“What is going on here?”
Ryson snapped to attention and Slevoic followed more slowly. I couldn’t move, as Laurel held me immobile. Groskin and Suiden reached the top of the stairs. I looked around, as far as Laurel allowed me, and I could see faces appear in doorways, down in the courtyard and in the stairwell. Jeff was on the steps, his eyes just clearing the second floor. Captain Javes moved up through the crowd in the stairwell until he stood next to Groskin. His yellow eyes gleamed at me.
I tried to pull my hand from Laurel’s grip, but he resisted, his claws pressing lightly into my skin.
“Well?” Groskin glared at us, his frown deepening as he realized the only one who had to obey him was Ryson.
“You will answer Lieutenant Groskin’s question,” Suiden said, looking at each of us. When his eyes lit on Laurel holding my fist closed, his brows raised.
How to explain to a captain that two of his lieutenants were about to try to kill—or at least seriously maim—each other as he watched and did nothing? Ryson’s mouth hung open as he searched for words that would keep his own hide whole, but nothing came out. Suiden’s eyes returned to my face. “Lieutenant Rabbit?”
“Lieutenant Slevoic is a twit, sir, and I was going to help him get over it.”
“There are no rocks to guard here, Lieutenant.”
“No, sir.”
“I see.” The captain’s eyes moved to the burning cheroot in Slevoic’s hand. “Lieutenant Slevoic?”
“Permission to speak freely, sir.”
“Don’t you always?” Javes murmured.
“I find Rabbit to be a disturbing influence, sir,” Slevoic said.
“That’s true,” I said. “He’s always trying to tell me his dreams, sir.”
“You puking freak—”
“Remain quiet, Lieutenant Rabbit, or I will have Groskin remove you.” I shut up as Groskin gave the captain a very unhappy look. Sweat trickled down my back from being in close contact with Laurel.
“Please continue, Lieutenant Slevoic.”
“Yes, sir.” Slevoic turned his blue eyes on me. “I question Rabbit’s loyalties. He’s Border born and raised, no matter that his parents are from Iversterre, and he’s tight with the magical—”
“Ambassador Laurel, Lieutenant,” Suiden said, “and you should put out your cheroot before you’re burned.” I gave a small sigh of disappointment as Slevoic handed the cheroot to Ryson, who ended up having to dump it in the convenience. When the noise from the flush subsided, Suiden waved his hand at Slevoic.
“Continue.”
“He’s close to the ma—uh, Ambassador Laurel, making pacts with it, exchanging feathers and who knows what else.” Slevoic’s brows rose. “Do you realize, sir, that we have just his and the ma—the ambassador’s word that me staff, shield and hauberk are what they say they are? People have been accused—imprisoned even—on their say-so only.” He gave a faint smile that Suiden couldn’t see. “And there they are, holding each other like they’re lovers.”
“You find that amusing, Lieutenant?” Then again, the captain had been known to see around corners.
Slevoic stopped smiling, but he continued to stare at me and I thought about leaning back into the Faena, allowing him to take my weight.
“You will remain as you are, Rabbit.” Suiden looked at Laurel. “Is there a reason why you’re holding the lieutenant, Sro Laurel?”
“He has not recovered from his illness, honored captain, and he’s shaking hard. I’m afraid he will collapse.” Now that Laurel pointed it out, tremors were racking my body. My headache had increased and small lights now flashed before my eyes.
“Sir,” Slevoic said, “we don’t even know that Rabbit’s illness is real. No one else has gotten sick.”
“Is that the reason why you were ready to brawl with him, Lieutenant? With lit cheroot in hand?”
“Sir—”
“Or every time I look up you’re in his face, calling him puke, freak or both?”
“No, I—”
“Listen well, Slevoic, for I will only say this once. What you say may be true—”
The roaring wind got louder, threatening to tear me apart. Laurel tightened his arms as I swayed.
“—or not. It’s conjecture. There is no proof whatsoever that Rabbit has betrayed his oath of allegiance.”
“But sir—”
“None at all, Lieutenant. I do know, though, that you have done your level best to spread discontent. Because of you, the men grumble, whisper in corners, form factions, and are even encouraged to insubordination and subterfuge.” Suiden’s eyes rested on Ryson. “Whatever he may be, Rabbit has never undermined either troop morale or my command.”
Slevoic’s face was blank. “Sir—”
“The Lord Commander is well aware of who Rabbit is and his relationship with the Border.” Suiden looked back, at Slevoic. “It was he who approved his joining the Royal Army, he who stationed him at Freston, and the Lord Commander himself confirmed his appointment as the ambassador’s liaison. Are you calling the Lord Commander a fool, Lieutenant?”
“No, sir.”
“Very wise, Lieutenant. Very, very wise.” Suiden paused to make sure he had Slevoic’s full attention. “You are hereby confined to your quarters until you are brought before a review board on charges of attacking a fellow officer, with intent to cause great bodily harm—”
“Sir!” Slevoic’s eyes were wide in disbelief that he was being held accountable.
“The lit cheroot, Lieutenant,” Suiden said.
“I forgot I had it, sir!”
“And you an experienced soldier,” Javes said.
“It’s hard to make a fist and not know it’s there, Lieutenant,” Suiden said. “I have also sent a full report to the Lord Commander regarding your conduct—”
The tremors, head pounding and flashes of light increased and my legs gave way. I slid through Laurel’s grasp, causing him to scramble to catch me before my head hit the floor. I heard exclamations and directions, echoing like they were coming from the bottom of a deep well. The room shifted and then I felt my bedroll under me. When I opened my eyes and tried to focus, Laurel was bent over me with Suiden looking over his shoulder, but they both faded in and out. There was a brush on my lips and a mint scent hit my nose (the only part of me that seemed to be working). I turned my head and got slammed by nausea.
“Do not be stupid,” Laurel said. He placed the mentha leaves against my lips once more.
I tried to push them away, but Laurel still had hold of my hand.
“Stubborn idiot! Denying it won’t make it stop. Take them!” I opened my mouth to say no and he thrust them in, using his paw to push my mouth closed. I tried to spit them out again anyway as my vision dimmed more.
“Rabbit, your eyes are red, like the blood vessels are bursting,” I heard Suiden say. “You may be going blind or you may be dying. Do you wish to do either?” Well, no, I didn’t, not really. I hesitated, then gave in, crunching down on the leaves, and the mint exploded in my mouth. I swallowed once, twice and waited.
“Here.” I allowed Laurel to place more in my mouth and chewed those. The pounding started to subside and my stomach settled. “Stubborn, stubborn idiot. If you had done this yesterday, you’d not be flirting with death now.” I tried to answer him, but with the pain withdrawing I was sliding towards oblivion. My eyelids drooped.
“Why are you holding his hand, Sro Laurel?”
“How long has the lieutenant harassed Lord Rabbit, honored captain?” Laurel countered with another question.
I opened my eyes a bit, somewhat interested.
“Since Slevoic was assigned to Freston, about three years ago.” I felt Laurel make a couple of passes over my hand, and then gently pry it open.
“What the sodding poxy hell is that?”
My eyes opened all the way. Suiden never cursed. Well, maybe a little, but not like that. I tried to see but my vision was still blurred.