Avitas Harper

Part 4

I come into the Blood Shrike's office earlier than expected. I want to know what she has learnt about Elias. With me, as her second-in- command, I could have poisoned her till now, but the Commandant tells me to wait.

I want to wait too. I haven't learnt much about Elias or what she means to him what he means to her. She loves him. Her pained expression is proof enough for that. Emotions muddle up missions. 

I expect her to be at her desk bent over a piece of paper or conferring with someone. I find out that Faris and Dex are also not there. That can only mean one thing that they have gone on their own. 

It takes me longer to find her. She gives me a withering glare when she sees me. Dex looks uneasy.

I survey the ground about us. Clever. The tracks clearly tell a tale. I wonder how she related these pieces together? The Shrike is quite a challenge to the Commandant after all.

"We will track the horse, Shrike. Leave the Commandant alone."

She ignores me. She knows just how dangerous Keris is. I see the expression in her eyes. She is playing with fire. 

She wants me to think she is stupid, but one thing I have learnt is that nothing will stop the Blood Shrike from tearing you apart if she wants it. A Mask after all. Blackcliff would have been hard on her. 

I can only think of the number men she had to avoid in Blackcliff. I remember Marcus' words in the dungeon and look back at the Shrike.

What could drive her to serve  a man like that? 

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Aquilla seems very impatient. I know, Hannah's betrothal with the Emperor. The agreement. Marcus relations with the Blood Shrike along with the fact that her sister will be married to him, is just sick.

I remain silent. 

Dex says, "Faris is in the drum tower. He heard back about the horse. As for the report you had me look through..."

He hesitates, seeing that I am present here. I have more experience on field, I have more experience as a Mask, I want to say. 

"There was something off about the reports." Dex's expression says enough for me to know that that was what he was going to say. "I noticed it a week ago."

I hear the Shrike curse. She mutters for a few minutes and looks at me with rage in her eyes.

"You are going to tell the her that I figured it out. Aren't you?"

She would not throw those words so hatefully at me if she knew my part of the story. I say coolly, "She knew it the moment you walked into the Villa Veturia."

Stupidity and recklessness won't help you as a Shrike. You need to learn to sometimes bend even in front of your enemy so that you can win the war. 

Brave thing to do, confront Keris, something even I haven't done. But what Aquilla has learnt till now is good. She could be a dangerous foe.

Faris comes in with a report about the horse. I see Aquilla's expression turn into confusion then understanding. 

"He is going to Nur."

Good job, Shrike. I almost smile. At last something about my brother. Elias. She might be able to catch him after all. I look at her, then at Faris and Dex, and it dawns on me that I never thought that Aquilla would fail this mission, that is why I requested it in the first place.

I can see the relief and anguish in Shrike's face as she gives out orders.

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