—”

At that moment, Nels's legs decided enough was enough. He tripped and a bolt of searing pain shot through him from neck to toes.

Viktor said, “Can I get some help here?"

Corporal Mustonen rushed to the rescue before Nels finally slipped through Viktor's grip. Nels attempted not to scream his lungs out in the process.

“Get him inside,” Westola said, holding the tent flap open. She didn’t look remotely shocked when the light within the tent revealed the extent of the damage.

She's seen this before, Nels thought. Or perhaps it’s not as bad as it feels?

A pretty young woman with long black hair, dressed in an altered sergeant's jacket without the insignia and a pair of tight-fitting trousers, shut the lid of a trunk and straightened. She caught sight of him and gasped. Then she looked away and fled.

On second thought, it is as bad as it feels, Nels bit down on the pain until they finished getting him settled facedown onto a cot.

Viktor suddenly let out a low whistle. “That's impressive.”

Westola set about separating his shirt from the wounds. “Pesola made short work of you. Usually, he takes his time. I wonder why he let you go so fast.”

Nels ignored Viktor. Laying on his belly, it was easy enough to do. “He didn’t. I took my leave.”

“You left without his permission?" Westola paused. “How?"

“I have my ways,” Nels said.

“He's not going to be happy about that,” Westola said.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t an aspect of the situation that Nels had thought through. Icy fear formed yet another cold knot in his gut. He did his best to sound cavalier in spite of it. “Is there a reason I should care?"

“If there's anyone else he can blame for your escape,” Westola said. She finished with the shirt and paused again—Nels assumed—to take inventory of the damage. “You damned well should.”

“He didn’t leave a guard, if that's what you’re asking.” Nels grimaced when she laid a chilly hand on his shoulder.

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