Sentinel

Chapter 5 - Trust the Instinct

Dedicated to Kizaqt. Though you'll probably never see this again, you've always been my biggest supporter. <3

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Chapter 5 - Trust the Instinct

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The Silverborn made it to Darni's outer posts before their don't-tell-Donovan strategy fell apart. 

"I'd say we should be..." Luke's sentence drifted off, his eyes sliding past Tayne's as his lips curled into a sneer. 

Tayne suppressed an internal groan. There was only one thing in Lerelia that could inspire such hatred in his second-in-command, and to Tayne's eternal exasperation, it wasn't the demon population the Silverborn struggled to keep under control. And that meant...

"I do hope," began the Advisor as he levelled his loaned horse beside Wing, "that you Silverborn understand that this is not the most efficient way back to Alguarde from our previous location?" 

The nasal voice saw Luke flick Blaze's reins and drift back into the Silverborn ranks to simmer in silence. Tayne nearly breathed a sigh of relief. Luke may have been his best friend, but even Tayne wanted to smack some sense into him when it came to the Advisor. 

They couldn't have chosen a worse man to delegate to us. 

Tayne turned his attention to the Advisor. 

"Advisor Donovan, I assure you we're aware of the direction we are currently taking." He chose each word carefully. One loose syllable and the Advisor would pull at it like a thread and tear down the argument. "A matter has been raised that requires our immediate attention, and it has forced us to detour on our usual route to Alguarde." 

The scrawny man with a face like a rat sniffed. "I see. And why was I not informed of such?" He gave Tayne less than a second before he continued on, staring ahead. "You do remember that all matters are to be deferred to myself for approval? Or did that slip your minds?"

Tayne caught a knowing gaze from Wrain two horses over. When the elder knight nudged his mount towards them, Tayne placed his trust in his companion. 

"The decision was only just made. We were just about to inform you of the change in plans," said Tayne, bringing Donovan's notice to Wrain. 

It quickly became clear he was leading another horse with a less than willing participant upon its back. Tayne had to stop himself holding his breath when he realised the horse was Flira, Nathaniel's steed, and pray to the Celestial that Donovan paid as little attention to the horses as he did the majority of the Silverborn's ranks. 

Because if that's Flira, thought Tayne, his eyes flicking to the brown haired rider trussed in rope. Their face, though it was wrapped in a crude face mask, looked familiar. That means the rider is most likely Nathaniel. 

Wrain's deep voice held more respect than Tayne knew he had for the Advisor. 

"Advisor, this man was found attempting to infiltrate the Silverborn ranks," said Wrain. Tayne noted how vague he left the statement, and how little of a chance he gave Donovan to question it. "We handled it quickly and have since learned that this man is part of a group operating out of Darni. We believe them to be a direct threat to Alguarde's safety, and as such, shall handle it before the shadow cycle falls upon us." 

Donovan frowned as Wrain spoke. 

Usually, that look meant he was scanning through the lawbooks in his head, looking for some clause or loophole that would force the Silverborn away from Darni and doing their duty.