08 Blood War-Blood Destiny by Connie Suttle Page A

me, now.
    "Had no idea. If it becomes a problem, though, just let me know. There are other things I can do." I could go to the opposition, to sit and wait for everybody to clash together before I made my final decision.
    "I don't think I want you anywhere except right where you are," Desmun said. Solis nodded in agreement.
    "We may move you over to the General, though," Solis said. "Warn, his bodyguard is good, but he's not the best. I can trade off and take Warn for mine. Shouldn't be a problem."
    "Message for Captain Solis," a runner stood outside our tent. Desmun went to pull back the tent flap, inviting the young man inside. He handed the rolled-up scroll to Solis, who broke the seal.
    "The General is thinking the same thing," Solis said, standing up and stretching. He and I had been sitting on the two campstools he had inside the tent. "Come on, Liss, you'll be guarding the General from now on. Mind you, if he isn't kept safe, you'll answer to me." I gathered up my things and followed Solis and Desmun from the tent, the nearly forgotten runner trailing behind us.
    "Warn, I trust you don't mind acting as bodyguard to Captain Solis," the General said.
    "Of course not, sir," Warn dipped his head to the General.
    "Take your things to my tent," Solis said, and Warn nodded to him as well before leaving to gather his belongings.
    "Desmun, go out and see what the Regulars are saying about Mardis' death. I want to know if there are any rumors we need to dampen," the General ordered. Desmun nodded and left the tent. "I'd like to know what Red Hand is saying as well, but they've tightened their perimeters and we can't get a single spy through right now," the General raked a hand through his hair with a sigh. "Now, young woman, I want to know where it is you learned to fight like that."
    "Her father-in-law taught her," Solis grinned.
    "Laws were made to be ignored, eh?" The General laughed.
     "I think I might be able to sneak over, if you really want to know what Red Hand is saying," I told Solis and the General.
    "Liss, that could cost you your life and I wouldn't be able to stop them if they caught you," the General said. "Maybe in a night or two, when things have settled down. They have spies, I have spies. It's a terrible world when you can't trust your allies, isn't it?"
    "Allies," Solis snorted. "This is the cat inviting the tiger to help him hunt the mouse. It's not just the mouse in danger, here." I felt the same way, but I wasn't about to voice my opinion and I wondered why these two were suddenly discussing everything so freely in front of me.
    "We have a weapon against you, should you turn against us," the General smiled grimly. "You can be put to death for enlisting as a married woman."
    "Oh, that's just lovely," I muttered. Well, if they tried to kill me, they might have some angry Larentii to contend with, not to mention an angry Lissa.
    "You'll be all right, Liss," Solis patted me on the back and stood up. "I'm not looking forward to Warn's snoring." He yawned as he walked out of the tent.
    "Get some sleep, Liss. We'll be up early tomorrow." The General stood as well. I nodded and left his portion of the tent, going out to my front section. At least it was bigger than what I'd had with Solis, but I didn't have very much to fill it, anyway. That night, I placed a larger shield around us and included the officers' tents, after checking all of them for any sign of taint. One bodyguard was missing when he should have been inside the tent, but after Looking , I found him with one of the camp followers, having a good time. I withdrew quickly—didn't want to see more of that than I had to.
    * * *
    If the High Commander was surprised by my sudden appearance at the General's elbow at breakfast the next morning, he didn't show it. He just kept eating at his table with two of his Captains. I tasted my morning tea and grimaced.
    "Something wrong?" The General had laugh lines around his eyes. He looked to be in his mid-forties,