Change of Darkness (The Change Series Book 3) by Jacinta Jade (best new books to read txt) 📕

her methods. She reflected on the torture her previous self had been subjected to. And she had confidence that the skills of those doing the questioning would be suitable.

Beside her, Chezran shifted slightly. Just a slight transfer of his weight from one foot to the other, but it had the same effect on Atalia as if the lord had snapped at her to get on with it.

This time, Siraay bit her tongue to stop a grin rising to her face.

The head tactician hurried on with her update. ‘It seems the Resistance leaders have issued orders for all groups to reposition themselves at various points within easy reach of the capital. We even know where a number of those points will be, although I doubt that the Resistance would be so stupid as to offer themselves up all at once for us in one location.’

Lord Chezran had stilled again, and Siraay could see that he wasn’t looking at Atalia now. He seemed to be staring past the archon, deep in thought.

Then his lips curled up at the edges as he began speaking. ‘The Resistance knows we have our divisions in the area. And they’re positioning themselves to respond. But they don’t know our full numbers yet … otherwise, they would be moving a lot faster.’

His eyes half closed for a moment, then opened again. ‘And we would have had word if they had approached the Ruling Council to beg them to reconsider a more pro-active response to our presence.’ He nodded to himself. ‘We could chase down the Resistance—destroy them as we find them. But that will take time. But if we could force the Resistance troops to group together …’ He trailed off, raising one eyebrow at Atalia.

The archon was nodding. ‘Then we could wipe them out in one go. Cleaner. More efficient.’ Siraay could almost see the cunning mind behind those green eyes working through solution after solution. The female smiled. ‘I’ll order the second division to allow two of the captives to escape. After overhearing some choice information, of course.’ She stood taller, smiling more broadly at her lord.

Just like a youth seeking praise from a cycle guide, Siraay thought derisively. Didn’t Atalia realise that the lord didn’t want an adoring lap animal?

Chezran was nodding, his face revealing nothing. ‘Good. I’ll want an update this evening.’

The smile was wiped quickly from Atalia’s face. ‘Yes, my lord.’ She glanced at Siraay as Chezran began turning away, and the icy dislike in her eyes was clear.

Siraay, for her part, enjoyed turning her shoulder to the archon, making the female watch her and Chezran as they walked away. Together.

But the lord had only taken two steps when he paused again and twisted his head slightly so his voice would carry back to Atalia. ‘It only takes one imbecile to deliver a message. Let two escape, but make one of them an example of our … prowess.’

The last word was almost a light caress, and Siraay could see the small, hidden smile playing about the edges of the lord’s lips.

***

They were headed back into the palace when Chezran broke the silence. ‘Ask me—I won’t think anything of it.’

Siraay smiled automatically, her gaze straight ahead. ‘I would hate to think that I’m that transparent.’

‘Not at all, my lady. You hold yourself so tight, so controlled, that I imagine the others find you very hard to read.’

‘Others?’

He gave her a knowing smile. ‘Ask, my treasure.’

Fine, she thought. ‘There are those who tarzneum does not affect?’

Chezran nodded as they turned a corner of the hall together. ‘There are. Not many, mind you, but some. Maybe one in a thousand.’ He brushed away a stray lock of shoulder-length dark hair from his face. ‘I was very glad to see that your many gifts did not include that particular one.’

‘Why are they able to resist the metal’s effects?’

‘Unknown. I did task my technologists to find out why, having similar questions to yours, but even though they studied a number of subjects, they never could distinguish a real reason.’ Chezran shrugged. ‘It’s a phenomenon that occurs so rarely that I decided to drop the matter.’

‘What do you do with those who aren’t affected?’

The lord looked at her with emotionless eyes. ‘We either broke their mind enough that they could be remade into a soldier if they showed promise, or … removed them completely.’

Siraay returned his gaze calmly. ‘Is that what you would have done in my case?’

‘Yes. We would have needed to break you.’

Siraay nodded and swivelled her eyes back to look down the hallway as a pair of servants passed them.

‘But I’m glad it didn’t come to that. A complete mind is much more valuable than a fractured one,’ Chezran said.

True enough, Siraay thought.

‘Now, I’m due in a meeting at noon, but I have enough time to eat with you, and then I’ve asked Pyron to escort you to another training area, so you can meet your unit.’

Siraay glanced at Chezran, not bothering to hide her surprise. ‘My unit?’ Was he relegating her back to mere soldier duties?

‘Yes. An elite unit that will accompany you whenever you leave the city. I am assuming that you would like to join one of the scouting and hunting parties from time to time, in order to keep your skills honed?’

She grinned. Checking the countryside for Resistance spies and hunting down extra resources to pour into their growing army sounded like an excellent diversion. Much better than just constant training. ‘I would like that very much.’

Chezran’s eyes gleamed. ‘Excellent. You will meet the unit this afternoon. Spend some time getting to know them, so you will be comfortable operating around them. Then your usual escort will guide you wherever you wish to go afterwards.’

This flattened Siraay’s mood a bit. ‘I’ve actually been wondering about that …’ She waited until after they’d passed a pair of guards stationed along the hallway and were walking down a more empty corridor before she continued. ‘Do you not trust me?’

Chezran stopped so suddenly