Thirty-Eight ✧ Gathering Forces

                                    

                                          

The constant crunching of dry leaves beneath the silent paws of the nyxes entwined with the pounding of Reiji's thoughts. He gripped the reins of his ride, settling beside Gat Kiyo's nyx in the middle of the caravan. Ten men rode behind them, and ten more rode ahead, with a lieutenant and bannerman heading the party.
They had left Kazima hours before dawn and journeyed toward the northern mountains to the army camp in Kataro. It was a day's ride, and they had not stopped since they left. As the late afternoon neared, so did their destination.
Reiji focused on the dirt road, fading in and out of his mind as he struggled with his recent revelation. Betrayal was a word he never truly understood until now. He had been too trusting, too youthful, not knowing treacherous people were lurking around him, acting like family.
How could the Kahani hide in plain sight, pretending she cared for him? Advising on the future and wanting for his end? Who else could want him dead?
He no longer allowed himself confidence because certainty was not real. From now on, he decided his life was his own, and he would not give control to anyone, no matter who they were or how much they showed they cared. And he would watch the people around him closely, which was the purpose of this trip.
"We're here, My Matu," Gat Kiyo spoke beside him.
Reiji woke from a trance. He looked up and saw the camp. The ground flattened where no trees or grass grew. Rows of tents set on the open clearing near the foot of a high mountain, and behind the fabric shelters stood two permanent barracks.
As they neared, gongs rang to signal their arrival. The man at the head of their caravan raised the green banner higher—its green flag emblazoned with stitched vines and thorns. Soldiers bowed their heads low at the front of the camp with their hands to their hearts.
Reiji's party passed through the aisle, between the rows of shelters—fabric and frames. Occupants came out with curious faces, and as soon as their eyes caught the banner, they followed the rest, leading their heads low to the ground.
The lieutenant and his platoon escorted Reiji and Gat Kiyo to the main barracks at the far end of the camp. It was a single-level wooden structure that looked more like a massive box than a building for quarters. Its windows were not made of the traditional capiz panes but were plain planks with hinges. And its roof was not built with shingles but with nipa palms like huts.
Reiji spotted Heneral Arkan standing by the main barracks entrance, waiting to greet him. Beside him was Zamira. They both wore their dark green army uniform with stripes over their arms, the royal crest of thorns gleaming in gold over a jadeite base hung on their chests over their hearts.
"My Matu!" The general sounded surprised as he walked out into the afternoon light. Reiji noted that the man looked younger with his hair combed and pushed away from his forehead.
The caravan stopped, and the men ahead parted to give way to Reiji and Gat Kiyo.
"Heneral Arkan," Reiji jumped off his ride and handed the reins to his attendant as the general bowed with a hand pressed over the crest on his chest. Reiji returned the formality of the greeting by doing the same, and Zamira followed suit.
"We were not expecting you," the general said, his eyes narrowed with confusion for a moment but then came delighted. He grinned. "You should have sent a messenger ahead for us to prepare for your arrival." Then he looked behind Reiji, his grin falling and his brows furrowing. "And you should not have traveled with so little escort."
"It was a decision made on impulse," Reiji said. "No one knew that I left and where I was heading, so no one would have the time to plan for my assassination."