Chapter 22: First Blood, Part 1

They traveled for a week in relative peace—if squabbling with Mahzan, resisting an urge to smother Cemal, and strenuously avoiding Binhadi counted as peace. Sule was a soldier, long-used to living in close quarters with others—while managing to keep his secrets, no less. No soldier loved it, but they all grew accustomed or they simply did not last long in the army.

Still, he would swear that all the army combined did not snore half as loud as Cemal. The king was not as arrogant and commanding as Binhadi. He had seen fresh soldiers on their first leave who behaved better than Mahzan.

He almost sighed, but bit it back because it would provoke Mahzan into saying something obnoxious, and he really preferred to enjoy the silence while it lasted. They had been on the road ever since leaving the Broken Monastery—