Dark Allegiance

Chapter 8

EIGHT

Andy strode toward the front gate, a frown creasing his brow as he watched the mercenary commander, Isaac Smith, exit his four-wheel-drive.

‘What happened?’ All the garbled radio communication had said was that the mercenary was returning and that the matter was urgent.

‘Where’s Justice?’ Smith asked. ‘I have something for her.’

‘She and Captain Kyle are on a supply run. They should return soon.’

Smith grinned. ‘Excellent. Then she can make sense of this.’ He turned to his vehicle and thumped on the side. The rear door slid open and two mercenaries hopped out. One of them leaned in and helped another person exit the vehicle.

The figure was swathed in a brown robe with the hood up. As one of the mercenaries took his arm and led the newcomer forward, the monk lifted the hood back and revealed a travel-weary face. He sagged and would have fallen if not for the firm grip the mercenary had on his arm.

‘Found this guy walking beside the road between here and Harlington,’ said Smith. ‘He stepped into the middle of the road, right in front of me, and I nearly hit him. When I got out to yell at him, he told me I needed to bring him to Justice.’

Andy’s mind whirled. What was a monk doing looking for Justice?

The question must have been in his eyes as Smith shrugged. ‘Your guess is as good as mine. Other than demanding I bring him here, the crazy old fool hasn’t said a word.’

Not sure what was going on, Andy stared at the monk. ‘Who are you? What do you want with Justice?’

‘My business is with her, young warden. Not you. Not him.’ He indicated toward Smith with a nod of his head. ‘Only Justice.’ The monk’s voice was hoarse, saturated with weariness.

Andy frowned. ‘Now listen here—’

‘Lieutenant Jensen, shame on you. Can’t you see our guest is about dead on his feet. The questions can wait until after he’s fed and rested.’

A flush warming his cheeks, Andy spun around to find Felice staring at him, hands on her hips and a wry smirk curving her full lips. There was a challenge in her gaze, one that had him flushing even more.

He crossed his arms and lifted his chin. ‘I am in charge of base security while the captain isn’t here.’

‘I doubt one monk is going to endanger the base, especially when he is surrounded by soldiers.’ She gave Andy an arch look before stepping forward and clasping the monk on the arm. ‘Let’s get you settled in while we wait for Justice and the captain to return.

The monk gave Andy a slight nod, a faint smile curving his lips, before he limped along with Felice and the mercenary. Andy watched them walk away, his gaze on Felice’s back, her ponytail swinging with each step she took.

Smith chuckled as he clasped Andy on the shoulder. ‘So much for you being in charge.’ Then he strode off after the trio, the remaining mercenary staying with the vehicle.

Andy followed Smith, wondering what this old monk had to do with Justice. If previous events were anything to go by, things were about to get interesting.