Meta Gods War 3 by B. Miles (the ebook reader txt) 📕

be to sniff out anyone in the army that wants to work against me and arrest them if possible.”

“I can do that,” Brice said.

“Thank you.”

They lapsed into silence as more men marched past. It was a sea of bodies moving to their doom. Cam couldn’t help but imagine all the suffering that was to come.

Maybe he would be better off listening to Lycanica. Maybe he should evacuate the Mansion and get as many people away from here as possible. He could save lives that way.

But it wouldn’t work and he knew it. Eventually, they’d reach the great salt sea and have nowhere to go. There weren’t enough boats in the world to ferry the entire population of this region to some other distant land. The wolves would come for them and slaughter every man, woman, and child left standing.

Fighting was their only option.

“Looks like someone’s coming to see you,” Brice said.

Cam followed her gaze and saw a small group moving through the flow of marching soldiers. He smiled as Key shoved her way toward him, followed by a small collection of soldiers, Theus and Galla walking in their wake.

Theus was just back from scouting with Arter and the guard, and his clothes were still road-worn and dusty. Key’s hair was in tight golden braids and she held her new spear against her shoulder.

Galla wore a long, black dress, tight in the breast and the waist but flowing in the sleeves and the skirts. She wore a shining emerald pendant. A small glass tiara was perched in her beautifully curled red hair.

The procession stopped at the foot of the cart.

“Hello, Captain Brice,” Galla called up. “It’s lovely to see you.”

Brice inclined her head. “Lovely to see you as well, Lord.”

Galla beamed at that. “I just realized, I called you Captain Brice. But isn’t it General now?”

Brice cocked her head. “I don’t know what you mean, Lord. I’m still just Captain.”

Cam cleared his throat. “I hadn’t gotten to that yet,” he said loud enough for Galla to hear.

“Whoops,” Galla said.

Brice looked at him, her mouth open. “What are you saying?”

“I want to make you the commander of the heavy infantry,” he said. “And I want you to have a seat at my council table. I’m making you a General, if you’ll have it.”

Her mouth worked for a moment, as though the words couldn’t get past her lips, then she bowed her head. “I’m honored,” she said.

“Don’t be,” Cam said. “I’m going to lean on you, Brice. I need you to be ready for that.”

“Good.” She raised her head again and her eyes burned with passion. “I’m looking forward to it.”

“Beautiful,” Galla said and clapped her hands. “Now Brice, do you mind if I borrow Cam?”

“Be my guest,” Brice said. “I have work to do.” She turned and hopped off the cart. She was surprisingly light and graceful on her feet. Cam watched her slip past the marching men and disappear into the crowd.

Galla came closer to the edge of the cart. Cam shifted forward and sat down, his legs dangling off the side.

“That was a good choice,” Galla said, staring into the mass of men where Brice had disappeared.

“You think so?”

“She’s loyal. She’s competent.”

“Attractive too,” Key said.

Cam gave Key a look. “You’re a General now too, you know.”

Key grinned. “Damn right I am.”

“Really?” Theus asked, nudging Key. “He made you a General too? Feels like he’s just giving the title out.”

“General of the Fourth Infantry,” Key said. “Which means I’m going to kick some serious wolf ass.”

“I’m stacking the ranks as much as I can,” Cam said. “Everyone I trust is a General now. I can’t risk more division in our ranks. We’re already divided enough.”

Galla rested a hand on Cam’s knee. “It’s a smart move,” she said. “I would’ve done it too.”

He leaned forward and slipped off the cart. Galla put a hand on his chest and he kissed her cheek then reached out for Key. His two girls pressed themselves against him and he kissed them one after the other while Theus stood nearby rubbing the back of his head.

“I hate when you do that,” Theus said.

Cam laughed and released the girls. Key stretched her lean body and tilted her head. “So, when do I get to meet my men?” she asked.

“Soon,” Cam said. “You’ll have to choose an officer corp. I’ll see if Brice has some suggestions.”

“Perfect,” Key said. “But I’m a little worried about Felin. I’m a General, Miuri’s the liaison for the Elven division, Galla’s the Lord of the Mansion. What’s Felin going to do?”

“Don’t worry about her,” Cam said. “Fel’s got her own job.”

Key tilted her head. “Really?”

“Really,” he said. “And I think she’ll love it.”

“Cam,” Galla said, tugging at his sleeve. “Can we talk for a moment?”

He nodded. “Of course.”

“I’ll take Key and get her acclimated,” Theus said. “Arter and your guard are looking for you, by the way.”

“Good,” Cam said. “They’d better be.”

Key and Theus moved off through the crowd and Cam turned back toward Galla. She leaned against the cart and chewed her lip as she watched the procession. Cam leaned next to her and slipped his hand into hers. She tilted her face up toward him and her eyes shone in the early morning sun as it slanted through the stone entrance.

“You’re going to be gone for a while,” she said.

“I know,” Cam said.

“I thought I should… say goodbye.” She smiled a little. “And I wanted to thank you.”

“Galla,” Cam said.

“No, hear me out.” She cleared her throat and shifted her weight from one foot to the next. “Losing my father was hard. It’s still hard, maybe the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. But I know why you did it, and I would’ve done it myself if I were in your position. I’m not angry with you, Cam, I’m just… I wish things could have been different.”

He squeezed her hand. “Me too.”

“I love you.” She looked at him. “I didn’t expect it to happen, but I do. I love you,