He blinked, his anger momentarily replaced by confusion. "What are you—"

She brought a finger to her lips. "Shh. Walls have ears."

Realization dawned on his face, and he glanced nervously at the mirror. "You... You're insane," he whispered.

"Probably," she conceded with a shrug. "But it's working, isn't it?"

He leaned forward as much as his bindings would allow. "What's the plan?" he hissed.

She met his gaze steadily. "Gather intel. Find out what they're up to.”

Ken frowned. "And where do I fit into this?"

"You're the bait," she replied matter-of-factly. "They think you're part of some larger Blighted conspiracy. They'll dig, and when they come up empty, it'll throw them off balance."

He scowled. "Great. So I'm just supposed to sit here and get interrogated?"

"Pretty much." She leaned back, crossing her arms. "Look, it's not ideal, but it's the best way to keep you safe and buy me time."

"Safe?" he scoffed. "I'm in a cell, being beaten and starved. How is that safe?"

She sighed, a hint of irritation creeping into her voice. "Would you rather be out there, hunted? At least here, they won't kill you. Not yet, anyway."

"Comforting," he muttered.

She softened slightly. "Trust me, Ken. I won't let anything happen to you."

He looked at her skeptically. "Why should I believe you?"

"Because," she said, a hint of a smile returning, "I'm the only one crazy enough to pull this off."

He couldn't help but let out a dry chuckle. "You're something else."

"That's the spirit," she quipped. Then, louder, for any potential listeners, she snapped, "You think this is a game? Tell me everything you know, or things will get a lot worse for you."

He played along, glaring defiantly. "I won't tell you anything!"

She stood abruptly, slamming her palms on the table. "Have it your way." Turning on her heel, she marched toward the door, pausing just long enough to give him a subtle wink before exiting.

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

Outside, the young Peacekeeper looked up expectantly. "Any progress, sir?"

Krista shook her head in feigned frustration. "Stubborn as a mule. Increase surveillance.”

"Yes, Lieutenant."

----------------------------------------

Later that evening, Krista retreated to the privacy of the Lieutenant's quarters. She paced the room, replaying the day's events. The Convergence Meeting had yielded some interesting questions. Especially about the Scarlet Bath. Why were they shipping it from the Satellite?

A soft chime drew her attention to the phone she had 'borrowed' from the Lieutenant's belongings. A message flashed on the screen: "Captain Ironclaw requests your presence at the training grounds. Urgent."

Her heart skipped a beat. What could he want now?

The training grounds were illuminated by the glow of overhead lights, casting long shadows across the expanse. Krista approached cautiously, spotting Ironclaw standing near a rack of weapons, his back turned to her.

"You wanted to see me, Captain?" she called out, keeping her tone neutral.

He turned slowly, his expression unreadable. "Graves. Glad you could make it."

She approached, stopping a few paces away. "Is there a problem?"

Ironclaw studied her for a moment before tossing her a wooden training sword. She caught it reflexively. "Spar with me," he said simply.

"Now?"

He nodded. "I need to assess your condition. See if that head injury is affecting your performance."

Her mind raced. "I'm not sure that's necessary, sir. Perhaps another time."

He raised an eyebrow. "Are you refusing a direct order?"

"Of course not," she replied quickly, gripping the sword. "Very well."

They squared off, circling each other slowly. Ironclaw moved with a grace that one wouldn’t expect from his rugged appearance. He struck first, a swift arc aimed at her shoulder. She parried, the impact reverberating up her arm.

"Not bad," he remarked. "But you're hesitating."

She forced a smile. "Just warming up."

He pressed the attack, his strikes coming faster and harder. Krista found herself on the defensive, struggling to keep up. Sweat formed on her brow as she blocked and dodged.

"You're off your game," Ironclaw commented, pressing forward. "What's really going on?"

She gritted her teeth. "Nothing, sir."

With a swift maneuver, he disarmed her, the wooden sword clattering to the ground. Before she could react, he had her pinned, his forearm against her throat.

"Enough," he said quietly.

They stood there for a moment, tension thick in the air. His eyes searched hers, and for a terrifying instant, she feared he saw through her disguise.

"You've changed," he said finally, releasing her. "Ever since that mission. You're distracted. Unfocused."

She rubbed her neck, stepping back. "I apologize, Captain. I'll do better."

He sighed, a hint of weariness in his gaze. "See that you do. We can't afford weaknesses. Not with what's coming."

"Understood."

Ironclaw retrieved the fallen sword, placing it back on the rack. "Get some rest. And Graves... if there's anything you need to tell me, now's the time."

She hesitated, weighing her options. But the risk was too great. "Thank you for your concern, sir. I'll be fine."

He gave a curt nod. "Dismissed."

That was awkward. Krista thought to herself as she headed back to her room. She sure hoped that she didn’t give anything away. Though she supposed it was nice that she could scout out just how capable Captain Ironclaw was.