Shan sat up, confused by the darkness and silence. Hitting the blanket covering the tub reminded him where he was. He’d been able to hear the party from the barracks so he had gone to the healing rooms. Yes, it was closer but the water and the blanket helped muffle the sound. He figured extra time in the water would make Loka happy. Even though the party had ended, he could still hear voices faintly in the dis-tance. For Shan, voices were always present in the background, but these seemed closer and aroused his attention. He carefully removed his earplugs to listen more attentively. “She’s a dragon,” Lady Barta’s voice cut through the air with underlying tones of indignation. Shan’s mind raced, wondering to whom she could be referring. “So?” retorted Lord Rantar, his voice imbued with a mixture of indifference and pragmatism. “She hasn’t hurt anyone. She came highly recommended. She does an excep-tional job.” “Recommended? The prince-general put her here. She’s a spy,” Barta insisted, her words laden with accusation. “Of course, she’s a spy. What other reason could a Menthanlan of her skills have to come to such a forsaken locale unless directed here on espionage grounds?” “She’s been here seven years, and you’ve been aware she was a spy all along?” “What options did I have? Refuse them? It is decidedly better to have a known spy within our walls than one who operates in the shadows.” “But what are we going to do?” Barta’s voice was laced with concern. “Do? Nothing,” Rantar stated flatly. “Nothing? She has humiliated me.” “You’ve managed that well enough on your own.” “If she hadn’t hid who she was…” “You wouldn’t have tried to embarrass her.” “My father wouldn’t tolerate…” “Your father,” Rantar interjected, “is precisely why they’re stationed here. Be-sides this ‘spy’ and the soldiers, we’ve got three more Ertonians, and two were wearing soldier uniforms. Wait until they leave and then we’ll deal with the little half-breed and the guards. Plans remain unchanged, only delayed.” Shan’s pulse quickened. Time was of the essence. Hastily, he dressed, securing his earplugs once more to shield against any auditory intrusion. Upon locating Jahree, he inquired, “Do you know where Lanni is?” “In a meeting with the captain and the new guards. What’s the urgency?” Jahree queried, sensing the tension in Shan’s voice. “I need a word with them,” Shan replied, urgency threading through his words. “They’re in his office.” Armed with this information, Shan expressed his thanks and dashed towards the barracks, his heart pounding with the weight of the knowledge he carried and the resolve to protect those who remained oblivious to the deceit spun around them. #fantasy, #magic, #dragons, #hiddenlands