Book 4: The Cost of Secrecy

Finn

A couple of days, Kieran said when we left. We’ll be in Tansy Beach for a couple of days, maybe a week. Enough to get the soldiers settled, to make sure they actually tried peace like they promised, to be certain they have the military capabilities to not simply get our people killed. When I walked away from my second encounter with Xander, I was counting on those few days. An escape.

Now, somehow, a week has disappeared, and my brother hasn’t even mentioned leaving.

Honestly, I should’ve known this would happen. Dun’s Crossing still outstrips nearly every other kingdom in terms of sheer military force and prowess, even this long after Father’s death. Since Kieran doesn’t have any plans toward world domination, he’s started taking on problems like this—ones more military might solve, if applied right. I may never be the same after our fortnight freeing Yewbrush Stream from the so-called “Solberg Purists,” who believed Kieran had falsely claime