Chapter 24

I almost hesitated, pulled between freezing and abandoning the plan to make a run for it. The only issue was that the only way out was down the corridor that he was about to be in, and even if I cleared it first, it would be impossible for him not to see me.

I swung open the door and nearly slammed it shut behind me, realizing at just the last second to be quick but quiet, lest he hear me close it. I must have avoided his sight as I didn’t hear any yelling or running, but I only had a scant few seconds before he would enter behind me. I wasted a second cursing myself for not having a decent look around when I had been in here before; there was his desk, some handing plaques, a bookshelf, potted plants, a closet. I ran for the closet, swinging the door open and shut as I squirmed between overcoats and military garb.

It was not a second too soon as I heard the door open. Two sets of foot prints strode in.

“Captain Hector, and I do not mean to be insubordinate, but I hope this is quick. I am hungry.” I didn’t recognize the voice. It was masculine, on the higher side, and while he was outranked he did not sound the least bit worried about coming across as insubordinate, despite his words.

“Ah, you say that, but soon enough it could be ‘Commander Hector’,” I heard my uncle reply.

“It went that well?” the same voice asked.

“Let’s just say our Prince Alexander is primed to take the throne. The king isn’t in the best of health so it’s only wise we get our ducks in a row.”

“I see. I was thinking… uh…” The other man sounded like he was pacing, his footsteps quieting before they grew louder and closer.

I peaked out of a crack in the door but could barely see anything until a dark shadow passed by the closet. I couldn’t distinguish any features in the brief instant, immediately backing away in fear that he might turn and I would stare him in the eye. I stepped, my foot slipping into a much larger boot. The side of it collapsed under me and I lost my balance, falling backwards. My other foot slid forward, toe kicking into the door. I frantically grasped at a coat and shirt on either side of me, praying that neither would come loose as I stifled a panicked yelp. They just managed to slow my tumble as my rear pushed into the back of the closet and my foot stopped right before kicking the door. I hung precariously in my new position, dreading the possibility of discovery as I struggled to keep myself upright.

“Continue,” Hector prompted, fortunately oblivious to my predicament.

“I, well, simply wanted to talk to you about the situation in the Eastern Mountains. If that’s ok to do so…?”

“Yes, yes, don’t keep me waiting,” Hector insisted, sounding impatient. “What about it?”

“I think it would be prudent to send an investigation team immediately. If the rest of the army found out—”

“I thought we put a stop to that?” Hector’s voice cut in, sharp and agitated.

“We did, we did. I just meant that if another messenger was sent then they may find out what’s there before we can capitalize on it.”

“Hmm… You have a point, Virgil.” The name didn’t ring a bell. “I’ll arrange something tomorrow; I have just the squad in mind for such a mission.” I heard my uncle walking around, sounding like he was approaching the office door. “Now, I am famished, so let’s eat already.”

The door opened, then closed. I stood as still as a statue, fighting to keep my unsteady footing as I pushed the door open with my foot. It inched forward bit by bit, and I leaned, trying to peek out. My foot slipped, and I tumbled, falling out of the closet and summersaulting onto the floor. I jumped up, frantically whirling, only to see that I was indeed alone.

I quickly left the office, certain I was already pushing my time limit. My pace remained steady as I made my way back to the dining hall, ensuring I didn’t overtake Hector and this Virgil. It was just as busy as ever when I arrived. I skirted around the entrance, casually strolling along, trying to maintain a look of being inconspicuous as I ducked into the washroom. The smell outside though was tortuous and my stomach protested not joining the others. The only issue with that would be that sitting down anywhere would only make it more obvious that I wasn’t there before.

I only had to wait a few minutes before peeking out, and spotted some of the recruits standing up, finishing their meal. They came close, grouping up around the entrance and I slipped in with the other dozen as our wardens came over.

“Time for another lesson,” Bradey told us as we were escorted to the classroom. Scolffice was already there.

Does he even eat? I wondered as he stared at us, not recalling having seen him in the dining hall before.

He was a silent spectre until we took our seats. “Good evening, recruits. We unfortunately did not get to meet yesterday,” he began in his scratchy drawl.

“Or Soulsleep,” Lucian grumbled under his breath from right behind me.

“Yes, yes, you will get that too,” Scolffice remarked, somehow hearing it across the smallish room. He seemed tired though, not that I could put my finger on what indicated it. He still walked slowly, talked with the same monotonous drone, and looked like death, but he just seemed tired. It may have been his lack of enthusiasm, something that I didn’t pick up on until it was absent.

The evening’s lesson was on military tactics; formations, battle tactics, some histories that I realized I was wholly unfamiliar with. I scribbled down notes frantically as I struggled to keep up.

Then it was over. Scolffice came around, the jar of pills in hand as he quizzed each of us. “Ren, how many divisions are there in a funnel attack?” he asked, narrowing his eyes at me.

I tried to recall the formation. There had been dozens that we went over, most of the group seemingly familiar with the vast majority of them. I looked down at my booklet but it was not on the right page and I had no idea where the information would be. “Uh, two? No, four!” I tried to answer, quickly correcting myself.

“There’s three,” he told me. He let out a sigh, which sounded like an air pump wheezing for the last time, as he walked on, not leaving me a Soulsleep pill. My face burned a bit at the fact I had failed my answer twice in what seemed like it was likely a giveaway question, almost all of the others being far more technical in nature.

“You weren’t at dinner,” Christopher said when we were back in our room. It wasn’t a question, but it didn’t feel like an accusation either, just a statement.

“I, uh, wasn’t hungry,” I lied. My stomach immediately and audibly corrected that.

“Alright,” Christopher replied with a sigh, clearly not believing me.

I almost felt bad lying to him. But I had no allies here that I could be certain of, and telling my roommate ‘I actually went to secretly investigate the Captain so that I could blackmail him into letting my father, the man who attacked our base yesterday, go free’ was not a risk I was willing to take.