Chapter 6 · The Commander’s Badge

"Put her on her knees, Commander, or move aside."

Lieutenant Rusk shoved the courier toward the execution block.

The man hit the stone hard. Blood ran from his split lip and dripped onto the black iron drain between his hands. Three officers stood behind Rusk with drawn blades. More soldiers crowded the yard, watching Evelyn like she was already dead.

Cedric stood between them and me.

His coat was open. His jaw was tight. One hand rested near the pistol at his hip, but he hadn’t drawn it yet.

That was the problem.

If he drew, the officers would call it treason. If he stepped away, Rusk would put a blade through my throat and another through the courier’s chest.

I kept my wrists loose behind my back. The rope around them had been cut hours ago, but no one had noticed. Or they had noticed and wanted to see what I did next.

Rusk pointed his sword at the courier. "He crossed the eastern line with stolen orders. He killed two sentries. He belongs on the block."

"He was carrying a sealed dispatch," Cedric said. "Not a weapon."

"He had a knife."

"Everyone in this fortress has a knife."