The Deceiver's Heart (The Traitor's Game 2)

“You didn’t do that because I ordered you to. You didn’t even do it to protect the Olden Blade.”

“But I did do it. Do we know where the Olden Blade is … sir?”

Tenger looked sideways at me. “As I already said, Hatch, it won’t be that easy for you to come back. You would’ve been my next in line, my hope for the rebellion to continue if I ever fell in battle. But now … you are the water boy. The person who brings my meals and scrubs my dishes, and you’ll do it with a smile on your face until I’m convinced you mean it, if you want to continue having access to her.”

“I want to know—”

Tenger cocked his head. “What was that?”

My grip tightened on my reins. “Yes, sir.”

“Then ride at the back. You have no right to be up here.”

I slowed my horse, steering to the side of the trail. “Yes, sir, Captain Tenger.”

Yes, sir, because I would smile and carry out his orders and do whatever I had to do for now. But only until I got my sword back, and Kestra as she was before, if either were possible.

I waited there for Trina and Gabe to pass. He offered me an apologetic smile, and Trina grunted my name. Basil and Kestra came next. Basil thanked me again for saving Kestra. She didn’t even blink in my direction.

And I fell in line at the end, trying to watch anything but her. Doing a miserable job of ignoring the way she observed the scenery as we passed, the gentle

pat of her hand on her horse. The brush of her fingers along her right thigh where she once had been accustomed to feeling a weapon.

Sending me to a place so near her, and so far apart, was a punishment beyond anything Tenger could have imagined. Every mile forward tore deeper into me. I was sure he knew it too.

We rode into Lonetree Camp early that evening, all of us road-weary and hungry. The Drybelt was the arid center of Antora, with flat plains in the north and deep crevices in the land farther south. In the early days of the rebellion, the Coracks had fled here to hide and had come upon an underground river and natural vents in the cave ceiling to provide fresh air. Thus, Lonetree Camp was barely detectable from most places above ground. As many as four hundred people could live underground here, for extended periods of time, if necessary. Although the surrounding land was hostile, it also provided us the advantage of sparse population and few Dominion soldiers ever passing this way.

I didn’t know most of the Coracks who came out to greet Tenger, but when a young boy offered to attend to my horse, his eyes widened. “You’re Simon Hatch! We’ve heard about you out here.”

My smile was wary. “About me?”

“The mission, to find the Olden Blade. My mother was surprised the captain put so much trust in someone your age. Someone … so near her age.”

Oh. “I wasn’t the captain’s first choice.”

“Maybe not. But you found the Blade.”

Only for it to be lost now. Or lost to me. Surely Tenger knew more than he was saying about what Kestra had done with it.

“What happens now?” Basil asked Tenger.

“Everyone needs to sleep, then we’ll talk in the morning.” With that, Tenger nodded at the gathered Coracks, who immediately pulled out disk bows and surrounded me, Kestra, and Basil. They already had their orders.

“I’m sorry,” Gabe told me. “Tenger also wants your knife.” I pulled my knife from its sheath and, holding it by the blade, offered it to Gabe. He frowned at me before tucking it inside his belt. “You understand why it has to be this way.”

“Just take me there.” I sighed. “Anywhere I can get some sleep.”

Inside one of the caves were cells meant to hold captured Ironhearts until whoever commanded this base passed sentence on them. On occasion, it was used to discipline Coracks who had overstepped their bounds.

Me, I supposed.

There were two cells side by side, with embedded rock and earth at the back and bars on the front and between the cells. I entered the first cell without objection, followed by Basil, who objected very much.

“I must speak to your captain in private,” he said. “About our agreement.”

“The captain will gladly speak with you … in the morning,” Gabe said, pushing him into the same cell as me.

Kestra was given the neighboring cell, and wool blankets were tossed in after each of us, as well as a single clearstone for us to share for light. I grabbed my blanket and wrapped it around my shoulders, then leaned against the cave wall. I hoped they wouldn’t warm the clearstone. I didn’t need to see any more of them.