The Serpent's Chains

Chapter 50: Carrying Out Orders

Author's Note: This chapter contains graphic depictions of violence and death that may make some readers uncomfortable. 

Sabine

My mind raced. I tossed this way and that on the cot. It squeaked under me. Soldiers around the camp laughed and talked into the night. Every time I closed my eyes, a new sound wormed its way into my ears and I couldn't shut it out.

As soon as my eyes closed from sheer exhaustion, it seemed like the sun was rising and I was awake again.

Groaning, I dragged myself out of bed and put on my new armor. Today was the day I had to carry out the king's orders.

Without a mirror, it was a bit of a struggle to get my hair neatly tied out of the way. I yawned and stretched as I headed into the morning light and back to the command tent.

The camp was much quieter this early in the morning. Other than the snores and grunts floating from the tents I walked between.

Morning dew clung to the grass and coated the tents with a glittering surface. The sun was still weak as it climbed higher in the sky. I shivered even though it wasn't cold enough for that.

"Good morning." Wyatt pushed me a steaming cup of tea when I entered the command tent.

"Thanks," I muttered. I cupped the tea between my palms and stared at the brown liquid.

"Are you alright?" Prince Cole was standing at the back of the tent. I hadn't noticed him before.

"Fine." I took a sip of tea and forced a smile to my face. "What's the plan?"

Wyatt handed me a small animal skin rolled up. "This is a small map of the border. I marked the location of the camps that King Talis reported in his orders. They should be easy enough to find."

I nodded and tucked the animal skin map into my shirt. There was a small interior pocket close to my heart.

"I've put together a small team of infantrymen. They know the area and can guide you and back you up if anything unexpected happens."

"Okay, thank you. I better... get going." I set my barely-touched tea down and left the command tent.

"Are you sure you're alright? You look... disheveled." Prince Cole followed me out.

"I'm fine!" I hissed. "I understand what is expected of me." I tried to walk by him.

Cole grabbed my arm and pulled me around. I was forced to stand toe to toe with him and stare into his war-hardened eyes. His grip on my arm tightened.

"I can't help you out of this, so you need to be ready before you go."

I yanked my arm from his grasp. "You knew this would happen! You knew what he would order me to do!"

"As I said, it is why I kept you a slave." He nodded.

"But if you freed me before the king found out..."

"Sabine, my father has powerful mages whose only purpose is to sense and seek out other powerful mages who could be assets to his military campaigns. Without your collar, those mages would have sensed you in a heartbeat."

My irritation cooled. "So... you're saying that I never would have escaped this?"

"Probably not. Unless you remained a slave."

"Why is he doing this? Targeting mages is specific."

Cole ran a hand through his hair and glanced around. We were alone in front of the command tent. The other soldiers hadn't roused yet.