Colonel Zilabeka composed himself, turned back, and forced a faint smile. "I'm fine. Just tired. We've barely slept for days while hunting that woman."
"Right!" Rondok agreed. He could tell his superior did not mean it, but a subordinate knew when to play dumb. Otherwise, he would never earn his superior's favor.
Colonel Zilabeka fell silent. Inside, he was in agony. As Arolinka's comrade, he had never imagined he would one day watch her beheaded—by the man she had once loved, no less. It felt like a nightmare. He wanted to scream, to gather Arolinka in his arms, to do anything that might ease the pressure in his chest.
But Zilabeka knew he could do none of that. He had to act as though nothing was wrong.
Vakarant did not know Zilabeka, but Zilabeka had fought beside Arolinka through life and death, and he knew all about Vakarant. He knew how the two had met, grown fond of each other, and parted ways... right up to this reunion, when Vakarant had killed her with a single stroke of his sword.
Long ago, Zilabeka had sensed that covert agents like them rarely met a good end. They were killed by the enemy or by their own side. He had always assumed he would die first. He had never imagined Arolinka would go before him.
A moment later, the pain and dazed look in Colonel Zilabeka's eyes hardened into resolve. He seemed to have made a decision.
"Duke Vra," Zilabeka said in a low voice, hatred flashing in his eyes. "It seems I really do have to take the final step. You hid it well, Duke Vra, but you can't fool me. You're the real Mastermind. You want the throne. You want to return to the Main World and seize the Lorenzo