Chapter 37: Cenric

Chapter

Thirty-Seven

CENRIC

I rise before dawn, my mind already racing with thoughts of arresting Alvina, then killing her for what she did to Finn and Everly.

The camp is quiet, except for the rustling of tents and the crackle of dying fires. I nod to the night watchmen as I make my way to Praxis' tent.

"Brother," I call out, pushing aside the heavy canvas flap. "It's time."

A single torch illuminates Praxis' face as he turns to face me.

Even though his hair is tousled from sleep, his brown eyes are alert and focused. "I have fifty men ready, as you requested."

We exit the tent together and are greeted by the sight of our warriors gathering in the pre-dawn gloom. Determination burns in their eyes as they stand waiting for my orders .

"Move out," I command.

The first light of dawn spills over the horizon as we ride toward Alvina's last known refuge, a cottage hidden in the foothills of the Bloodstone mountains.

I try to banish thoughts of Everly from my mind, but I can't shake the image of her clinging to me, or the way tears glistened in her blue eyes.

A frustrated exhale rips from my throat as I tighten my grip on my horse's reins. Praxis glances over at me, but he remains silent. He knows me well enough to understand that talking is the last thing I want to do right now.

No, the only thing I want is to hunt down Alvina and make her suffer. I've let this animosity between us simmer for too long—partly out of respect for her position as the daughter of the Calcite chieftain.

The very last thing I need is to turn the Calcites against us, but I cannot stand by while she slaughters my men.

This ends now.

I signal for the men to slow as we approach the cottage. It sits atop an incline. The thatched roof sags in the middle, and weathered wooden shutters frame the windows.

My eyes scan the surroundings, taking in every detail. A well-worn path winds its way up to the front door, flanked by overgrown wildflowers. To the left, a garden struggles against encroaching weeds. The right side of the cottage boasts a rickety lean-to, likely used for storing firewood.

My heart pounds with anticipation as we approach her door. I motion to my men, and we burst through the entryway. But unfortunately, we don't find anyone inside.

She had to know I would come for her. Had to know that I would slit her throat before I allowed her to kill another one of my men.

"Brother, you need to see this," Praxis says from the corner of the room as he holds up a rolled parchment and a folded missive.

I take the items from Praxis, my jaw clenching as I recognize the bold script on the missive. I slide it into my cloak, saving it for later.

Next, I turn my attention to the parchment, unrolling it carefully. A detailed map of my camp sprawls across its surface. The layout is intricately drawn, with pathways and markers denoting various structures and gathering spots. Even more unsettling, several routes are highlighted, showing clear, unblocked escape paths leading both in and out of the camp.

Frustration seeps through my veins as I scan the map again. It's too thorough to be a coincidence, too precise to be the work of someone unfamiliar with my camp.

"Look at this," I say to Praxis as I point to the marked escape routes. "They're all clear. But notice something?"

Praxis peers over my shoulder. "They've identified the barracks, the secondary storage sheds, but not the command tent, the food storage areas, or our weapons cache."

"Exactly. They're not targeted or marked as vulnerable."

"I don't understand," Praxis says.

"Well…" I roll the parchment up and slide it into my cloak. "Two things are clear to me. We have spies in our camp, and we have informants inside the rebellion."

"Who are our informants?" Praxis asks, lifting his brow .

I shrug, knowing I cannot tell him—at least not yet. "We need to increase security around the areas the rebels marked."

After my men finish searching the cottage for Alvina, we return to our horses. I mount my gelding and turn it back toward our camp.

We may not have found Alvina today, but she will not evade us for long. Soon, she will answer for what she did to Finn.