anyway?â she said. âIâm eager to meet him.â
âHeâll be here,â Tourant said. âSoon. He had some business to attend to.â He gestured toward the ale. âWhat do you think?â
Lila made a show of gulping some down, then wiped her mouth with her sleeve. âItâs quite . . . complex, isnât it?â she said.
âIndeed,â Tourant said, smirking. âItâs not the usual Tamric swill.â His gaze shifted so that he was looking over Lilaâs shoulder. âHereâs Rochefort now. You can thank him in person.â
Lila swung around, coming face-to-face with the newcomer. In contrast to Tourantâs plumage, the visitorâs clothing was finely made but subdued, without the markings of rank. He had a lean, sinuous build and fine-boned, artistâs hands. His skin was pale and unmarked, as if it had never seen sunlight. His eyes were hazelâoddly pale under thick dark lashes, and his hair was the same color as his ale.
Blood and bones, she thought. Destin Karn. What are you doing here?
âLila Barrowhill, may I introduce Lieutenant Denis Rochefort,â Tourant said, seeming eager to make it a three-way. âLieutenant, this is Cadet Barrowhill. The one I told you about.â His eye twitched, and Lila realized that Tourant was trying to wink and not quite succeeding.
Lila had been working with Destin Karn for two years nowâlong enough to know that the younger Karn was a chameleon of a man, who could play any part, who could take on the colors of his surroundings. Just as he was doing at that very moment. She just wasnât sure who the real Karn was.
Destinâs father, Marin Karn, was commander of the Ardenine army and of the military campaigns againstTamron, Delphi, and the Fells. He was the architect of Ardenâs captive mage program, in which they used flashcraft collars to force wizards to fight alongside them. Both Karns were wizards who had found a way to survive and thrive in a land that despised magic. Naturally, theyâd managed to avoid taking the collar themselves.
âPleased to meet you, Lieutenant Rochefort,â Lila said, putting on a fierce, brilliant smile that said she wasnât pleased at all. Setting her ale on the table, she extended her hand. Destin hesitated, as if worried about her intentions, then took it. His palm was smooth, uncalloused, and delivered a definite sting of wizardry. Magic was the weapon he wielded on behalf of his king.
Destin kept hold of her hand, his eyes fixed on Lila. âTourant was right,â he murmured, his lips twitching with amusement. âYou are quite lovelyâsuch an exotic mingling of races. We donât have officers like you at home.â
Lila bit back the first retort that came to mind. âNo,â Lila said, withdrawing her hand. âYou donât.â Destin was having fun at Tourantâs expenseâalways a good thingâbut that didnât excuse his showing up here like this. She needed to get rid of Tourant, so they could have a heart-to-heart.
âWhile weâre on the subject of physical gifts,â Lila said loudly, âI must point out Proficient Tourantâs very impressive ass. Nobody fills his breeches like he does. Turn around, Tourant, and give the lieutenant a look.âLila described a circle in the air with her forefinger and raised her eyebrows.
Horror and rage chased embarrassment across Tourantâs face.
âAnd did you notice his skinâitâs the color of roasted beets.â
The commander backed away, spluttering, unable to manage a suitable retort.
âYou forgot your ale!â Lila thrust a mug at him. Tourant took it and slunk away.
Destinâs eyes followed Tourantâs retreat, then he looked back at Lila, grimacing. âIs it politically astute to antagonize your class commander?â Meaning Tourant.
âIâve never been accused of being
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