In a few short days, Vraen had managed to secure virtually all of the Strip. Runa had been used only once, at Holn, but the single demonstration had been enough. No one \u2013 Volcarren or soldier alike \u2013 wanted to be against her. They had come flooding into Nearv, and those who remained loyal to the Empire had retreated to Srung. Vraen was now ready to assault the fortress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the day after Ahnvad\u2019s attack, Runa heard that the plan had changed. Vraen had sentenced Meren, the spy, to be executed. He had only waited this long in case the Empire wanted to bargain for Meren\u2019s life, but with the Empire virtually gone from the Volcarren, it was clear now that was never going to happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, once he knew Vraen meant to kill him, Meren had offered to give him critical information in exchange for leniency. He said he knew details of Ahnvad\u2019s plans, and after the attack of the previous night (which was still unexplained), Vraen agreed to hear him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vraen questioned Meren alone. When he emerged, he said that Meren had told him about a secret Imperial force, hiding to the east, in the desert. It was too small to pose any threat right now, but its job was to wait until Vraen attacked Srung, and then attack Nearv when it was vulnerable. Ahnvad\u2019s plan was to hold the village, and the defenseless families it held, as ransom, thus forcing Vraen and Runa to surrender. If they made any move to free Nearv once it was captured, or if Runa were so much as seen in the sky, the force would kill the inhabitants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe spy,\u201d Vraen had said, \u201csays he knows more of Ahnvad\u2019s plans. I do not tolerate spies. They disgust me. But if what he\u2019s told us turns out to be true, I will spare him. If I do, he\u2019s promised to tell me everything he knows.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Therefore, the attack on Srung was delayed. Vraen dispatched Utgar and Kirav, with a group of his best raiders, to the desert to deal with the soldiers. Utgar assured Runa before he left that they would only be gone three days at most. Then they would attack Srung, and finally leave the Volcarren.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, mere hours after Utgar and Kirav had left, the guards stationed around Meren were found dead. They had been poisoned and their throats slit. Meren himself was dead as well, lying in his tent in a pool of his own blood. Vraen could only assume that Meren had been silenced, and that could mean only one thing: there was a spy within Nearv. Someone was loyal to Ahnvad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was impossible to tell who the spy might be. Imperial soldiers had joined Vraen every day since the attack on Holn. It might even be a Volcarren, sent by Ahnvad to hide in plain sight. No one could be trusted. Vraen told Runa to stay within his hall, and Runa, realizing now that Vraen\u2019s earlier concerns for her safety had been justified, obliged. She stayed in her room, listening to the panicked shouts beyond the walls, and wishing Utgar were back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Runa fell into a troubled sleep that night, her dreams full of knives in the dark and hooded figures. She woke up several times in the darkness, convinced some sound had woken her. But every time, the hall was silent and dark, and nothing stirred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Runa finally woke the next morning, she heard a great number of people outside her room. They were all murmuring and whispering, and one voice was speaking loudly, although his words were distorted by the muttering of the crowd. Runa crossed her room and looked out of the doorway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vraen\u2019s hall was filled with people. They all seemed to be facing the middle of the floor, all looking at something Runa could not see. Ex-soldiers and Volcarrens alike stood, whispering to each other, looking stunned, some looking grim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s happened?\u201d Runa asked the nearest Volcarren.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He turned. \u201cValkyrie,\u201d he murmured, inclining his head. \u201cThe spy\u2026 The spy has been found. The murderer of Meren and his guards.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFound?\u201d Runa repeated. \u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cVraen,\u201d the Volcarren said. \u201cHe saw a drop of blood on the stone outside Meren\u2019s tent. And another a short distance away. The spy had forgotten to wipe the blade he used to kill Meren, and Vraen and his men were able to follow the trail straight to his tent. They found the dagger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWho was it?\u201d Runa asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In answer, the Volcarren turned, and Runa was able to see what everyone was looking at.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was Taelord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Runa was shocked into silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was kneeling on the floor. Someone had placed the dagger, still bloody, before him, and he was staring at it with an expression equivalent to how Runa felt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTaelord?