Separated, but still joined, they strive for freedom.
Hadrian
“Hadrian!”
My mulling of Zez’s latest letter
dissipated in an instant. I turned toward the voice and discovered not just
one, but four men studying me expectantly from the far sides of the map-strewn
table. The light of the single lantern burned steadily on the hand-drawn spires
of the goddess’ city. The meager light didn’t make it to the outer reaches of
the tent walls around us.
“I am sorry. I must have—”
“Fallen asleep?” Clovis supplied.
“Dozed off?” Plantonio offered.
“—missed the question.” I finished my
statement while facing the two military men before me. “I have not been
sleeping at night.”
“That is evident, Hadrian.” Cayphis
sighed softly and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “However, I would appreciate it
if you would focus long enough to answer the question.”
“Will you lead the western assault?”
Renato calmly sent me the question.
“Yes.” I scanned the map
spread across the table between the five of us.
“That is your answer?” Cayphis asked.
“Yes,” I met his gaze. “I will lead the
western assault while you and Clovis attempt to take the gates. Plantonio will
spearhead the eastern front and Selwyn’s men will cover any escape attempts to
the south. We have Ilar and Sabine surrounded.”
It had taken three months of hard chase,
driving the joint forces of Ilar and Sabine before us and fighting off ambushes
and sabotage, to get to this point. Standing beneath the wall of the goddess’
city, it was hard to know if we were winning or losing the war. We still struggled
with insurrection in the ranks and supplying our ragtag army, but at least the
end was in sight.
“Odds?” Renato asked.
“Even,” Clovis replied.
I studied their faces each in turn.
Brotherly similarities were obvious despite their differences in physical size.
Clovis loomed over Renato’s slighter frame, but they both met my scrutiny with
a steady gaze that reminded me so of Zezilia.
Shaking my head to dispel the vision of
her gray eyes, I turned to my friend instead. “So we are well matched?”
“Almost one-to-one.” Clovis growled
slightly in frustration. “Every one of those roaming bandit gangs we were
chasing are accounted for. Father called everyone here for a final stand.”
“I don’t like it,” Cayphis muttered.
“Something isn’t right. This isn’t normal behavior for Sabine, or Ilar either.
They like stacked decks; no offense Clovis or Renato.”
“None taken. We know how our father
works.” Clovis stared at the map. “Is there anyone else we could call on for
help and skew the numbers our way?”
Talent and non-talent alike had taken
sides. Families split. Brother would eye brother across the battle lines in the
morn. My stomach twisted at the thought. My family was one of the few who stood
together on one side.
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