The Death Kingdom

Chapter Four

The next two days pass by in a blur of working with the spymaster, Kana, Akita, and Fynn.

Earlier today I opened a locked door in under thirty seconds and the spymaster smiled at me for the first time in my life. I was so staggered that I forgot my own name for a minute. But it was so worth all the hard work over the last three days just for that one measly moment.

The spymaster showed me how to blend in with my surroundings, where I should hide that would be the least suspicious, and he even went over what to wear. Surprisingly he told me never to wear a long cloak even though he always wears one because it can catch on objects easily.

When I called him out on his cloak he gave me a warning glare and asked me if it looked like he was trying to sneak around at that moment.

It was a fair point, but the admonished glare wasn't necessary.

"You're just jealous the spymaster smiled at me and you've never even gotten him to look at you without a scowl on his face," I say to Fynn as we walk through camp towards a fire pit in far back.

Akita, Fynn, and I decided earlier today that since it's my last night before I leave for the mission tomorrow we should all spend it together.

We're heading for a small little campsite people can use for situations such as this. When it's warm outside during the summer months most of the children will come out here and sleep under the stars for a night. It's starting to become a rite of passage for the little ones now.

"He's definitely winked at me once," Fynn claims, hefting his bag further up his shoulder.

"If you think the spymaster winked at you, you are clearly delusional and have a level of confidence I'm terrified of." Akita levels Fynn with a sharp look that makes me laugh.

Fynn pretends to be insulted. "If you gave me an hour I could have the spymaster wrapped around my finger."

I scoff and rest my hand on his arm. "You're charming Fynn, but you're not that charming."

"I'm not talking about being charming, I'm talking about my brooding side. The spymaster would swoon at the sadness in me." Fynn sets his bag onto the ground beside him as we reach the fire pit. There are logs placed around the pit and another area cleared off for a tent the three of us will put up and share.

I consider his words for a moment. "Appealing to him in that way might actually work."

"Don't encourage him," Akita scolds from beside me. She places her pack down as well and slumps onto one of the wooden logs. "Who wants to start the fire?"

Fynn and I groan in unison. The three of us are so exhausted from doing so much training we barely had enough energy to walk here, let alone start a fire and pitch a tent.

Akita and Fynn have been incredible the past three days. They've stayed true to their word and have trained with me even though I already agreed to go on the mission. I think it's because we won't see each other for weeks and it'll be the first time we're all separated since I joined the rebellion eleven months ago. It'll be so odd to go to sleep tomorrow in a different place without them.

"Because it's Saige's last night, I'll pitch the tent and start the fire. But just this once. Don't get used to me being so giving." Fynn flashes me a teasing grin and starts getting to work lighting a fire.

"Have I told you how wonderful you are Fynn?" I bat my eyelashes at him and then sink down next to Akita to watch Fynn work.

"I could stand to hear it some more." He reaches out and tugs on a loose strand of my hair that's fallen free from my braid. I gave up on my hair hours ago when it was clear no matter how many times I redid the braid it wasn't going to stick. The spymaster worked me too hard for that.