Page 90 of Seasons of War
Her skin felt clammy despite the cool temperature in the apartment. When she’d changed clothes, she’d thrown away her dress from Krowe’s and exchanged her flats for boots. But she hadn’t thought of changing her bra. Foolish. “You’re tracking me, aren’t you?”
“Are you usually as hasty as you were at Krowe’s house?”
“No.”
“You saw us in the woods that night and panicked.”
He knew? “I didn’t tell anyone what I saw.”
“We were setting up surveillance equipment. Nothing that should frighten you. But you let that make you hasty with Lance. Then you panicked again and fled Krowe’s when there’s no need to panic over Lance.”
Miya wiped her palms over her black pants. “I can’t see any reason I shouldn’t panic about him knowing I’m a spy.”
“He’s a bond worker. His family came from Antor during the trade wars with a hefty debt. He’s harmless.”
Miya’s heart slowed. “That doesn’t make sense.”
“I’m not repeating myself.”
Her every interaction with Lance flashed through her mind in a different light. How he hung back at the welcoming party and the things he’d said to her by the shed. Everything that had happened in his room…
“Let’s talk!”
It made perfect sense… and yet it made no sense at all. Was it a trick? “Who would send an untrained civilian to Krowe?”
“Someone who has no one else to send. The King of Caspador can't help Krowe without signing a death warrant. Any illicit help, like Rafferty, is more interested in picking the pockets of a dying man. Governor Krowe has no one.”
Dread filled Miya. “So, who sent Lance? Why did you tell me to work him?”
“Bale.”
The word punched her in the gut. That damn monster Bale signed her mother away with the treaty. Now he broke it to betray the king?
“The situation is most dire for Bale and his people,” the captain said. “The king blames the death of his first wife on him. He'll continue to attack the villages every chance he gets until they're gone. Bale offered Krowe another pair of eyes for stakes in the mines. Krowe is equally desperate, pacified by Lance’s size and hunting skills even though the boy has no training or experience.”
“Someone shot at him. There’s more here. There has to be.”
“Nothing more than Bale's greed. Lance poked around places he didn’t belong, looking for documents on the mines to ensure Krowe planned to keep his promise.” The captain hummed, watching her for several seconds. “Here you are, in the middle of this mess because you panicked and couldn’t wait to get information the right way.”
Laughter bubbled up in her, wild howling laughter that she had to clench to keep from releasing. Don’t panic? Miya couldn't involve herself with Bale. This was why she should've never set foot in Krowe’s estate. Everything was too close to her father. It was all connected. She should've run and forgotten about Caspador and her family.
“But… But Lance came right after you got here.” She crossed her arms over herself, taking a step away. “Why have me look into him when you know everything?”
“You should listen more closely to what I say.”
Shock severed the link between her mind and mouth. He’d told her to get close to Lance, to show him what she could do. “A job interview.” Miya eased from him toward the wall. Not a good idea to corner herself but her body fled from him without her permission. “Failed it pretty badly, didn't I?”
“Interview is too generous a word. More like a chance to save your life.”
“Right. In that case… I guess panic is appropriate.” Could Miya get to the frying pan?
“Fortunately for you, while it looks like you failed miserably, you made quite the impression on Lance. He's already loyal to you, as I wanted. He didn't tell anyone about you.”
“How do you know?”
“We know everything that happens in that house. Let it be a lesson to never allow soldiers into your home.”
“On-the-job training,” Miya said, digging her nails into her palms. “Lucky me.”
