Scent of Magic by Maria V. Snyder

they be safer with Kerrick and Ryne? What if Estrid discovered their potential? Or Jael?
    Flea had only been a year older when he had joined Kerrick’s group. And look how that turned out. You couldn’t keep him safe.
    Danny stared at him, waiting for an answer.
    “I’ll talk to Ryne.” He held up a hand before Danny could celebrate. “Don’t get your hopes up. His decision is final.”
    Later that night he discussed Danny’s request with Ryne in his office.
    “No. He’s safer here,” Ryne said.
    “Tohon—”
    “I’m leaving an elite squad to guard them. They’ll be fine.”
    “Even if Tohon sends his dead after them? And a couple of ufa packs?” Kerrick shuddered at the thought.
    “You’re the first to see the ufa pack. It may be the only one he has. Tohon probably doesn’t have the time to create more and train them. Estrid’s been harrying his troops.” Ryne tapped his fingers on the table. “Still, it would be even safer to have them staying at an unknown location. How’s that?”
    “Danny won’t be happy, but I will.”
    Ryne smiled. “Good. Now about the point squads—”
    The door opened, and one of Ryne’s guards poked his head in. “Sorry to interrupt, but there’s a messenger here from Krakowa.”
    Krakowa was in northern Ivdel near the border with Gubkin Realm.
    “What’s the message?” Ryne asked.
    “He won’t tell me. Only you.”
    It was a bit unusual. Most messages didn’t need to be given directly to the prince.
    “All right, let him in,” Ryne said.
    Kerrick gave him a questioning look. Ryne motioned for him to stay. He stood behind the prince with his hand resting on the hilt of his sword in case the messenger had been sent by Tohon.
    The man hardly glanced at Kerrick. His pale face was drawn, and he looked as if he hadn’t slept in days. Bowing to the prince, he waited for permission to speak.
    “Go on, man, don’t keep us in suspense,” Ryne said. “What news do you bring?”
    “Terrible news, sire. The northern tribes have invaded Krakowa.”
    Kerrick leaned forward. Did he just say the tribes had invaded? Ryne drilled the man with rapid-fire questions. When? How many? And so on. But Kerrick couldn’t focus on the answers. If the northern tribes were on the warpath, then they had bigger problems than Tohon.

CHAPTER 5
    I took the two halves of the metal protector from Ursan and fitted them around my throat. Even at its tightest setting it was a little big, but it covered my neck. “Still don’t believe Tohon has reanimated the dead?” I asked.
    “It’s a piece of armor,” Ursan said. “No big deal, we all wear armor in battle.”
    “Around your neck?”
    “It’s too awkward, but not unheard of.”
    “Uh-huh.” I glanced at Major Granvil. Did he understand the danger? Did he understand Tohon could send his well-protected dead soldiers and there’d be nothing we could do to stop them?
    “The High Priestess and General Jael have ordered us to stifle all rumors about impossible creatures,” he said. “The creator would never allow such things to exist.”
    I looked at Lieutenant Thea. Did she believe this bull? Her expression remained neutral.
    Interesting how the army’s belief in the creator was invoked only when convenient. They didn’t act like true advocates. In fact, the soldiers behaved more superstitiously than devout. At least they stayed casual about the religious aspect. I didn’t worry about being turned in for not being spiritual enough. Piety wasn’t a requirement to be a soldier, unlike with the acolytes, whose devotion had to be pure.
    “I hope the High Priestess has an explanation prepared.” And a strategy. I pulled the neck protector off and handed it to the major.
    He dismissed us. As we walked back to our tents, I considered the situation, trying not to panic. It seemed odd that Estrid hadn’t believed Belen about the dead. From the few times I’d met her, she’d come across as intelligent and practical. Unless she