\u201d Runa whispered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He heard her, and looked up. His face still registered blank shock, as if a complete impossibility had occurred before his eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Runa searched that face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He hadn\u2019t done it. She knew he hadn\u2019t. He was just as stunned as she was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vraen arrived in the middle of the crowd. \u201cYou!\u201d he barked at Taelord. \u201cSpy! This dagger was found in your tent. I tracked it there myself, from where you used it to silence Meren. His blood is on the blade. It was also on the clothes you had discarded from the previous day. Do you deny that you killed Meren? That you are the spy we have been looking for?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taelord said nothing. He was still staring blankly at the dagger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vraen seemed to take his silence for guilt. \u201cYou are a spy of Ahnvad,\u201d he said. \u201cI do not tolerate spies. I will deal with you as I dealt with Meren. I said I would execute him for what he had done. I delayed only because of the information he gave me. But unless you are willing to tell me more of Ahnvad\u2019s plans, I will have you executed within a few short hours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taelord looked up at Vraen, still with that same stunned expression. He said nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cVery well,\u201d Vraen said when Taelord was silent. He turned to the men assembled about him. \u201cWho here is willing to behead this spy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t him!\u201d Runa stepped forward. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t him,\u201d she repeated. She felt everyone\u2019s eyes upon her. No one stirred. No one spoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe didn\u2019t do it,\u201d she said into the silence. She remembered what he had said two nights ago. \u201cHe wouldn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou know him?\u201d Vraen asked her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know him well enough,\u201d Runa said. \u201cI know he would never do what you\u2019re accusing him of.\u201d She knew perfectly well this wasn\u2019t entirely true, but one look at Taelord\u2019s face was enough to convince her that he had never in his life seen the dagger before him. He was not the spy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRuna,\u201d Vraen said, \u201cI found the dagger in his tent. By his side. Meren\u2019s blood was on his clothing. Can you explain that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Runa said. \u201cBut it must have been planted there by the real spy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd why would the spy do that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo throw you off of his trail?\u201d Runa suggested. \u201cHe must know you\u2019re looking for him. Planting the dagger on the first person he came across makes sense.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was a muttering of agreement, but Vraen scowled. \u201cRuna, I tracked that trail of blood across half of Nearv before I found the dagger. It passed countless tents. But did it go into any of them? No. It went straight as an arrow to this boy\u2019s tent. He is the spy, Runa.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Runa was sure. Vraen might be in charge, but she wasn\u2019t about to let Taelord be executed if she could help it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo,\u201d she said. \u201cHe is not the spy. I can\u2019t explain the dagger, or the blood, except to say it was planted there.\u201d She looked Vraen full in the face. \u201cHe is not the spy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Complete silence reigned. Vraen and Runa looked at each other, neither moving. Just how much control did Runa have? She was a Valkyrie. Vraen would need her when they assaulted Srung. Would he execute Taelord anyway, when she was so critical to his success?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cVas,\u201d Vraen finally said, \u201cKoret.\u201d Two Volcarrens came up to him. \u201cYou will keep an eye on Taelord. If he tries to escape you, kill him. But until then\u2026 follow him. Do not let him leave Nearv.\u201d He raised his voice so that everyone in the hall could hear. \u201cOur Valkyrie seems convinced of the spy\u2019s innocence, so I will consider her words. But by morning tomorrow, I make my decision. And no one,\u201d \u2014 he looked directly at Runa \u2014 \u201cwill stop it from being carried out.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In a few short days, Vraen had managed to secure virtually all of the Strip. Runa had been used only once, at Holn, but the single demonstration had been enough. No one \u2013 Volcarren or soldier alike \u2013 wanted to be against her. They had come flooding into Nearv, and those who remained loyal to … Continue reading Chapter Thirteen<\/span>