Blades Of Illusion: Crown Service #2 Read Free Page B

quietly.
    Sara looked over at him, “That we’ve barely reached the beginning. The bird turned around because it could. It would rather turn back to fly to normal land, presumably, than go further into this swamp.”
    “Oh,” said Ezekiel with a thoughtful look. “How much longer do you think the swamp lasts?”
    “I don’t know,” Sara remembered answering, “And that’s what worries me.”
    Ezekiel nodded to the rapidly receding form of their red-haired captain visible in the distance and said, “You’re not the only one.”

Chapter 3
    S ara eyed the captain’s back, her gaze still filled with anger, but pure pity resided in it as well. He may have abandoned his men, but she doubted he wanted to be anywhere near this group of mercenaries if he tried the same with them. Two hundred-and-seventy-five mercenaries meant two hundred-and-seventy-five well-trained killers who would hunt him down at the first sign of treachery.
    They may have been loyal to him, but they weren’t fools. Sara had seen what he had done to his other mercenaries. So had the surviving division—now her division, as she been promptly promoted after surviving the fray and returning to the fold with a very valuable prisoner in tow. But it wasn’t just Sara the captain had to worry about, because it was those two hundred-and-seventy-five mercenaries who had seen him abandon his other troops without batting an eyelash. They wouldn’t care that he had done it for the greater good, not when it came down to their asses being on the line. Mercenaries were mercenaries for a reason. They were ruthless killers and shrewd practitioners of war. Everyone knew that you didn’t join the mercenaries’ guild because of your loyalty to the crown. You joined for the sense of the adventure, the excellent pay of the guild, and the damned-fearsome fight training you received.
    Which was why it was so odd that Sara Fairchild had elected to join the guild. Her family made it their creed and their passion to protect and serve the empire. As a whole. Not for money, but for loyalty to the crown. After her father had left the gladiator’s arena, he had his choice of positions in the military, in the guilds, in private households. All offered him sums that would ransom a king. Overseas and at home. But he had chosen the empress’ service, because he believed. He believed in their empire and its integrity.
    So the fact that he had betrayed his empress and been executed for that desertion made the blight on the family name just that much worse. That was why Sara was here. If not to clear her father’s name—which she doubted could be done—then to at least show that she had honor and was no coward. But how could she serve under a commander that was a coward himself.
    Does a warrior have honor if their leader has none?
    Should she serve under a turncoat like Barthis Simon?
    All those questions filled her head. Questions that made her doubt. Doubt her sanctity. Doubt her training. Doubt herself.
    “The answer is I have no choice,” Sara murmured to herself sadly, “None of us do. And right now I need to get to Matteas Hillan, not lead a revolt against a man who isn’t fit to herd pigs.”
    She sighed and looked around. The truth of the matter was that the captain was losing the faith of his people on his own with each passing day. She might have to do nothing. If they continued to starve and wander a swamp in circles, his precious mercenaries would turn on him without further provocation.
    The man hadn’t just left the majority of the mercenaries who served under him behind, he had watched and listened as his people were slaughtered on the open battlefield. His men and women may not challenge him on that. May have even lauded him for his foresight when it was first revealed, but make no mistake—a well-thought-out plan that foreswore their comrades was one thing; abandoning them to the depths of the swamp would be another thing entirely.
    Sara snorted. His