The woman dropped her travel pack to the ground with a heavy sigh and moved her shoulders around as she sat down beside Gaius.

“You wouldn’t be looking for a sword for hire, would you?” she asked.

“Sorry, no.” He had more than enough swords at his disposal at the moment.

“Thought I’d at least ask.” She held up a small pouch, offering the jerky within.

Gaius shook his head and stared off, trying to again focus on dealing with Didacus and finding Vateria. How was he ever going to find Vateria?

“What about Annwyl?”

Gaius blinked. “Pardon?”

“Queen Annwyl. Is she looking for a sword for hire?”

“Oh.” He gave a little laugh. He was so tired these days, wasn’t he? That was the only thing that could explain . . . forget it. “Uh . . . sword for hire? Probably not. Loyal soldier? Yes. Annwyl’s always looking for those.”

“Does she pay well?”

“Well enough, I’m sure.”

The mercenary pulled out the sword she was offering for hire and he cringed at the sight of it.

“Oh, come on,” she laughed. “It’s not that bad.”

“It’s awful,” Gaius disagreed, reaching out and running his hand over it. “The edge is dull and it’s rusted. Perhaps you should join Annwyl’s army just so you can get a decent weapon.”

She studied the blade. “It’s served me well, though. Over the years.”

“I’m sure it has, but sometimes things that have served us well need to be retired.”

“Good point.” She studied him for a long moment until she scrunched up her nose and asked, “Not to be rude, but . . . are you all right?”

“I’m fine. Just a lot on my mind.”

“Aye. I understand that. World is changing. Not for the better.”

“It’s not that bad. I have hope all will work out.”

“That’s rare.”

“What is?”

She smiled. “Hope. Not a lot of people have that these days.”

“Well . . . that’s what their leaders are for. To give them that hope.”

She snorted. “You serious? Do you think the leaders of this world give a shit about us?”

“They have to. Their people are their responsibility. A responsibility most have willingly taken on their shoulders in the hopes of making the lives of their people better.”

“Not all of them are like that, though.”

“No. But then it’s up to the rest of those leaders, who do care, to deal with the ones who don’t. A leader has to care for the people. The state. The Republic.”

“You sound like one of them Sovereigns.”

Gaius smirked. “I like their philosophy.”

“A reader, are ya?”

“I am. But I never saw that as a flaw.”

She laughed as Brannie walked up to them. She nodded at the woman by Gaius’s side before she said to Gaius, “Caswyn’s back. So whenever you’re ready.”

“I’ll be right there.”

Brannie started to leave, but abruptly stopped, glancing at the woman next to Gaius. She gazed at her a moment before shaking her head and walking off.

“Do you know my friend?” he asked the woman.

“I’ve seen her around. Besides,” she teased, “I have a face that’s very familiar.”

“No, you don’t.” They both laughed a bit and then Gaius stood. “It was nice meeting you.”

“You too.”

With a nod, Gaius started to follow Brannie. But he just couldn’t. Not until he fixed it. The problem just ate at him!

He walked back to the woman and pulled his gladius from the scabbard at his side. “Here. Take this.”

She reared back a bit, staring at the sword. It was of the highest quality. One of the royal blacksmiths had made it exclusively for Gaius. But honestly, he just couldn’t let that mercenary go off with that rusted piece-of-shit blade she had.

“I—”

“Don’t say you can’t. Just take it. I can get another.”

“If you’re sure.”

“Don’t test me, woman. Just take it.”

With a shrug, she took the blade from his hand. “That’s very kind of you.”

“Yeah . . . well . . . whatever.”

“You know,” she said, running her hand over the weapon, “I think I’ll just deal with all this head-on.”

“Deal with what head-on?”

She shrugged. “Life. I keep searching. Keep looking. Trying to solve old problems. Instead of going for the problem sitting right in front of me. Understand?”

“No.”

She chuckled. “Yeah. Guess I’m babbling. It just . . . it seems that sometimes, you’re dealing with the old, instead of facing the new. And when you do that, your old enemy comes up right behind ya and leaves you dead in the dust.”

“Secure him!” Brannie yelled, and Gaius turned to see if he could make out what was going on a few dozen feet behind him. Sure everything was fine with his team, Gaius turned back to the woman—but she was gone.

Gaius turned in circles trying to find her, expecting to see her walking off somewhere, but . . . no. She was gone.

Perhaps he should have hired her. A woman who moved that stealthily would be a definite asset.

Gaius returned to the others to find his cousin awake but finally subdued enough to no longer be fighting his captors.

Once he was standing in front of Didacus, Gaius just stared at him. What was he doing? Why was he wasting any more of his time on this? Eight months and he’d found out nothing about Vateria. And all the while, the curse of Chramnesind continued to spread over his lands.

The problem sitting right in front of him.

Aggie? Gaius called out to her.

Gaius! Is everything all right?

Yes. I have Didacus.

He heard his sister’s snort in his head, could imagine her dramatically rolling her eyes. So?

Exactly. I fear, sister . . . I fear I will never find Vateria. And I’m thinking maybe we should no longer be bothering.

Aggie was silent for a bit before she replied, Before you left, brother, I would have punched you in the throat for even suggesting we let her go. That we not find her.

And I would have let you, he answered.

But I’ve got the Senate on my ass; Aunt Laetitia going on and on about the Gabinius family and how they’re becoming a problem—and they kind of are; the grain imports are low this harvest, which means overpricing from the merchants; and there’s something unclean in the water . . . so I must deal with that.

Gaius grinned. You’re enjoying it all, aren’t you?

I am. To be honest, other than worrying about you looking for Vateria, I haven’t thought about that slit in ages.

Good.

Besides, we might have a bigger worry.

Which is?

Rumor is that Annwyl has successfully pushed the killer Chramnesind cults out of the Southlands territories . . . and right into ours.

Balls.

Exactly. I have several legions out looking for—

No. Call them back.

But—

Trust me. They tried the same thing with Annwyl. Pulling her army apart. Then they’ll strike. So pull our legions back.