One of the many offshoots of the Graz River forced travelers to venture around it rather than over it due to its width. There were spots that weren’t so deep, but given that most traveled with large wagons, much like our current group, crossing it on foot wasn’t advisable. This wasn’t knowledge I had firsthand, but rather what I’d gathered over the years from traveling merchants who visited our farm to sell my father seeds, tools, and other necessities. But this was information Vagach would possess as a Kormánzó.

Sweat broke out on the back of my neck.

“It’s been years since I went to the spot, but there is a point that is crossable on foot. Though the wagons might struggle depending on the flow of the river. I would advise you to continue along the main road, the one you used when entering the region,” I said, keeping my gaze attached to the map to hide my nervousness.

“But you could lead us to the location?” Jaku clarified.

Fuck.

“I could, but it’s been so long, I’m not certain I could find it again,” I protested, my voice sounding weak and nothing like Vagach. I held my breath hoping that he wouldn’t say–

“Great, it’s decided then. We’ll ride toward the Vago River and Vagach will help us find the point to cross. It will shave days off our riding time, and we have none to waste.” Jaku rolled up the parchment while I stood there, mouth slightly agape. Then he flicked his attention between me and the plate Izgath had handed me. “Are you going to eat that?”

I looked down at the food in my hands. “Uh, right, yes, I am. Do you mind if I sit?”

He shot me a quizzical look, running his fingers along a carved piece of his breastplate. “A Kormánzó asking permission to sit at my table?”

My stomach knotted. Vagach wouldn’t have asked, he simply would have done it. An awkward pause followed while I desperately wracked my brain for words to smooth over the situation. “Aye, Százados, I am attempting to act in the spirit of our brotherhood and respect your position as my commander.”

Jaku snorted and shook his head. “You don’t have long, but use the table while it’s still here.”

I smothered the full-body tremble that wanted to escape as Jaku departed with Uzadaan. They were going to discover my identity at any moment with how I kept fucking up.

I have to do better.

Despite my anxiety, I wasted no time tucking into the food as two other males entered the space and hefted the trunk between them. By the time they returned for the cot and the table, I’d eaten every crumb of bread, slice of cured meat, and scraps of cooked vegetables on the plate. All the while, Izgath had watched me, picking food from his teeth with what looked like a stalk of wheat.

“Is there anything else that needs to be done before we leave?” I asked him as we narrowly avoided a falling tent pole.

“Nope, this is the usual camp morning. It will get easier as we start to work as a unit. At least for now, we’re able to move faster than we would as a whole squadron,” he shrugged, and I glanced around, taking in the utter chaos of it all.

“Can you explain the army structure? I don’t want to look ignorant in front of Jaku again,” I admitted. Vagach should know this, but if Izgath wanted to know why he didn’t I could find an excuse.

Izgath glanced at me, hesitating for a few paces before finally answering. “Well, currently, there are two Hadvezér, or generals if you want to call them that, who each control a different part of the army. They both report to the Halálhívó.”

“The Halálhívó?” I clarified, my brows furrowing.

“Aye, the Kral’s cousin. Besides the Kral, he’s the most powerful Demon in existence. How have you not heard of him?” Izgath questioned, cocking his head to the side.

Vagach certainly would have, and I kicked myself for letting my mouth run the show instead of my brain. “Oh, of course I know who he is. It is early,” I said with a dismissive wave, trying to pass off my forgetfulness on the hour.

Izgath’s eyes narrowed a fraction. “Each Hadvezér has six Parancsok, and each Parancsok has six Százados, and each Százados has six Vezető. In Jaku’s case, it’s me, Uzadaan, and Dromak. Gnim and Grex went to the other parts of your vidék to recruit. And he has you too, now, I suppose.”

“What happened to your sixth?” I asked, pausing to let a group of males carrying tents under both arms pass by.

“He died.” Izgath’s mouth flattened, and his steps hitched for a moment before smoothing out again.

“I am sorry. The war or the plague?” I ventured, since either was likely given his position.

“Both. The plague swept through our battalion so quickly, and we were forced to retreat and leave thousands of infected behind to save ourselves,” he responded. We’d reached the horses, and those with mounts had already started leading them toward the main road. Pairs of thick beasts stood stoically as harnesses were attached to them, securing them to the supply wagons. Izgath studied them for a moment, then barked an order at two males who had fastened the harness upside down.

Once they’d gotten it straight, he sighed. “He was my brother, and he was fond of horses. Always looked after them, especially after the battles.” He ambled toward the riding ones, picking up the reins of his dark bay mount. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to share that much.”

Hearing the pain of his loss brushed against my slashed and bruised heart, causing an ache of my own to blossom there. Empathy reached in his direction before I could stop myself. “It sounds like you two were close.”

“We were.” The words stretched between us, and I found myself studying Izgath as intently as he had been studying me. Like Dromak and Uzadaan, he left his arms bare, only his chest covered in molded leather. Where Dromak was thick, Izgath’s muscles were lean, and they rippled as he lifted a hand to his head and smoothed back his hair. The long parts were secured in a knot on the top of his head, while the sides were shaved close like Dromak’s.

Finally, Izgath lifted his gaze to meet mine. “You are easy to talk to, you know.”

My stomach turned over, and for a moment, I wondered if his magic could cut right through mine and if he knew that I wasn’t Kormánzó Vagach. I brushed him off. “It is my duty.”

“We should get moving before Jaku throws a fit,” he muttered, slipping the reins over his mount’s head and hauling himself over his broad back. He didn’t wait for me to respond before spurring his horse forward. Scanning the area for Blaeze, I found him already saddled and waiting among a few dozen others. After giving his nose a nice long rub, I mounted him, pausing to survey the clearing.

All the tents were absent and packed into one of the supply wagons, leaving only trampled grass behind. A few singed spots told a story of where the fires had been. The sun dappled the muddy earth and the packs hoisted on hundreds of backs as they trekked toward the road that ran parallel to the Graz. I followed the trail of bodies out of the woods, watching Izgath’s straight posture intently. As if he sensed my attention on him, he glanced over his shoulder, offering me a sly smile before turning forward again.

I didn’t know what to make of the male. A tension lay between us, one I couldn’t quite put my finger on, and yet I couldn’t force myself to look away from him despite knowing it was in my best interest to do so. Relations between males wasn’t uncommon, as many ended up mated, but Vagach was far less attractive than half the villagers and even fewer of the original squad.

I would have to keep my eye on Izgath and uncover what had him equally as interested in me.

Jaku, Uzadaan, and Dromak waited alongside the road, and Jaku’s horse shifted beneath him as if he wanted to race to the front and lead the charge forward. Izgath and I joined them, watching the group pass by in silence. I glanced at the sky, noting the dark clouds hovering to the north, as if they were a harbinger of what was to come. Three black crows cawed, startling me from my examination, and with a flurry of wings, they raced from over my head and toward the bloated clouds.