I’m sure it wasn’t easy for him in the beginning. No trueborn leader likes to step aside and take orders, but Kyan has proven himself to be someone worthy of our trust. Looking at Toren now, I see no hint of wounded pride or desire to reclaim power. I see a man filled with blind belief in a cause. Our cause.
I smile at him. I’ve seen very little of him over the past few months. We seem to always be going in opposite directions—him to fight with the southern regions and me with the plains. It is good to see him again. “How many men am I taking?”
“This isn’t your mission to lead.” Eamon protests loudly enough to capture the attention of several soldiers nearby. He doesn’t seem to notice the disruption, but Kyan does.
He motions for us to all follow him back outside. Once the doors are closed firmly behind him, he turns on Eamon. “Your reservations on this mission have been noted countless times this past week, Eamon, but I will remind you that this is my command and I will not accept disobedience in front of my men.” I blink, shocked at the stern, lashing tone in Kyan’s voice. Apparently I’m not the only one frustrated at the moment.
Eamon’s neck reddens as he looks from Kyan and then back to me. A vein pulses down the center of his forehead, peeking out through his mass of curls. Was it really only a week ago that we put aside our differences for a few precious moments to embrace? There is no part of him now that I recognize, beyond the pain and fear that sharpens his features into a grimace. “This will end badly and you both know it.”
“Illyria is capable of handling herself,” Kyan says with no small amount of restraint. His hands clasp at his sides, tightly enough to whiten his knuckles. “She has proven that time and time again.”
“She nearly died!” His shout echoes around the deserted room.
I open my mouth to protest, but Toren holds up a hand to stop me. “This will get us nowhere. Time is short and we must focus on the task at hand.” He turns his back on Eamon and faces me after getting a nod of agreement from Kyan. “The plan is simple. You will be part of a small team that will infiltrate the base. We have planted some of our people within their ranks who will make sure you are able to get in and out without any trouble. As Eamon so eloquently pointed out, this is not technically your mission. However, your role is vital.”
“Bag Drakon and bring him back. Got it.” I nod.
“No.” Toren shakes his head. Waves of walnut hair fall over his forehead and he sweeps them to the side. He has let his hair grow out. I pause only a second to wonder if he’s trying to grow into his adulthood or if Aminah secretly prefers longer hair. “You’re not going for Drakon. By now he is probably long gone. We want you to retrieve a ship.”
“A ship?” I repeat out loud, just to be sure I heard him correctly. When he doesn’t deny the claim, I laugh. “Oh sure, no problem. Do you want me to just back up a truck and haul it all the way home?”
“No,” Kyan says, stepping forward. “We’re sending someone with you to pilot it back.”
My hands drop to my sides as I shake my head. “There’s no way we can get past their perimeter without being seen. We’ll be shot on sight.”
“That is why you’ll be invisible when you leave.” Kyan smiles.
Six
I can hear him calling my name as I round the corner of my street, but I don’t turn back. Whatever Eamon has to say to me will only make me angry, and right now I’m too stunned to think of anything else.
Kyan wants me to waltz into the largest enemy base that we’ve come across, steal a ship, and magically make it disappear. Poof. He is insane!
“Illyria, stop!”
“What?” I growl, rounding on him. His eyes widen with surprise as he slams into me, knocking me backward onto the ground. My teeth pierce my lower lip as my tailbone slams to the concrete.
“I didn’t think you would actually stop,” he says as he holds out a hand to assist me.
I grip it with enough force to crimp a couple bones, muttering a long string of curses as I release his hand and brush myself off. My backside throbs painfully as I shift my weight, trying to hide my discomfort. “What do you want?”
“We need to talk.” I roll my eyes and turn to walk away. He follows close on my heels. “I’m serious. This isn’t going to end well.”
“Why?” I jerk to a halt and turn on him. He nearly bowls me over a second time, but I shove out my hand and push him back. He teeters on his toes before rocking back onto his heels. “Because you wasted time looking into the future again? What can’t you just leave it alone?”