Page 152 of Sword & Shadow
“I take it there won’t be much hunting to be done in the marshes,” Deckard noted.
Auden shook his head. “None at all, unless you count the amphibious creatures that fill its swamps.”
“In that case,” Deckard grabbed a rope from one of his saddlebags, “Rafferty, you and I should hunt. We need to take our last opportunity to ensure we don’t go hungry.”
Completing the construction of their tent, Rafferty hopped up. “Sounds good to me.”
Leaving Auden to prepare what little supplies remained for a meal, the two Ephrians headed off into the trees. Near the South, the temperatures were more moderate and the terrain flatter. But near the marshlands, it was wet and muddy. Insects buzzed and chirruped. Birds swooped low on their return flight north after the winter season.
While they didn’t have Ethenn’s bow or hunting skills, Rafferty had picked up enough from him to be useful. They moved through the slick terrae, setting up traps with the twine they’d brought on their journey and the branches they’d gathered. Deckard found a particularly thick fallen branch of pine, which he broke apart, keeping the larger end for himself.
The rain grew heavier as they worked, and they drew their hoods more snugly over their heads.
“I don’t care what the Calders say,” Rafferty grumbled. “This rain isn’t natural.”
Remembering Auden’s lessons informing him that itwasn’tnatural but the effects of the Relics’ imprisonment, Deckard wiped his hands on the inside of his cloak. “Whatever the case,” he said, “I’m ready to return to Ephria as well.”
Rafferty gave a huff of agreement. Then his small eyes narrowed in thought. “What do you think it’ll be like? When we get back.”
“Before or after the monarchy is overthrown?”
He considered it, tying off another trap. “After,” he concluded. “Once we’re done with this whole thing.”
Knowing thathewould never be done with it, Deckard chose to play along instead. “I suppose that depends on the Alliance’s plans. I’m not privy to their governmental regime, but I hope that it will bring a better world than the one we have now.”
Rafferty brushed his hand through the air. “I’m not interested in politics, Colonel. I want to know what will happen tous. Will we still be soldiers? Will we continue to work with the Calders?”
Deckard’s throat tightened. “I have no way of knowing that, Rafferty,” he lied. He knew two things for certain: He would work for the Alliance, and his marriage to Evylin would be annulled. Those things nearly guaranteed that their troop would split, if not disband altogether.
“Don’t be a spoilsport,” Rafferty pressed. “If you don’t have a good guess, tell me what youwantto happen.”
Completely uninterested in baring his soul to the weasel, Deckard kept his eyes on the final trap he was securing. “I don’t know,” he said sourly. “Maybe we’ll remain as soldiers, but from what the Calders have told me, I believe the Alliance is expecting them to work in a more official capacity with the government. Due to that, I doubt we’ll have any direct working relationship with them. As far as the rest of us go, they’ll probably want Evylin, Ethenn, and me to do some specialized work for the government as well.”
“Because you’re magical?” Rafferty surmised.
“Yes.”
“And what about Thommy and me?”
“Likely, they’ll need officers for their army,” Deckard said. “I’d imagine they’ll grant you whatever position you desire after the service you’re doing for them now.”
Rafferty pursed his lips. “Nah, I don’t think I’d want that.”
Deckard looked up at him. “To be an officer or to be in the army?”
“Either,” Rafferty said. “I’m sort of done with this whole...” He waved a hand through the air at the trees around them. “Thing.”
“Really?”
“I mean, it isn’t the worst job I’ve had. But it gets a bit old, you know? Travel hundreds of miles this way. Get a Relic. Travel hundreds of miles that way. Get another Relic. Keep traveling for hundreds of more miles in the pouring rain until you’re pretty sure you’ll never be dry again. It’s monotonous.”
Deckard chuckled as he rose. “It is, isn’t it?”
Mud squelched under their boots as they moved away from the traps they’d set. Deckard led them to the base of a tree, its roots massive in the wide space of terrae around it. While they could return to camp right away to retrieve their catch later, Auden’s meal wouldn’t be ready for some time. And Deckard had plans of his own.
Rafferty didn’t question Deckard as they sat beneath the tree’s budding boughs. Instead, he lounged on one of the large roots, his back against the trunk. “So,” he said, the word filled with expectation.
Deckard looked over at him, pulling out a dagger to begin removing the bark from the pine branch he’d found.
