A Country Falls (Greatest Thief 3)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Before going to meet with Tandrin and Queen Navire, Tannix took me on a quick detour to the medic's tent. Castin and Kovin were both asleep. Kovin on his back, with his bandaged arm carefully draped over his chest. It was hard to tell how he was doing. Castin was curled up on his side with his head burrowed under an arm. It was how he always slept, and he looked far more natural than Kovin. Though I wanted to talk to them I decided not to disturb them. For now, it was enough of a relief just to see them safe. I was still thinking about them as we stepped into the cooler night air and started towards the large white meeting tent.

I froze when Tannix, a step ahead, paused and lay a hand on my chest. "No."

Jalor stood in front of us, his gaze locked on me. Stubble covered his chin, but his hair was tied back just as neatly as it always was. "I just need-"

"You don't need to ambush him."

Jalor's eyes snapped to Tannix's face. "Have you even asked? Do you know if she's all right? If she's dead, tell me. Now."

My stomach dropped as I realized what he was asking. I had been so worried about Castin and Kovin that Mayah had entirely slipped from my mind. "I think she..." They both turned to me, and I faltered. "I just mean, when I saw her, she was all right. Maybe... two days ago?" Maybe longer, I had no idea how long we had been in the torture cell. "When we escaped, I asked Kassia about her and Kassia said that nobody would associate her with me. For what I did." I knew I wasn't making sense. Jalor blinked at me and Tannix's hand on my chest had curled so he was holding a handful of my tunic.

"Kassia was there when you escaped?" he asked.

"What about Mayah?" Jalor took a step closer. "Why didn't you get her?"

"Stand down," Tannix growled.

"She wasn't with me," I said quickly. "I was in the prison like last time, I think she was in the castle. I think she's... It doesn't make sense, but Kassia likes her. I think Kassia will protect her."

Tannix's grip tightened every time I said Kassia's name. "She was there when you escaped? Kassia helped you escape?"

I shook my head. "She... she let me escape. She was coming to kill me and, oh. No, it was actually... it was supposed to be mercy, I think. Tannix, please." I didn't know what I was asking for, because I didn't know what was wrong with me. The cool air, sleep, food and water were supposed to have fixed my sunstroke. But I still couldn't think properly. And I felt suddenly wracked with guilt, because I hadn't even tried to go after Mayah. I'd barely given her a second thought. "I'm sorry, Jalor. I should have found her."

Tannix stepped in front of me, shielding me from Jalor's stare. He held a hand to my forehead. "You're still warm. Are you sure you can talk to the council?"

They needed to know what I knew. There wasn't time for Tannix to coax me through whatever was happening in my head. "I have to."

"No, you don't," he said softly. He let go of my tunic and pulled me into a hug, despite the fact that anyone walking by could see us. "Not unless you're ready."

I took a deep breath. "Don't be... don't be you. Be Lord West Draulin. Be a soldier."

"What does that mean?"

"Don't prioritize me over the war. I can't focus. I don't know what's wrong, but I need you to help me focus. Instead of trying to shield me from it. Please?"

"I'll try," he said after a moment. He let me go and turned to Jalor, who hadn't moved. "There are protocols. She should be fine."

Jalor wasn't looking at him. "You said she wouldn't be associated with what you did. What did you do?"