Benjin
The army had been marching for a day, but it felt to Benjin like weeks. He’d gone on plenty of marches before, but never any this long; most of the ones he’d been on had lasted a few hours, limited to the outskirts of Haidan Shar. Now, they were far beyond the border of their once-sleepy fishing town.
“How much longer, do you think?” he whispered to Thyst, hoping that the footsteps of the army would prevent any words from reaching the captains leading the formation.
“I don’t know, but we have to stop for rest soon,” she answered. Adding, “Don’t we?”
“No,” boomed Captain Jahaz without turning around. “We don’t. We march until we’re where we need to be.”
Benj felt his cheeks flush with embarrassment. He hated to look weak in front of his captain.
Fortunately, Thyst disagreed with Jahaz.
“That seems stupid,” she said flatly, taking the heat off of Benj and placing it on herself instead.
This time, Captain Jahaz did turn to look at them.
“Does it now?” he asked. The chainmail coif that he wore over his plated armor allowed him to turn his head just enough to glare at the pair of them. “And I suppose you’d handle it differently if you were queen?”
“I would,” Thyst replied. “What’s the point of getting somewhere fast if you’re exhausted? What if we have to fight right away? Everyone will be thinking about wanting to rest instead of focusing on the battle at hand. Sure, we get there on time, but at what cost?”
Benj could scarcely believe his ears. He gaped at the girl in front of him, barely able to keep his feet moving in time with the rest of the army.
“She makes a damn good point,” laughed one of the captains beside Jahaz. The lead captain turned his head to look at him instead.
“Quiet, Zheyo. I don’t need you questioning tactics we’ve used for generations,” Jahaz said. Adding, in a sharper tone, “This isn’t battle school anymore.”
Zheyo chuckled but didn’t retort.
Maybe Thyst had the right idea. Maybe it was a good thing to question tactics. “That’s how we’ve always done it” didn’t seem like a very good reason to keep doing something.
Benj kept that thought to himself. He was just an armiger, for now. Maybe someday, when he proved himself worthy of a commission to be an officer, he could question things, but he had no intention of rocking that boat any sooner than it needed to be rocked.
Thyst clearly saw things differently.
“I think it’s perfectly valid,” she objected, putting more than a hint of authority in her voice.
Then, to Benj’s horror, Captain Jahaz called the entire army to a halt then and there.
So this is how my friend dies, he thought. Executed in public.
He suddenly felt the urge to kiss her. Maybe he would die a virgin, but that didn’t mean both of them had to.
“What is the meaning of this, Captain?” said Queen Lena from up ahead.
She was striding toward them, massive sword strapped to her back, with its edge trailing above the ground.
“It appears we have some dissenters,” Jahaz replied. “Go ahead,” he said, turning to Thyst. “Tell her.”
Benj couldn’t see Thyst’s face, but he guessed it was frozen in fear. She wasn’t saying anything.
“Go on,” Zheyo said. “It’s a fine idea.”
Thyst stepped out of formation and, with perfect discipline, marched up to the queen and saluted.
“Your Grace,” she said. “I questioned the tactic of marching straight there instead of stopping to rest along the way. And I—”
The queen cut her off. “Questioning orders?” she asked. “My orders? You walk a dangerous path, young armiger.”
The two of them were standing in front of the army, and Benj had the best view out of anyone. He was right there, and could see every movement and every facial expression. He thought it was curious, then, that the queen didn’t look angry.
She looked impressed.
“Tell me,” the queen went on, “why you think we should alter our course. And tell me what you would have us do.”
“I would have us stop for the night,” Thyst said, gesturing to the encroaching dusk. “We have enough men to stand watch with no problem. Have them sleep in shifts. The rest of the army can get the rest they need and be fresh tomorrow when we arrive.”
Queen Lena, much to Benj’s surprise, smiled.
“I think that’s a fine idea. What did you say your name was, young armiger?”
“Thyst—I mean, Amethyst. Your Grace. Amethyst Al’miera.”
“Well then, Amethyst, who is your captain?”
“Captain Zheyo,” she replied, pointing at him.
The queen shot a look at the now-smiling captain. “Of course. That makes sense. Well,” she said, looking back at Thyst. “You and Captain Zheyo are invited to dine with me tonight. And any guests that you see fit to invite. Now,” she said, turning to Jahaz, “I believe we have a camp to make.”
Jahaz acknowledged her with a salute and barked orders to his men.
This was not at all how Benj had thought the night was going to go.