“Orrin, wait up,” Finley jogged out of the tent to where Daniel, Orrin, Madi, and Brandt were about to climb the stairs back to the top of the Wall. “Can you chat for a minute?”

  Orrin waved his friends on and watched as the Finley nervously let down his hair before weaving it back into a bun on the back of his head. “Sure, Fin. Aren’t you supposed to be holding the next Wall?”

  The few forces that Finley had brought with him from Odrana were elites from the Madvarr province of Ronden. However, Odrana and Dey’s relationship was in a precarious position after the back-and-forth kidnappings, assassinations, and mayhem that started with Lord Sanerris working with one of the former lords of Dey in an attempt to capture Daniel and ended with that same man’s death in the heart of Odrana’s capital city at the hands of the [Hero] and another scion of Odrana.

  Orrin might have helped a little too.

  The fraught and developing rapport between the two countries steered Silas to be cautious with any Odranan forces. They were integrated into existing frameworks of the Dey army, while kept away from any positions where indifference would be costly and far away from places where sabotage would be detrimental. Finley and his team were stationed one Wall back from the frontline.

  “That’s not important. I can run there in a few minutes. I wanted to ask you something,” Finley said, stopping close to Orrin and lowering his voice. “About what you said about the demon’s camp being protected. Did you see any markings or try to find any mana flow around the perimeter?”

  Orrin kicked himself mentally. “I didn’t think to look. The fence that I passed through looked like shit. It was a bunch of wood fragments that wouldn’t slow anyone and it was spaced out so far, I didn’t think it could have been a magical boundary.”

  Finley sighed and gave Orrin a slap on the back. “Don’t worry about it. Just try to keep a better eye on the details next time. You didn’t have much time to study with Professor Galina but she would have beaten that into you by the end of the semester. Did you feel anything when you went through the fence? Was there a moment you knew your magic was sealed?”

  Orrin studied Finley. His eyes were constantly surveying the area around him, only touching Orrin’s eyes long enough to be polite. His hands rested comfortably on the knives strapped to his armor. It was the same leathers he’d worn to Battle Class but now the daggers strapped over his body made him look menacing. “You heard what I said in there, Fin. I didn’t know until I realized my [Camoflage] failed. There was no single moment that I could pinpoint for you.”

  Finley kept staring at one spot on the Wall behind Orrin. “We’re being watched, so don’t react. If anyone asks, that’s what we talked about. I slipped up and missed a detail in the tent. You filled the gap for me. Nod and smile.”

  Orrin’s neck itched and he wanted to turn to whatever Finley was watching but he controlled his urges and nodded with a smile. “What’s going on Fin?”

  “This is terrible timing. I wouldn’t even mention it before we go into battle but I can’t have you teleporting around Odrana without knowing. Lady Sanerris is teaching at the Sanerris School. I’m sure you’ve heard?”

  “Yes,” Orrin said through clenched teeth. “I thought you would all take care of her.”

  “The problem with being the chancellor of Ronden is the constant warfare with Veskar. My father has little time for actual politicking and sends me in his place more often than not. With this horde threat, I gave my recommendation for Anabella’s execution to the others and left to bring fighters here as quickly as possible.”

  “I don’t get why she’s alive or at least in a dark hole,” Orrin whispered, trying to keep the anger out of his voice. He nearly activated [Mind Bastion]. Anabella Sanerris kept him in the slave collar and forced him to attend the Odrana magical school in an attempt to befriend the children of the other rulers of her country. It had taken them some time to figure out it was an elaborate set-up to instigate a war with Veskar, blaming the Odranan neighbor for their deaths. Orrin barely survived by killing her son, one of the rulers of Odrana. Anabella was captured as well. “She tried to kill half of the chancellors.”

  Finley flinched. “Don’t blame the messenger. I’m on your side. My vote for death was a mistake. Lady Tonsa and Lord Wellan moved for execution as well. The three of us should have known what would happen. Lord Palmer voted for imprisonment. A super-majority is needed for the death sentence in these cases. The newly appointed Lady of Mistlight voted to have her contained at the school, in a strictly advisory position. I’m sure you know how much Lady Sanerris is valued for her magical insights. She’s using the position to quietly foment unrest in her supporters.”

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  Orrin touched the back of his neck where he could feel the shadow of the slave collar still. “How does she have supporters? Her son started a fake war with the elves and she wanted to do the same with Veskar.”

  Finley toyed with one of the daggers on his chest. It clicked faintly as he clipped it off and on again to the leather indents that held the knives in place. “The specifics of what happened were not made clear to the general populace, against my recommendation. Everyone felt it would create distrust in the other rulers.”

  Orrin stared. “It should. They fucked up and let the Sanerris family manipulate them. You’re all doing it again.”

