Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 156907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
“We did because they fled.”
“They fled because we bungled the attack here in Fire City and further failed them by putting G’Seph in charge of them.”
“And then they demonstrated they are weak and that their faith in our mission is unsound,” Fenn returned. “No man who committed to The Rising should have given up so easily.”
“Listen to what you say,” the man hissed. Lacking patience when the conversation began, he was running out now. “If this is true, are you so certain they will not share under torture?”
“They know little.”
“Pieces can be fit together, Fenn,” the priest retorted. “The attack in Fire City failed, and all who participated in it are dead. Some of the priests who masterminded it are in the necropolis, waiting for Mars’s return to be further tortured then executed. The assassination of Mercy succeeded, but the men who performed it will hang. However, they were captured, and they were not priests, so who knows what they will share under interrogation. The Enchantments did not fall and our losses there were grave. However, they took some alive, and no doubt the Nadirii are hard at work doing whatever they can to learn what those men know. And those bitches have magic. Rewards have been offered for information. If a few talk, and that leads to another few, and another, where will we be?”
He did not allow Fenn to answer.
He carried on to say, “And we don’t even know if we continue to have access to our treasury—”
“Enough,” Fenn bit.
But Tedrey was trying very hard not to straighten to attention in his chair.
Treasury?
What treasury?
“We cannot recruit if we cannot pay,” the soldier informed Fenn.
Pay?
Pay who?
“We’re done speaking,” Fenn decreed.
“We cannot possibly be done,” the priest refuted.
“For now, we are done speaking,” Fenn insisted. “I must think.”
“We must retreat, regroup, take stock. Like we did after we lost G’Dor. What we should have done after our attack on Catrame Palace failed. But Seph pushed.”
“Seph has been dealt with,” Fenn reminded him.
“Not quickly enough. Now we must pause before all is lost.”
“And perhaps we will, if you give me time to think,” Fenn snapped. “Not to mention, I must understand what the others are thinking and that will take the time you ask, for we have to wait for bloody birds.”
“Mars returns, and this is not good news for us. They have not forgotten.” The man cast a meaningful glance at Tedrey. “They are sniffing about our acolytes—”
“The Go’Ella know nothing,” Fenn reminded him.
“Are you so sure?” the soldier queried. “Are you sure they have not overheard anything? Are you sure no loyal soldier said something stupid during pillow talk? Are you? Because I’m not. At this point, I’m not sure of anything.”
Fenn made no response.
The soldier looked to Tedrey.
“Do you know anything, considering you’re so very close to the captain of the Trusted?” he demanded.
“I know what I’ve shared, what you’ve just shared,” Tedrey replied. “That they have not forgotten. That they have already connected G’Dor with The Rising, and although they have no evidence, they are operating on the fact that we infiltrated their land years ago. They have five priests, I know of no more, and they are interrogating them, not waiting for Mars. Though, when Mars returns, they will walk to the pits.”
“Other than that, you have nothing,” the man stated his question.
“Other than that, so far, no. However, I do remain in his confidence, even if he understands why I felt the need to return to my faith. That said, he hardly shares with me everything they do to protect their realm.”
“And he knows you’re not of The Rising,” the soldier pressed.
Tedrey faked preening.
“For some time, up to the now, I live with him, his wife, let him fuck me, his wife watching, and no. They think I’m a teacher and a priest. Nothing more.”
“You’re certain?”
At that, Tedrey faked annoyance.
“I’m sure, but even if he suspected, I’ve said nothing and will say nothing,” Tedrey assured testily. “I want no noose around my neck. I want no pitch filling my lungs. What I want is our sacred gods revered throughout all lands. I managed to survive the last campaign. I managed to get close to the captain of the Trusted Ones. I am here. I did not flee. I withstood the abuse of our last general, and still I am dedicated to our mission. So, it would please me if you did not question my faithfulness. For it has been tested, sorely,” he threw out both hands, “and here I sit.”
He felt Fenn’s admiring gaze but did not break his own from the man before them.
“With that, I think we’re finished,” Fenn decreed.
The man glared at Tedrey, he shifted his glare to Fenn, then he stated, “I’m on record as feeling we should hold, for a time, examine what has happened, what was gained, what was lost, and only move forward when we have a solid plan that has a much larger hope of succeeding than the last three.”