Covert Ops by TR Cameron

Author:TR Cameron [Cameron, TR]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781642023671
Publisher: LMBPN Publishing
Published: 2019-07-09T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Dreven materialized in the ruined courtyard already in motion toward his position. He concentrated on transforming the intense rage on his face to a more neutral expression. His excursion to Nehlan’s bunker had not gone as planned.

In fact, it had almost killed him.

The portal to the landing room had worked well, as always, but as he stepped through, a plethora of defenses activated. The wicked spells sought not only to end him but also to maintain the connection he’d created so that if he did escape, he could be followed. It had required most of his impressive skills in magic to break free of the trap, and the battle had taken longer than it had seemed, which made him late to this meeting.

Ahead, the other four were already gathered and each offered their companions an almost identical sour look. If the situation hadn’t been so unpleasant, it would have been funny. But after their recent failures, mirth was far beyond him. Even Iressa’s beauty—which he ordinarily would have taken great pleasure in—seemed simply one more threat to add to the growing list.

He nodded at the others as he stepped into the leadership position. Dreven raised his arm and drew the cross in the sky that would summon the sight and sound barrier to protect their conversation from all kinds of potential surveillance. Their plans were safe within it, except from one another. He had a strong feeling that the common cause which had previously bound them was frayed, possibly to the point of breaking. It might be that only the threat of his own superior would be enough to keep the group on task.

Rather than listen to their complaints, he spoke first. “The humans have achieved a foothold on Oriceran.”

The Dwarf, Jarkko, snarled his reply. “How could this happen? My target, the man in their capital city, has been taken off the board as planned.”

Pesharn nodded. The Kilomea looked smug. “I did my part to set up the prison break, as did Ushev.” She gestured at the underground gnome on her right, who declined to communicate.

If those two are in accord, times truly are as dangerous as they seem.

It was the darkly beautiful witch’s turn to speak, and the grin on her face told him she’d seen what he had planned and was about to turn it on his head. “My own plans were flawlessly executed, save for one tiny detail. Dreven’s target pulled mine away before the trap was sprung.” She twisted to challenge him directly. “How did your people fail to preserve our secrecy?” Her words were calm and seemingly innocent, but the betrayal they carried struck deep.

Not because he hadn’t expected it—and had even counted on it—but because he’d hoped for more time to accomplish his own betrayal of her first. He held his arms wide to suggest he was hiding nothing. “The attack on the leader of the group defending the prison was unsuccessful in that it did not eliminate the woman. It was, however,

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