Tarnished Empire by Danielle L. Jensen

Author:Danielle L. Jensen [Jensen, Danielle L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-73598-820-7
Publisher: CLA

17

Silvara

Where had they gone?

For a long time, Agrippa’s patrol was easy to follow, the short boy with the satchel sounding as loud as a bear as he trudged along, though the rest of them were totally silent. But for ten minutes now, she’d heard nothing, and her chest was full of trepidation that she’d followed them into dangerous territory for nothing.

It had been a spur of the moment decision.

She’d been on her way to fetch water from the river and had seen them leaving on patrol, all of the young men those she’d expect but for the short one and one other. And it was the one other that had sent her back into camp for a gathering basket and out onto the trail after them.

She pressed forward, swinging her basket and pausing from time to time to collect lichen and tubers, her ears perked for any sound of motion.

Carina had been furious with the lack of information she’d learned from Agrippa the prior night, throwing the sack of food at her, though the other laundresses had been glad to take their share. “You were gone for hours and you’ve nothing to show for it,” the rebel leader snarled. “Which causes me to believe it’s not your brain making the decisions but your loins. Rutting in the woods with an Empire boy while our families starve in Hydrilla surrounded by his comrades.”

“I wasn’t—”

“Hecktor saw him kiss you, girl, so spare me your denials.”

It was just a kiss, she’d wanted to snap, but it was almost better for Carina to believe that they’d been occupied with intimacy than that Silvara had been unwilling to capitalize upon Agrippa’s grief. And even more unwilling to betray his confidence in the personal things he’d shared.

But following the legatus of the Thirty-Seventh, who was clearly sneaking out of the camp, into the woods to see what he was up to was something she was willing to do. No matter the risks.

Then she heard voices.

“He’s making good progress now that there are branches, sir.” The voice was distant but clear, and Silvara’s eyes immediately went up.

There.

She could make out motion in the trees. Someone was climbing one of the larger redwoods, barely visible he was so high up.

What were they doing?

Before she could consider the answer to her question, Silvara’s skin prickled and she turned her head, catching sight of a shadow moving through the trees. It was one of Agrippa’s patrol: the one with the scars on his face. The one whose gaze always made her skin crawl with primal fear prey feels in the presence of a predator.

He hadn’t seen her yet, but he was turning, looking—

A hand clamped over her mouth.

Terror flooded through Silvara as strong arms pulled her to the ground, the weight of a man on top of her filling her with panic. Then Agrippa’s voice whispered in her ear, “Don’t move,” as he eased his hand away from her lips.

Heart in her throat, she kept still. Agrippa’s breath was warm against her cheek as he slowly eased the hood of his cloak upward to shadow their faces.

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