would any other Maquar, Durpari, the same as you would another of your comrades-at-arms.'
A tidal wave of whispers and murmurs rushed through the assembly. Soldiers huddled together in hurried dialogues, some gesticulating, others looking stunned. Jhoqo ignored the reaction, clapping Bascou on the shoulder, dismissing the man and motioning for one of the Maquar to show the newcomers to their quarters. Jhoqo and Taennen stepped down from the crate, and Jhoqo placed an arm around Taennen's shoulders, walking with the younger man. Jhoqo smiled and waved at the gathered troops who were now whispering among themselves.
Still smiling, he growled into Taennen's ear, 'That will not do, Durir.'
Taennen glanced over his shoulder to see the crowd dispersing, breaking into small clusters of soldiers, all still talking among themselves. Looking back to Jhoqo's face, Taennen saw his phony smile, but he did not miss the anger burning in the man's eyes.
'That was inappropriate,' Jhoqo said.
Taennen flashed back to his youth, to Jhoqo schooling him in proper etiquette while he was being introduced to the upper echelon members of the Maquar. Taennen felt all the more confused by the regression of their roles. Confusion gave way to frustration. Frustration hinted at anger like red skin around a wound hints at infection.
'Excuse me, sir?' Taennen asked, more loudly than he intended.
Jhoqo stopped their stroll and turned to face his second. 'Your behavior was unacceptable. Bascou and his men are here to help us, yet you just treated him as though he were somehow outside the oneness, something less than part of the whole.'
Jhoqo's face softened as he spoke the last words, but Taennen did not relent. He slid the man's arm from his shoulder and said, 'Sir, you just told your men-the brothers you trust with your life-to extend that fellowship to complete strangers.'
A snarl overtook Jhoqo's face as he said, 'I am your urir. You will show me and those I deem worthy more respect than that.'
'Are we done, sir? Am I dismissed, sir?' Taennen felt like a child again, frustrated by his father's answer of 'because I said so.'
Jhoqo took a step back, letting out a deep breath. He turned soft eyes to Taennen and said, 'Son, I need your help on this. I know my command may not make sense, but we must have unity with these new men if any of us hope to survive. You see that, don't you?'
'You've known your men for years and these Chonda-thans for moments, sir.'
Jhoqo nodded and said, 'I know, but I see no other way to do this. We need to trust these men, and they need to trust us.'
Taennen's stance relaxed as he said, 'Yes, sir. Am I dismissed?'
'No,' Jhoqo said. 'We are sending out another patrol expedition.'
'Sir?' Taennen said. He could not hide his surprise. 'Is that wise?'
'You heard me, Durir.'
Arguing would get him nowhere, Taennen knew. Instead, he did the only thing that might help the situation. 'Let me lead it, sir.'
Jhoqo cocked an eyebrow before shaking his head. 'I don't think so, son.'
'Let me prove myself, sir. I know I've been out of order, and I want to fix that,' he said. If Jhoqo insisted on sending out more men, then Taennen would make sure they all came back alive. Jhoqo got his scouting mission, Taennen a sense of control returned to him. Everyone would win.
Jhoqo stared at him for a long while. His face softened, and his voice was low. 'You may join the expedition, but you will not lead it.'
'Who will, sir?'
'Bascou,' Jhoqo said.
'Is the Chondathan to outrank me in operations here at Neversfall?' Taennen asked.
'You are my durir, Taennen. You know that,' Jhoqo responded. 'But Bascou leads this patrol. We need to establish him and his men among our ranks. I see no better way right now.'
'Yes, sir. I will serve him as best I can.'
Jhoqo's lips curled into a small smile. 'I know you will, son. I have no doubt.'
'When does the patrol leave, sir?'
'Next bell,' Jhoqo said, a softer gaze locked on Taennen.
'I'll do a quick check of things around here, sir, and then I'll convene with the Chondathan. Will he be picking the patrol members?'
Jhoqo thought for a moment. 'Why don't you select four Durpari and four Maquar for him? You know the personnel better.'
'Yes, sir,' Taennen said.
Jhoqo placed his hands on Taennen's shoulders. 'You make me heartbright, son.'
'Thank you, sir,' Taennen said. Jhoqo's eyes did not hold pride. They looked sad. Jhoqo returned Taennen's salute and moved toward his quarters.
Taennen needed to speak to Adeenya. She would be continuing her surveillance of the prisoners. He was more certain than ever that her plan should be carried out. Even if fruitless, her plan was trying to accomplish something important. What was Jhoqo's plan doing? Taennen didn't know. He hoped his commander did.
Chapter Twelve
Several moments after Jhoqo had stopped speaking, the crowd dissolved like sugar in water, but Adeenya stood rooted to her spot, the whispered conversations of the passing Maquar sizzling in her ears. At first, she thought they were about her, suspicion about her role in Loraica's death, but she soon realized that was not the case. The stunned faces around her, the angry tones and white knuckles-even if they believed she had betrayed them, her traitorousness would not garner such rage. Only treachery by a trusted friend could bring about these wild looks and fevered whispers. The Maquar felt daggers at their backs, and Jhoqo was the wielder of the blades.
The Maquar commander had pulled Taennen aside for a few moments and, once the younger man had left, Jhoqo crossed to the leader of the new arrivals, the man named Bascou. The two men spoke into one another's ears. Bascou nodded, his eyes on the ground until suddenly they flicked up and locked onto Jhoqo, who nodded. Adeenya glanced over her shoulder one last time and saw that Bascou was speaking to one of his men, while Jhoqo was nowhere to be seen.
She scanned the dispersing crowd for Taennen and spotted him walking away. He nodded for her to follow, and she did. The durir had not struck her as the sort for secrecy, so she knew it must be urgent. She fell into step behind him.
'I'm to join the Chondathan on another patrol,' Taennen said without looking at the woman.
'How many soldiers on the patrol?'
'Eight of ours, plus me, the Chondathan leader, and however many of his men he takes,' Taennen said.
'You have a plan?' she said.
Taennen grinned but his eyes were sad. 'Not as such.'
Adeenya forgot her response when she heard a low humming sound that caused the insides of her ears to tremble and her jaw to clench. She thought the ground itself might shake, and she remembered stories of buildings collapsing and cracks forming in the ground beneath people's feet. She stopped and watched a nearby building as a guide. It did not move, nor did she, but still she vibrated, and the pressure in her ears grew. The confused look on Taennen's face told her that she was not alone in noticing the unusual sensations.
'What could that-' she started.
'Come on,' he said, dashing toward the prison cells.
She ran to catch him. He barreled past the soldiers guarding the prison building and disappeared into the darkness of the room beyond.
'Cease!' she heard Taennen say from inside.
She heard a grunt followed by a muted growl as she plunged into the darkness. Her eyes slowly adjusted to
