Rise and Fall by Joshua P. Simon Page A

that when pushed, she could take care of herself. So he learned to let those comments go, knowing no ill was meant by them.
    Just the way Raker is anyway, always knowing how to get under people’s skin.
    Her voice quieted again as she turned back to Jonrell. “It’s not like that, Sir. Rygar is one of them and he’s one of the best scouts we’ve ever had. I just think it’d be a waste to leave anyone behind if they could help us on the next job is all.”
    Ah, now I see. I’ll have to talk to her in private then, and perhaps Rygar for that matter. Jonrell answered her question by addressing everyone. “If you can actually find someone out there that is worth taking along then so be it. I’ll trust your judgment. But don’t bring it up until we are about to leave. I don’t want our plans to reach Melchizan. If anyone looks like they’ll be trouble, end it quick. I don’t want someone flapping off the second we turn our backs.” He paused. “Anything else? We need to wrap this up before the camp starts to get suspicious.”
    “One more,” said Cassus, still standing in the back of the tent. “What’s the job?”
    Jonrell smiled, eyeing the man who had been his best friend since they were both boys. “We’re going home, Cassus.” There were several questioning looks and grunts at that. Jonrell paused to let them die down before continuing. “We’re going to Cadonia. The princess, soon to be queen, is hiring us, only she doesn’t know it yet,” said Jonrell, watching as his friend’s face went white.
    * * *
    “Where are Cassus and Krytien? They should be here by now.”
    “You got me, Boss,” said Kroke, again cleaning his nails.
    “We’ll give them ten more minutes and then we head out. They can catch up later.”
    “Whatever you say.”
    “Is that really necessary?”
    “Is what necessary?”
    “That,” said Jonrell pointing at the dagger. “How can they be dirty if you’re constantly cleaning them?”
    “They aren’t. Just habit I guess. Like the way a blade feels in my hand is all.” Kroke sheathed the knife and looked up. “Don’t sweat it, Boss. They’ll be here.”
    Jonrell sighed. They better.
    “See, that’s them coming out the camp now,” said Kroke with a nod. He pulled out a different knife, picking at the nails on his other hand.
    Jonrell shook his head and turned toward the encampment. He squinted and saw some movement but couldn’t make out more than a few shapes in the night. The distance was too great. “How can you tell it’s them?”
    “I can’t.” Kroke shrugged his shoulders. “Just trying to be positive is all.”
    “You’re unbelievable, you know that.”
    “Thanks.”
    “It wasn’t a compliment.”
    Kroke sheathed his blade and pulled out another that he started spinning in his hand, a small grin crawled across his face and he watched the blade dance in the moonlight.
    “How about you do something useful and grab Yanasi? Something’s up and I need her eyes. That’s definitely Cassus in front but there is no way that many soldiers were worth bringing with us.”
    “Sure thing, Boss.”
    Jonrell watched the line continue to creep along, ending with several wagons in tow. One Above, there must be over two hundred horses in that group. That’s near half the cavalry. Jonrell twisted his head around as he heard a soft voice. “Kroke said you needed me, Sir?”
    “I thought you said only a few men were worth bringing along?”
    “Well Sir, the number was probably closer to fifteen.”
    “Then I need you to get up that hill and tell me what’s going on because there are a lot more than fifteen soldiers coming this way.”
    “Yes, sir,” said Yanasi.
    Jonrell watched her scamper up the hill. She took a moment to position herself.
    Jonrell gave her a few moments then asked, “Well, do we have trouble?”
    “I don’t think so.”
    “I need something more than that.”
    “Well, that’s definitely Cassus in front and you can tell that’s