Page 56 of The Iron Hex

“Not around here,” the farmer said. “I worry Astra has forsaken me.”

“Do not fear the land we till, there is very likely a reasonable explanation for this,” Rhona said, not wanting to cause fear-mongering by agreeing it was the doing of the earth below them. She had to admit it didn’t make much sense, though. As a farmer’s daughter, Rhona knew how growing things worked. If there was a sickness, or a plague of bugs any given year, all of the crops in the area would be destroyed. One or two farms in each town? It seemed more deliberate than anything.

“I will investigate this,” she said, grabbing a bundle of the rotten crops and dropping them as a wave of disgust rolled over her. “And have a missive sent to you from the Iron Empire on our progress. For now, please do what you can do ensure your remaining crop survives.”

It was all she could say. Looking at the crops, she could clearly see there was no reviving them. Rhona thought back to all the times that bugs or sickness had destroyed her family’s livelihood and never,never, had it resembled anything like this. This, whatever it was, felt wrong. Wrong, and deliberate.

A few hours later she found herself in front of the lord general’s desk as he paced back and forth, listening to her report. Each time he took a step toward her she held back an instinctive flinch, her jaw pulsing with a phantom ache from the slap the other day.

Maeve’s voice rang through her head:Those who incited a violent uprising wouldchoose to use violence as a primary source of education.

“The crops looked crumbled, as if they’d been burned or destroyed somehow,” Rhona continued. “Though the farmer would know if fire had been laid to his lands, and he insisted there had been no arson.”

Lord General Kerrigan ushered Rhona over to the table with a swift flick of his gloved hand. He stood in front of the Corisian empire’s northeastern corner, where it bordered Astra.

“These bastards,” he growled, “are harming Astra by refusing our trade and peace treaty. Between the noble houses burning and the attacks on our crops, I have half a mind to think we’re already at war.”

Rhona didn’t know how to tell him that, while she suspected the Corisianswereattacking Astra in more ways than just arson, she wasn’t sure if the crops dying were something that the Corisians had done. But she was just a knight, and he the lord general, so he knew better than her.

“What is your plan of attack, then?” Rhona asked instead, fear keeping her from speaking her mind.

“I must connect with Osnia soon, before anything else. I hope they are amenable to working together against what is happening here in Astra. If not, we’ll need to rally an army here in the Iron Empire. In the meantime, I need you to prepare for yournext steps,” he said, and Rhona’s heart started racing. “Should this political dance continue to devolve, I intend to send you into Corisia with a legion of soldiers of your choosing. Please take the next few weeks to decide who you would like to take with you should the need arise.”

“Lord General, I am honored,” Rhona said, eyes glued to the map of Corisia.

“Don’t be honored. You trained under one of our best commanders and have proven that his betrayal did not taint you by association. You are a true Iron Retinue knight, Sir Rhona.”

“Thank you,” Rhona said, guilt laced into her gratitude. Lord General Kerrigan didn’t know who she’d been working with—or that she’d been giving Maeve information that only the Iron Retinue should know.

The two were interrupted when the door opened, a young soldier stepping inside with a letter in hand.

“Lord General,” he said, stuttering lightly. “M-my apologies for intruding, but you have received an urgent communication.”

“Give it here, boy,” the lord general said, stepping toward him and taking the parchment before dismissing him with a curt wave of his hand.

Rhona watched Lord General Kerrigan’s neck veins bulge more the longer he read; whatever was in that letter couldn’t be good news.

“Lord General, what is it?”

“Commander Hugo has managed to escape the grasp of another knight... He’s becoming more of a problem than I thought he would be.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Rhona asked, secretly hoping Lord General Kerrigan would send her after her former leader. She’d love to be the one to dispatch him after he abandoned them—but his paranoia before he had left kept creeping up on her when she thought too hard about it. He had been so loyal... what had changed that?

“No, Sir Rhona,” the Lord General said gruffly. “You have your orders, you’re dismissed. May the iron in your blood strengthen the iron in your sword.”

“May the iron in your blood strengthen the iron in your sword,” Rhona responded as she saluted.

As she left the room she nearly walked into Lady Maeve Heathecote, who stepped out of the way and smiled up at Rhona.

“Good afternoon, Sir Rhona,” she said. “Would you be so kind as to accompany me back to my apartments? I’ll be staying at the castle now that the Heathecote manor will need to be rebuilt.”

Had the witch been waiting for her? Rhona instantly flushed with rage, then looked down at the beautiful woman standing in front of her, dark skin contrasted by a beautiful bright pink dress, a matching hat nestled atop her shiny black curls.

“Good afternoon, Lady Heathecote,” Rhona responded stiffly as she held out her arm for Maeve. “I’d be happy to show you where your quarters are.”

Rhona had no idea where Maeve’s quarters were, but she was sure Maeve did. After several minutes of walking with Maeve’s hand on Rhona’s arm, she finally spoke.

“Did you wait for me there?” Rhona asked.