Milna Lithe had done some terrible things for him since she came into his service. Like him, she’d been an orphan and also like him, she had drive. Fortunately, she did not want rank or power. Merely a chance to hone her skills and recognition of her successes directly from the Lord Marshal.
The price was small considering all she’d accomplished and what she suffered for him. During one particular assignment to deal with pirates preying on their borders, she had found herself at their mercy for three days. They’d scarred her, cutting her face on the left cheek and forehead.
When she broke free, she slaughtered the lot of them, torturing their leader to death. Severan found it shocking they had caught her at all until he discovered she’d been betrayed by one of their own intelligence officials… a man desperate to acquire the resources the pirates had stolen in an effort to promote his house’s interests.
Milna had killed him too, and since then she had worn a hood in anyone’s presence but the Lord Marshal. She entered his office quietly, taking a knee with her head bowed. Her blonde-white hair was swept back into a ponytail, shaved on either side. Pale skin leaned on the side of unhealthy, made more stark by her black cloak, shirt, and leggings.
She remained armed, wearing a knife on the left and a pistol on the right. Milna had been one of the only people he allowed to carry weapons in his presence. It was a sign of trust for her, something she valued far more than any riches or accolades. This was just one of their unspoken arrangements.
“Thank you for coming,” Severan said. “I hope you’ve rested since your last assignment.”
Milna merely nodded.
“I have a new assignment for you. It may be more challenging than any of the others.”
“I live to serve.” Milna’s voice was soft; little more than a whisper. He had to lean close to hear her at times.
“Have you kept up on intelligence briefings? The secret ones?”
“I have, my Lord Marshal.”
“About the Prophet?”
Milna stiffened, nodding again.
“Then you know we have yet to discover his location or the people who aid him. He has evaded our soldiers for too long. I have to take drastic action if I want to capture him.”
“You wish me to locate and terminate?” Milna didn’t look up.
“I’m afraid it will not be that simple.” Severan turned away, looking out the window. He knew that deep in the capital, near one of the administrative buildings, a crowd had gathered earlier in the morning. They had raised a protest, crying out for reforms they had no right to demand. His people had broken them up.
All part of the Prophet’s plan, I’m sure.
“You cannot kill a man like the Prophet.”
“A blade or blast will silence him, My Lord,” Milna said. “The repercussions will be simple enough to contend with. Simply slaughter those who rise in his place. Show the people they cannot take matters into their own hands. That they will not be tolerated. Make their deaths public. It will make a statement.”
“Is it the one we wish to stand behind?” Severan asked. “And how many of our civilians must we destroy to restore order? The lives of a few are meaningless, but some of those in the street are older. They have children in the military. People they care about. That they want to come home from the wars. No. We cannot take such a heavy-handed approach.”
“Forgive me,” Milna said, “but I do not know what it is you wish me to do then.”
“You’ll be in a difficult spot. Time is of the essence but you won’t be able to rush this. You must infiltrate the organization organically. Convince them. Do whatever it takes.”
Milna finally looked up at him, her gray-blue eyes wide. “How far do you mean for that to go?” The scars on her face didn’t mar the sort of dangerous allure to her but Severan knew his opinion was singular. Many considered her wounds disfiguring. It made it difficult for her to blend in; to live outside solitude.
“All the way. Nothing is off-limits. Know that you will have to be completely on your own. No backup. No support. And if you run afoul of our soldiers, they won’t hesitate in their effort to stop you. I authorize you personally to deal with them as you need. Under no circumstances must you be captured. Do you understand?”
“It may be required,” Milna replied. “In order to sell a cover. But I understand what you mean. I will do everything I must, my Lord Marshal. When am I to begin?”
“You’ll know when.” Severan approached, touching her cheek. “For now, return to you home. Rest. This is the last time we’ll speak until you’ve succeeded. Good hunting. Be well.”
Milna stood, bowing at the waist. She didn’t say another word. Just turned, boarded the elevator, and departed. Severan watched as the doors closed. His shoulders slumped. He had only three such operatives. Putting one out in that way hurt. He had a bad feeling she may not survive.
So many things can go wrong. He sat at the desk, staring out the window. She’s one of the few people I can trust to pull this off. I have to believe. Part of him wished Renz had been more like her… perhaps not as blindly obedient, but as efficient. Quiet. Thoughtful. He would’ve been such a force to be reckoned with.
Severan hoped Renz might surprise him in the end. When he returned with the data, after finding out why it