  “Careful, Orrin. That includes my dad.”

  “Your dad is an idiot, then. She’s going to come back twice as strong and finish what she started.”

  Finley clucked his tongue, tsking at Orrin. “I’ll ignore what you said about my dad because we’re friends and you’re upset. There is another family in charge of Mistlight now. I received word that Anabella is working the populace of Mistlight into a frenzy over invading foreigners. She’s pushing the narrative that her son was assassinated in a coup attempt by the other chancellors. We can’t directly tie it back to her yet but we will.”

  Orrin opened his mouth to demean the man he’d never met again but stopped. Finley was warning him for a reason. From what he said, Lord Madvarr was a respectable man who protected his country from raiding parties and spent little time playing politics. “Sorry, Fin. I shouldn’t have said that. I’ve never met him. Please let him know to watch out for her. She’s not happy with a win. She needs to crush her opponent. We played Kala and I never won but if I got close or did something to set her back, she came at me with a cold anger that was scary. Anabella is going to be a problem.”

  Orrin trailed off as he had a thought. He’d been content to leave Anabella to the rulers of Odrana but they were clearly not handling her well. He could get to Odrana easily with a few [Teleport]s. He could drop Anabella’s strength with [Decrease Strength] and toss her into the ocean. It wouldn’t be hard to kill her. He knew the Sanerris School campus and could find out where she was within a few minutes. The only problem was she had access to the same spells he used to buff and debuff based on their last fight. If she was able to increase her strength back to normal…

  “Orrin, you’ve got that look in your eye,” Finley said with a warning tone. “What are you thinking?”

  “Nothing, Finley. Thanks for the heads up. I’m sure Rhys knows but maybe send him a quick letter or something?” Orrin pointed up the stairs behind him. “I need to get up there and tell my friends.”

  “Orrin, don’t try to go after her,” Finley pleaded. “She’s collared as of now but if she survives an assassination attempt, they might let her free so she can defend herself.”

  “It doesn’t seem like anyone else is going to take care of the problem. I’m not dumb enough to go in alone, Fin. If I do anything, I’ll make sure she’s put down.”

  “I didn’t tell you this so you’d turn assassin.”

  Orrin whirled on Finley and got in his face. The older boy rocked on his heels. With Orrin’s dexterity maxed out, he could move fast even without [Gust]. “I’m done letting people push me around and threaten my life, Finley. I’m not going to let anything happen to my friends. That includes you. If you don’t want me to do something I don’t want to do, then get your dad to put his foot down. She should not be in a position of power, no matter how much control you think you have over her. Anabella Sanerris will kill you, Maeve, Rhys, your families, me, and Daniel. It’s not a question of if she can but when she can. Take away that power or as soon as I get a chance, I will.”

  Finley reattached his knives into their holsters. He shook his head. “I’ll do what I can but I’m serious, Orrin. Don’t go rogue. I have to protect my people, even those I don’t like. We have laws for a reason.”

  “I’m not from Odrana. I don’t have to follow your rules.”

  Finley’s sad smile was enough to make Orrin back off a bit. “You’re right but like you said, we’re friends. I’m asking as your friend. Don’t attack a citizen of Odrana. Especially right now. My dad is close to getting a temporary treaty put through with a few states in Veskar that would let him move a lot more troops here to Dey. Let Anabella be tomorrow’s fight.”

  Orrin stepped out of Finley’s personal space and cast [Calm Mind] on himself. His prior abuse of [Mind Bastion] kept making his emotions flare when he wasn’t using it. It was almost as if all the emotions he’d suppressed bubbled back up at the most inopportune times. His use of the [Calm Mind] spell was a temporary balm but Orrin needed to figure out how to better control himself in the moment.

  “You are a friend, Fin. I won’t go after Anabella unless it’s together.”

  Finley smiled and slapped Orrin’s arm. “There he is. Thank you, Orrin. I’m sorry that I had to tell you.”

  Orrin waved him off. “Maeve told me she was alive but I thought I could let it go. If she is going to keep playing games, that is when it becomes a problem. I’d still like it if you’d make sure Rhys knows. He struck the last blow on Arvin. Anabella likely is harboring a grudge against the guy who stabbed her son to death.”

  “Lady Tonsa knows. She’s the one having Anabella watched. It’s weird to me… calling her Anabella. She’s always been Lady Sanerris my entire life. Even after fighting her and getting stabbed, a part of me feels like it’s wrong to call her by her first name. I’ll still reach out to Rhys. Although, his mother probably has him locked away deep underground now.”

  Orrin chuckled and watched Finley retreat back to his cadre of fighters. He felt bad misleading his friend. He told Fin that he wouldn’t go after Anabella unless it was together. He let the blonde knife-wielding mage assume that meant with him. He turned to look up at his party.

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