Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 110079 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 367(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110079 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 367(@300wpm)
Haru grabbed Adrian’s bag first and tucked away the few things the guard had pulled out during the day. He tried to ignore the frantic beat of his heart and keep his wandering mind from fearful thoughts of things happening to his mate while he was out of sight. He pulled his bag from the shelf over his head and stuffed in the last two sandwiches they hadn’t eaten with the chips. They’d each packed rations for the hike in case they weren’t able to get supplies in Green Hollow. Worst-case scenario, Haru felt confident that he could hunt for what food they needed. The most important thing was getting out of Caspagir safely and into Zastrad.
TWENTY-FIVE
OMARI HARU
Caspagir soldiers were everywhere in the few narrow streets of Green Hollow. The heavy scent of smoke and diesel tainted the crisp air while townsfolk hurried along the train tracks out of the village, carrying their possessions and their children.
People rushing down the tracks had stopped their train. They begged for a ride away from Green Hollow.
“The town has about three thousand soldiers stationed there year-round, and my sister ordered another ten thousand to hurry south after the first Order soldiers touched Caspagir soil near Sirelis. They’ve arrived here a day ahead of us,” Shey explained as they wove their way through the panicked citizens heading in the opposite direction.
“Are thirteen thousand soldiers enough to stop the Order’s attack?” Adrian demanded.
“If this were a normal New Rosanthe test of the border, yes. More than enough. It’s why we keep three thousand stationed here. Just to keep them from getting frisky. But after the attack on Sirelis, I expect them to move more than a hundred thousand troops through here. The ten thousand that were sent are only here to hold the border until the evacuation is complete. Afterward, they are to pull back to Wolfpine. That town is more easily defensible and has become a staging area for our ground troops. We’ll be able to stop their invasion there.”
“I’m sorry.” Those soft words nearly caused Haru to trip. What in the world was Tyche apologizing for? It was not as if he’d ordered these invading troops to attack Caspagir.
“Why?” Shey inquired.
“I feel like you’d rather be leading your troops into battle, or at least fighting with them. Instead, you’re stuck sneaking into Bellcairn.”
“Saving the minor gods and defeating Feng will protect my people in the long run. I’d rather fight those assholes in Damardor than in my own country, where my cities are getting blown up and my citizens killed.” The prince darted to the side to let a haggard-looking woman and two small children hurry past. “Besides, as my mother likes to remind me, I’m not the only one who knows how to run a fight. We’ve got loads of experienced generals and admirals. I need to rely on them to do their job.”
Haru grunted. “Just leave the nasty hero work to us.”
As they reached the edge of town, there was a blockade set up with several soldiers in Caspagir blue uniforms holding large guns. Most were helping people leave with whatever possessions they could carry. The refuges were generally on foot, but there were several cars and buses loaded up to the point of overflowing.
As they were about to slip inside, a soldier stepped in front of them, one hand held up. “No entry. Green Hollow is being evacuated. Please turn around and head to Wolfpine.”
Shey lowered his head, not allowing the soldier to see his face. Prior to leaving Sirelis, the prince had dyed his hair dark brown. He’d been growing it out since his time in Damardor, and the long strands now hung past his shoulders. He used it now to hide the scar on the left side of his face. They couldn’t risk any word getting out that Prince Shey was anywhere near the border, where people could speculate that he was heading toward the Federation of Order.
At that moment, Luca was hard at work in the capital impersonating the prince by shooting out emails and having other trustworthy souls spread the word that they had recently met with the prince. All the Order spies had to believe that the prince was still in the capital.
Tyche shoved to the head of the group and grabbed at the soldier’s uniform, twisting it and pulling on the man. “Please! You have to let us into town. My mother is in there. She’s sick and mostly deaf. She might not know about the evacuation order. My friends and I are just now returning from Wolfpine after running there for supplies. Please, let me get my mother!”
Tears rolled down Tyche’s cheeks for his nonexistent mother. Every time the soldier pried one hand loose another grasped him as if Tyche were part octopus.
“Fuck! Yes! Fine! Go, but we won’t be able to hold back New Rosanthe forces for long. There’s nothing we can do if you’re left behind when we pull out,” the soldier snarled, seeming happy to do whatever it took to get Tyche off him.