Winterfinding by Daniel Casey Page A

nurse, and Declan had egged her on. It was clear that the unit’s
commander, Kees, knew Goshen was lying but he wasn’t confident
enough to take action on his own. When Kees returned to the mess,
he had with him a Kyrio. All of them were surprised, but Declan
visibly tensed and when Fery gave him a confused look, he nervously
shook his head.
    The Kyrio didn’t say a word but stared hard
at each of them. Then he turned on his heel and left. Kees smirked
following him. A few minutes later several soldiers came in, sat
down, and began talking gregariously. Goshen was about to say
something when another group entered, guards, and separated Kira
from the rest. She disappeared in a mass of blue armor and the
others were taken to this tent.
    On their way, Goshen and Declan had been
able to take in the state of the camp. Both grew more and more on
edge, the more they saw. This was a war camp, an amassing army.
    Finally, Kira spoke, “They know who I
am.”
    Fery put her hand over Kira’s, “They
wouldn’t hurt you, you’re an alm for Light.”
    Kira shook her head, “It’s not like
that.”
    “ You told them who you
were?” Goshen asked.
    “ They already knew,”
Declan dragged a chair over to the fire pit and sat down, “at
least, that Kyrio knew who I was.”
    “ What does that mean?”
Fery asked.
    “ Who do you think hired
me?”
    Kira and Goshen looked at Declan, who
shrugged. Fery continued, “So they know. You told them about the
Cruor?” Kira nodded.
    “ But I don’t think these
soldiers know about us.” Declan said.
    “ Why is that?” Goshen
asked. Just then, a soldier yanked at the entrance flap. He tugged
at it several times cursing and then burst inside. He had a sour
look on his face as he glared at the four, then he pulled back the
flap and the same Kyrio from the mess entered.
    He nodded at the soldier, who left
begrudgingly, “So here we are.”
    “ Who are you?” Fery asked
with caution.
    The Kyrio bowed his head slightly. “I am
Kyrio Hylan Tobin,” he said with a fake smile, “And you would
be?”
    Fery looked sidelong at Kira who nodded,
“I’m Fery Landis of Rikonen. I am…”
    “ Wynne Landis’s daughter.”
Tobin broke in, “Where is your father?”
    Fery didn’t say anything, but Tobin simply
waited with a serene look on his face. Goshen frowned, “Why are we
being held like this?”
    “ Master Staad, it might be
best if you resist making demands. It’s going to be difficult
enough for me to smooth things over here in camp for
you.”
    Goshen turned to Kira and asked quietly,
“You told him about me?”
    “ Yes, she did,” Tobin
strolled around the fire pit taking the four in, “and from the
sound of things, it’s going to be very, very difficult to get you
re-integrated into The Cathedral. Considering your name was struck
from the roles and the justiciars have ruled you a criminal for
defying their judgment of you.”
    “ I did nothing wrong, that
was a sham…” Goshen was furious, but Tobin merely closed his eyes
and waved him off.
    “ I’ve no interest in the
particulars.” Tobin pointed at Goshen, “I will say the only way
you’ll be able to set things right will be at The Cathedral
itself.”
    “ We were on our way to The
Spires.” Declan said with an uncharacteristic
sheepishness.
    “ Obviously not quickly
enough.” Tobin glared at Declan, “But I can’t fault you for that,
you’ve done what was asked of you. Perhaps not ideally, but well
enough.”
    “ What does he mean?”
Goshen asked Declan.
    “ You never ask the right
questions Master Staad.” Tobin shook his head.
    “ Declan was supposed to
deliver us to The Spires.” Kira replied.
    “ Not quite,” Tobin nodded,
“I am part of a select coterie that are looking to end our nation’s
aggression.”
    “ You mean The Blockade?”
Fery asked.
    Tobin nodded, “Among other things.”
    “ The other things being?”
Goshen said.
    Tobin dismissed the question, “You’ll
discover at the