Secrets of the Swords, Book 1

Chapter 27: To Keep Pushing Forward

"This isn't right," Suthe protested for what must have been the fifth time. Just like the first four times she had spoken, her protest was ignored, as Nem Koel and Saer Lon dashed around, making last-minute preparations for their departure that morning.

Saer Lon's lack of response, at least, was understandable, given the fact that she didn't speak Montese. But Nem Koel? Well, that was just rude.

Suthe crossed her arms. "Hey! I'm talking to you!"

"Ow!" Nem Koel dropped the shirt she was carrying, and pressed her hands over her ears. "There's no need to be so loud!" The glare she sent Suthe's way could have melted iron.

Suthe gave a surprised start. "I didn't mean to be," she said, glancing over at Saer Lon who was carrying on unaffected. "I didn't realize how loud I was. Sorry."

Now it was Nem Koel who appeared apologetic, snatching the fallen shirt up with a sigh and marching over to drop down next to Suthe on one of the benches in the center of the building.

"Look," she said. "I don't like it any more than you do. But if we want to stop this war over the Twin Blades, we have to keep pushing forward. Ulsper knew the risks he was taking when he went out yesterday." Nem Koel fiddled with the shirt in her hands – Suthe didn't realize she was trying to fold it until the girl finally wrapped it into some semblance of a lumpy rectangle.

Suthe raised her eyebrows. That was going to wrinkle.

"If it's any consolation," Nem Koel continued, "from what I've heard about the guy from Seolosu, he's able to take care of himself. He's apparently been on his own for about three years now, ever since the massacre – "

Nem Koel abruptly cut off, the hand not holding the shirt flying to cover her mouth. Suthe didn't miss the way her eyes immediately darted to Saer Lon across the room.

"Well, now you have to tell me," Suthe joked, half-serious. "What massacre?"

"Saer Lon doesn't like talking about it," Nem Koel said, quickly standing up and heading for one of the three bags set by the front door.

Suthe stood and followed her. "Well, she wouldn't have to talk about it, if you told me," she reasoned. "Besides, she doesn't speak Montese, so she wouldn't even know if you said anything. Right?"

But Nem Koel remained serious. "It involves General Seolosu too. I really shouldn't say."

The light shifted at that moment, and Suthe turned to see that Saer Lon had joined them. It was too late to press for any more information now.

"Come on," Nem Koel said. "We should leave now to catch the train."

The early morning was still dark and cool as Saer Lon opened the door and the three of them scurried across the inner courtyard. Suthe's bag thumped against her back with every step, like the physical manifestation of the heavy guilt she felt at leaving Ulsper behind without knowing where he was. But what else could she do? She was a refugee in a foreign land, with no knowledge of even the language or of any other resources at her disposal. It was as Nem Koel had said – she would have to keep pushing forward.

Suthe stopped beside Nem Koel as the two of them waited for Saer Lon to unlock the courtyard door that led to the street outside. Slowly, the door creaked open, and Suthe held her breath. Half of her expected to see Ulsper on the other side, somehow miraculously unscathed and returned just in the nick of time. She had seen enough of his training during their time in Fai to know that he wouldn't be captured so easily.

But Ulsper wasn't there. After a long moment of checking the street, Saer Lon pulled back and nodded to the other two, with a finger on her lips. Trying to ignore the disappointment she felt, Suthe nodded emphatically. Nem Koel had warned her of the dangers of their early departure, and she wasn't about to mess things up if she could help it.