“I accept.”
Ava had brought some black thread with her. Unlike her mother and grandmother, she didn’t need it for her workings to be effective, but she didn’t have to reveal all her secrets to the general.
She walked to the tent entrance, and saw there were a row of toggles down the middle so the tent could be closed.
She chose the middle one, and began embroidering a design around it.
When she stepped back to look at it, she hoped it looked like it had always been there.
Then she turned and walked to the opposite side of the tent.
She had a feeling the working on the front flap was all that was needed, but she didn’t know for sure, and it was worth doing it properly.
She crouched down and worked the same cloud design low to the ground, where it would be difficult to see.
“That’s it?” The general’s eyes were wide when she rose and slid the thread back into her pocket.
“I think so. Perhaps you can find some way to test it, without letting anyone know what I’ve done.”
The general nodded. She had obviously gone back into her sleeping quarters while Ava had been working on the tent because she had put away the jacket and now had a scarf in her hands. It was of a soft, black fabric.
“I want you to use this item for your other working, so it is difficult to see the black thread,” the general said. “If they are Grimwaldian, they may know your family’s abilities. In fact, I think it’s why they followed you.”
Ava nodded. “Who do you want this to be for? Do you want me to wear it and find them?”
“No. The Grimwaldians are going to avoid you. Make it for me.” The general handed it to her, and then pulled a small bag of coins from her trouser pocket. “You will need to replace the black silk thread.”
Ava started to protest, and the general held up a hand. “Before you object, listen. I am going to ask you to change the working. Don’t make it specifically to catch the Grimwaldians. Work something that tells me everyone who means my column ill.”
There was a gleam in her eyes that told Ava she was looking forward to finding whoever those people were.
She took the money. She needed it, and she could see the general thought it was a fair bargain. “It’ll take me a little time, but you’ll have it tomorrow.”
She walked out the tent, nodded to Catja, and made her way to Luc’s tent.
When she returned and found him still gone, she considered going looking for him. The thought of sparring with Massi again was too wearying. Instead, she took out the knitting from her pack and found the closest campfire.
Her other job was to mingle, to forge the two columns into a team.
She had been doing precious little of that.
It was too dark to work on the black scarf with black thread anyway, and she enjoyed the sound of the needles clicking, the way the wool twisted in satisfying patterns, and the soothing mental mathematics as she counted stitch combinations.
“I always wondered how they did that.” The soldier sitting with her shuffled closer. He shook his head in wonderment. “Who would have thought?”
“I just learned it myself.” Ava held it up for him to see a little better.
The few others talking quietly and drinking something hot also shifted closer.
When she asked what patterns and motifs the Cervantes used, one of the woman shook her head.
“I was taken when I was twelve and put into a Chosen camp, so I don’t know as much as I should.” She sounded more subdued than she had before, and Ava didn’t like to think her question had caused pain.
“After this battle, will you be able to find your family again?”
“I found them already. The Commander gave us all time to reunite before we joined the Rising Wave. My grandmother had passed while I was interned.” She fingered the jacket she wore, as if it reminded her of her grandmother. “Perhaps my parents know, but they’re protecting my brother and sister while we fight.”
“Kali will know.” The soldier’s companion slid an arm around her shoulder in comfort. “She’s one of the traders. She sells clothes with Cervantes patterns on them, but I think she’s running low on her stock, and she doesn’t make them herself.”
“I’ll find her tomorrow and ask.” Ava knitted a few more rows, and tried to keep her mind from thinking of the tragedy of what had happened to the Cervantes. She didn’t want to imbue anything like that into her work.
This was to protect Luc. To keep him safe.
She focused on strength and agility, on heightened senses and an impenetrable barrier.
“Are you up for another sparring session?” The question was from the soldier who had first admired her cable knitting. There was a hint of humor in his voice.
“Who with?” She flashed him a grin, pleased the conversation had turned to less serious things. “You?”
The others immediately began teasing him.
“Are you going to take on the Commander’s lady?” One of them hooted. “Brave man!”
Ava laughed. “It doesn’t matter who’s lady I am.” She put her knitting aside. “What happens in the ring, stays in the ring.”
“Until the Commander comes in and carries you off.” The woman who’d spoken about her grandmother said, a smug smile on her face.
“Ah. I can’t help it if he’s overcome by the sight of me fighting.” She was glad she’d had more than a month of teasing with the Venyatux. She knew how this worked now. And she loved it.
The young soldier whooped at her response. “I’ve heard his sword is enspelled. Magical.”
Ava had the sense he wasn’t talking about Luc’s actual sword.
“Yes. Can you confirm that for us?” The woman leaned closer to Ava and winked.
Oh!
Ava started to giggle. “I don’t think I should . . .” She couldn’t get the words out, she was laughing too hard, and the soldiers around her roared in appreciation.
“I think that’s enough speculation about my sword.” Luc’s arms were suddenly around her, lifting her from her seat.
The soldiers were silent for a beat, and then burst out laughing again as Luc carried her the short distance to the tent.
He lifted his hand to make a gesture Ava couldn’t see, and the laughter intensified.
“It’s good to hear everyone laugh.” Luc murmured into her ear, his lips brushing her skin. “It’s good to hear you laugh.”
“There hasn’t been enough of that, in ours lives, or theirs.”
He set her on her feet once they were behind the canvas curtain that created his private space.
“Wait.” She held up a hand as he reached for the buttons on her jacket.
She pulled the thread from her pocket and walked to the canvas.
“What are you doing?”
“Making sure no one can hear anything that happens behind this curtain.”
His low chuckle brushed air across the back of her neck as he slid his arms around her from behind and then he rested his chin on the top of her head as she worked.
“Best I give you something to scream about, then.” He kissed the side of her temple. “To test it.”
Chapter 26