Page 54 of Shadowborne: Reckoning

“Benji, there’s something else I wanted to discuss with you—a new responsibility for you, if you believe you can handle it.”

Benji straightened from picking up a strap that had slipped off the harness as I’d hung it up in the stable, his expression solemn. “I can handle a lot.”

I offered what I hoped was a soothing smile. “I don’t doubt it—but this is… sensitive. And might be dangerous.”

“I’ve been in danger before. I can do it.”

I was surprised to find he didn’t say that with the sullen obstinance of a child, but with the firm belief of a young man who’d faced hardship.

I tilted my head to regard him. “Benji… I believe I’ve been somewhat remiss in not asking you your story,” I admitted. “I’ve been a bit consumed with everything else that’s happened. But I want you to know… if you need a listening ear, I am better at it than it might appear.”

His ears went red and he looked away, scratching the back of his neck. “I’m okay.”

“You’re doing very well here. But there is a great deal we’re asking of you. I want you to be sure you don’t have to face it alone.”

“Thank you.” But he wouldn’t meet my eyes.

I sighed, but I remembered Kgosi and what he faced with the dragons. I couldn’t force him to speak. “Well, we have another problem to tackle. A new challenge that has arisen since we’ve arrived in Fyrehold. And it involves… a need to assure ourselves of the loyalty of certain persons here.”

Benji frowned. “We wouldn’t expect Fyrehold people to be loyal, would we? Except—do you mean friends?”

“This person is not from Fyrehold. They are a Furyknight, and they have arrived here unexpectedly. That may or may not be suspicious. But I have devised a way that you could help me be sure.”

Benji’s eyes went wide and he looked around the stable as if to be sure we were alone. “You think you have a traitor?”

I tried to remain casual, but the word echoed in my bones.

A traitor to honor, absolutely. To Vosgaarde? Possibly.

“I don’t know. Which is why I need to check. We can’t always know a man’s secret motives.” Benji looked alarmed, so I hurried to reassure him. “People will always claim to be our brothers—but some lie. And sadly, the best liars are the easiest to believe. I don’t wish to put anyone in harm’s way, so it’s my responsibility to determine if this man can be trusted.”

“Man? Do I have to fight him?”

“No, no,” I chuckled. “But you may have to lie to him.”

Benji’s lips twisted. “Lie to help find someone who lies to hurt?”

“Yes.”

He nodded solemnly. “I’d like to help find liars.”

“I thought you might. It will involve a different sort of work—with people, rather than dragons.”

Benji looked wary. “I don’t want to stop working with the dragons.”

“You won’t, I give you my word. This is an additional task. So, it will mean more hours working in a day.”

Benji huffed. “There’s not a lot of hours working here. I get bored. That’s fine.”

“I’m glad you see it that way. In that case, walk with me. I’ll explain what we need…”

Late in the dead of that night, I slipped silently out of bed, leaving a sleeping Bren curled up on her side. It was so hard not to touch her, not to pull her close. But she’d worn the nightdress to bed again, and avoided meeting my eyes when we returned to the room after an exhausting banquet in which we’d stayed stone-cold sober, but the nobles—including Hanson—and Ruin, plied each other with drink.

My body was exhausted, and clearly Bren was wrung out. We’d both fallen into bed and held each other to sleep.

But now… now my body ached for her as I woke and slipped out of the covers and through the chamber, to the clothing I’d left on the chair. Not flying leathers, though it would make the trip cold. But a noble’s cloak with a deep hood, and the buff trousers and leather boots so favored here.

If I was seen tonight, I didn’t want to be recognized.