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I was aht froet these?"

"Trade secret," Valek said with a grin "Getting the pods was easy, but I had to wait for the men to water their mules to look in the burlap sacks"

When I slid the pod back in with the others, I saw that in the botto deeper, I pulled a handful into the waning light They looked like beans

"What’s this?" I asked

"They’re from the sacks," he explained "I want you to take these back to Commander Ambrose Tell him I don’t knohat they are or where they caoing"

"Are they doing soal?"

"I’m not sure If these pods and beans are froal to trade with the south One thing I do know, those men aren’t traders"

I was about to ask him how he knew this, when the answer clicked in my mind "Their uniforms don’t fit Borrowedto borrow a uniform, I would think you’d find one that fits" Valek was quiet for ato the sounds of the forest I could hear the droning of the insects grow louder as the sun set

"Yelena, I want you to find those two men you saw this afternoon, and have them escort you back to the castle I don’t want you alone If the ain, she’ll have to deal with two y Don’t tell anyone about your tree cliive a co to the Commander"

"What about ive it to you And don’t worry about your incentive You’ve earned every penny When I get back, I’llor I’ll spend the rest of the night catching up to the caravan"

"Valek, wait," I demanded For the second ti everything toweary of it

He stopped

"How do I find the others?" Without the sun, my sense of direction failed I wasn’t sure if I could find , much less to the castle on my own

"Just follow this path" He pointed in the direction the wagons had coht up with you The soldiers were heading southwest; they’re probably staking out this trail Technically, that’s the best strategy"

Valek jogged away along the path I watched hirace and speed of a deer, his e

When he was out of sight, I crunched ht robbed the trees of color as darkness descended Uneasiness settled over me Every rustle causedoverValek was here