The Unbroken C. Clark (best books to read for self development .txt) 📖

disappointed with herself. “I don’t have any evidence. It just feels like it. Call it intuition. I do know my father,” she said darkly. “You can look into it if you want to.”

Luca took a shuddering breath. Cantic, who hated Beau-Sang and had practically frothed when Luca installed him outside of the military’s control, would have to hunt down that evidence. The governor-general that Luca herself had chosen, against Gil’s warning. Killing Lord Governor Cheminade would have opened the way to his placement. She didn’t want to believe she’d fallen into someone else’s elaborate plan, but what if she had?

She certainly felt trapped. With the public announcements and the eyes of the Balladairans, especially the nobles, on her, she felt like she didn’t have a choice but to see this through. She couldn’t afford to be mistrusted and disregarded right now, not with Qazāl in such a fragile state. Not when she was this close to losing the city already.

“Your Highness?” Aliez twisted her empty cup while she searched Luca’s face. It was as if she’d finally remembered whom she was talking to.

“Mademoiselle. Thank you for bringing me your concerns.” Luca set her cup on the table with finality and stood, signifying the end of their chat. “I have a lot to consider, you understand.” By which Luca meant she was going to swing that damned rapier back and forth until she collapsed and couldn’t think about everything crumbling to shit around her.

Aliez followed suit and curtsied prettily, but her face echoed the pain and frustration in Luca’s heart. “Thank you for your time, Your Highness.”

Adile made to show the young woman out, back into the waiting sunlight, under which all their troubles were bared. Luca looked back at her fencing sword and glove. She could be finished practicing for the day.

“Mademoiselle. Aliez. I find that a walk often cleanses the mind.” Luca followed her outside, squinting at the bright sky.

Aliez smothered a giggle with a pale hand. “You’ve been spending time with Sonçoise de l’Ouest, haven’t you?” She smiled ruefully. “I would enjoy the company.”

“So would I.”

After taking a turn around the Quartier with Aliez, Luca’s mind was “cleansed” enough to come to at least one decision. She spent the evening asking herself, Who is closest to the conflict? Who walks with it through the streets?

How many times had Touraine told her the Sands were always at the front?

And if the Sands were at the front, they would see the most. Luca knew just whom to send for.

When Lieutenant Pruett arrived at the compound the next morning, Luca tried to put Aliez’s revelations about Beau-Sang aside. If he was behind the assassination, to deal with him would take resources she didn’t currently have. Luca invited Pruett to take a promenade around the top of the compound walls, with Gil and Lanquette following behind. From that height, the desert scrub stretched toward the south and east until it rose into dunes. Toward the north, they could see the sea, a blue stretch beyond the Quartier.

Luca and the lieutenant walked the rampart with cool cups of avocado juice sweating in their hands. At the first sip, the lieutenant shivered in delight.

“It’s good, isn’t it?” Luca smiled, as if they weren’t both remembering the last words she’d spoken to Pruett at the main guardhouse in the city.

Pruett smiled with closed lips. “Delicious.”

Luca waited until they passed the soldiers at the southwestern corner before speaking.

“How are your soldiers finding the situation in the city?” Luca had not gone back since reports of the first hints of discontent had come in. Gil had forbidden it; it wasn’t worth the risk. Guérin was too near her memory for her to argue.

Lieutenant Pruett’s eyes barely lingered on Luca before casting back out over the wall as if she expected an attack any moment.

“We’re holding well enough. Captain Rogan has us on double guard shifts, everyone. With the other guardhouse platoons, we can cover most of the city…” She trailed off.

“Yes?”

“If there’s gonna be a riot, Your Highness, it’s not coming from the sky-falling Qazāli.”

Behind them, Lanquette cleared his throat roughly.

Lieutenant Pruett smirked and took a delicate sip from her juice. “Pardon my language. All I mean is, your Balladairan civs aren’t too good at telling the difference between my soldiers and the rebels. Things might get messy if this food business doesn’t get sorted soon.”

“You are still well fed, aren’t you?” Luca looked meaningfully at the other woman. She wanted to let the threat linger. “If you need further provisions, write directly to me.”

Pruett raised an eyebrow but nodded. “To what do we owe this kindness?”

Luca smiled tightly. “It’s my duty to make sure my soldiers can do their jobs, not a kindness.”

“And our job?”

“Do you have any idea who’s doing this? What’s causing this?”

“Huh. It’s just animals, isn’t it?” Pruett raised her eyebrows in mock surprise. “Inept Qazāli farmers not keeping hold of their herds, the broadsides said.”

“But if it isn’t,” Luca said sharply. “If it isn’t, I want to know who and I want to know how.” She softened. “I know this must be difficult. I’m asking you to turn on your people.”

The lieutenant grunted. “They’re not our people, Your Highness. Not anymore. And anyway. It’s not food we’re hungry for.”

“Then what are you hungry for?” Luca asked. “The pay raises weren’t enough for you? You seem to be enjoying your new uniform well enough.”

The soldier stopped midstep and looked down at herself. The horror blooming across her face like spring tulips set a smile growing on Luca’s. The new uniforms weren’t quite as well made as Touraine’s had been, but they were a far cry from the scrap material their regular uniforms had surely come from.

“You’re welcome,” Luca said.

Pruett’s nostrils flared. “Your Highness.” She ducked her head once then looked away, intensely focused on the vista beyond the wall.

And then, inexplicably, Luca felt ashamed. Touraine had accused her of buying away her guilt over Guérin’s injury. This wasn’t much different. Luca hadn’t