Killian froze. ‘You’ve got Longwark?’

‘He’s in the prison below, Major.’

He huffed out an amazed breath. ‘How the damn did you do that, Codder?’

Codder bit his lip, a wide smile spreading across his face, his shoulders rising. ‘I’m just that good, Major. Picked him up near the forest border. Said he’s willing to pay whatever price he must, that he’ll cooperate, as long as we take him to Baldwin Auguste first.’

Killian paced the length of his office, rubbing his scarred knuckles.

When he turned around and glanced at Codder, he looked at him with something akin to pride.

‘Good work. Very good work. But,’ he said, ‘we’re not using Longwark for transport. Obviously. Get a different mage.’ He rubbed his forehead. ‘It’s even more urgent, now. Fifty-mile radius. Get the fastest horses and riders. I want a mage who will cooperate by tomorrow. This has gone on long enough. Am I understood?’

‘Yes, Major. It’s just that I’m not sure if I’ve spooked them by what we’ve just done to their friends, or what tactics they’re using to cover their trail, so it might not be-‘

‘Don’t give me your excuses, Codder. Get me a mage, now.’

‘Sure thing, Major.’

Codder’s gaze drifted past Killian and locked onto Gray like a predator spotting wounded prey. His grin was sharp, almost feral. ‘What about this one?’ he said, jabbing his thumb in Gray’s direction. ‘Bet stray knows where those little treasures have scurried off to.’

Gray’s stomach flipped. He shook his head, panic rising. ‘I don’t - I mean, they could be anywhere.’

Codder’s grin widened, eyes gleaming. ‘Anywhere, huh? So how exactly have they managed to disappear when I’ve got soldiers crawling all over this place, stray?’

Gray swallowed hard, forcing his voice to stay even. ‘Maybe … Maybe your soldiers are just inept.’

Codder’s smile faltered, just for a second. Killian, watching from the corner, clenched his jaw.

OK, his voice wasn’t so calm.

Gray couldn’t keep his fury at bay. Gray shoved his trembling hands into his pockets, out of sight. He wished they’d damned well leave Krydon already. He wished he’d let the butcher poison them all.

Killian narrowed his eyes.

‘You think we’re inept, stray?’ Codder drawled, as he slowly looked Gray up and down. ‘You’ve been taken prisoner and incapacitated with barely a by-your-leave. You’ve been taken as our Major’s pet while some of your little friends lie dead for protecting the northern mages' whereabouts.’

Gray sat rigidly, trying to ignore the sensation that his insides were slipping down into his toes. ‘What?’

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‘Well, they’re not all dead. Some of them we decided to end slower, like. Some of them were still screaming. That’s what I call inept. Don’t you think, stray?’

Killian snapped.

Zero to one hundred with less warning than Longwark.

He slammed Codder against the wall, hand on his throat, squeezing before Codder could even blink. Codder gasped, the cigarette flying out of his hold, hissing like a mountain cat as he tried to pry Killian’s hand off his throat.

'Who's your commanding officer?' snarled Killian, his face inches from Codder's.

'You - you are, Major.'

'Did I issue you a licence?'

'No - no, Major.'

Killian was barely an inch taller than Codder, and barely had any extra weight to him, but with one swift movement, he slammed Codder hard against the wall again. He was dragging Codder around like a ragdoll.

‘You’re going to pay for this,’ Gray said quietly, starting to shake. He couldn’t stop it. He couldn’t control it. ‘You’re not going to get away with this.’

'I have gotten away with it, you sanctimonious ash-stink,' rasped Codder. 'The board will do nothing.'

Gray saw red. 'How dare-'

‘Shut up, Gray. You stay calm.’ Killian said, half glancing at Gray. 'How you've lasted so long in this world without being ripped apart is a damn wonder.'

Gray shut his mouth, his pulse beating hard, and glared at the opposite wall.

Killian breathed in long and slow, seemingly satisfied Gray wasn’t going to keep talking.

‘I did what I had to, Major,’ Codder rasped, stilling and waiting for his release. ‘I got you your results. I got you Longwark, didn’t I?’

Slowly, Killian unwrapped his grasp from Codder’s neck, stepped back and let him free. Codder rubbed his neck and wiped tears from his chin, stepping on his cigarette stub before it could smoulder the carpet alight. He sucked in his bottom lip, glowering at the carpet.

‘Go. Get. A. Mage,’ said Killian softly. ‘Do it quietly, without making more enemies here.’

Codder did a sullen salute. ‘Yes, Major.’

As soon as Codder left the office, Killian ran his hands through his hair. ‘Fuck.’

He strode over to the door. ‘Vaddenham!’ he bellowed.

The cry of Vaddenham! echoed through the hall outside.

Gray took a deep breath and asked quietly, ‘He was lying, wasn’t he? He - he wouldn’t-’

Killian ignored him, pacing back and forth, his hand grasped in his dark hair.

‘Killian! Are some of them – are they –‘ Gray broke off, getting up from the chair and balancing on his good leg. ‘They’re good people. They don’t deserve -’

‘Don’t even talk to me, kid. I’m not in the mood for your bullshit. I need to speak with my advisor, so I know how I can repair this. I’ve got problems coming out my ears and I –‘

‘You can’t – just leave them out there,’ Gray said, hobbling towards Killian. He put too much weight on his bad ankle, and he hit the floor with a solid thump.

Killian walked over to where Gray was crumpled, his expression unreadable.

‘Those people aren’t responsible for any of this,' rushed out Gray, blanketed panic rising. 'They know nothing about mages - they don’t like mages - they’re not hiding them – or me – they aren’t – those people don’t deserve to die like -’

‘Fine.’ Killian grabbed up his sword. ‘I’ll kill them for you. Nice and quick. Will that stop you mewling?’

‘What?’ Gray attempted to climb to his feet. ‘Wait, that isn’t what I –‘

‘You don’t get it both ways, Gray.’ Killian opened the office door. ‘Stay here, and stay quiet. This won’t take long.’

A plump man poked his head around the door. ‘You called, Major?’

‘Come with me,’ Killian said, ushering him out. ‘We have a situation …’