Neversfall - Ed Gentry [28]
"They are all similar to this one?" Jhoqo asked.
"Some less suited for soldiers, sir" she said, kicking one of the storage lockers.
Jhoqo grinned and gave a nod. "Civilians must sleep, too, or so they tell me, daughter."
"Even snakes sleep, sir," she said.
Jhoqo raised an eyebrow and watched her for a long moment. Adeenya chided herself for giving in to the desire to peck at the man, but she did not look away. To her relief, Jhoqo walked out into the courtyard, motioning for her to join him. They walked in silence for a few moments, passing another small building on their way to the towers.
"You found nothing on your sweep of the exterior?" he asked.
"Nothing, sir," she said.
He held her gaze a bit longer before speaking, "I need to know that you and your people are with me," he said without looking at her.
"Of course, Urir. We are with you."
He nodded. "Together we can make this work. You know that, right?"
Adeenya gave her assent and smiled. While his eyes were upon her, she saw in them warmth, but something else hid in his gaze. Something she had seen often in her father.
"Neversfall will be a bastion of mercantile wonders, Orir. We will usher into this wild land a new age of trade and success," he said, his smile widening.
"Prosperity would be excellent, sir. The local people are having a rough time right now."
"Exactly why this place, this citadel, is needed."
"Yes, sir," she said.
He stopped and looked hard at her. "Do you not see it? The daughter of the greatest of Durpari sellers does not see it?"
She arched an eyebrow and pursed her lips. "See what?"
"This will be the finest Southern achievement of the century. Look over there." He pointed to an empty spot in the courtyard. "That's where we'll put a meeting hall for all the chakas represented in Neversfall." He pointed to another vacant spot. "And there will be the best faukri you've ever tasted, served by some overlooked chef in Assur who will find his second chance here."
The man's enthusiasm was hard to resist. He practically shone with excitement as he described his vision of the place. However, her reservations were strong, and she doubted the transformation would be as easy as the man beside her made it sound.
"Then there is much work to do," she said with a slight smile. "Many monsters to slay, if all of these people are to be safe."
The smile slid from Jhoqo's face, but he nodded. "Yes. To work, then. Please work with Loraica to sort out sleeping arrangements. Let's mix the troops so they can come to know and rely upon one another even more."
"I will use that building," Jhoqo said, pointing to a small structure near the center of the northern half of the housing area, "as my command office. Find me there when things are more settled."
Adeenya saluted and took her leave of Jhoqo. She cast her gaze around the courtyard looking for Loraica. She was not surprised to see the massive woman already making use of the training yard at the back of the citadel. A handful of Maquar and Durpari gathered to watch the woman spar with two men.
Loraica held a wooden falchion in her right hand and a medium, square shield in her left. The Maquar she faced off against was a large man with a wooden practice halberd, while the Durpari man wielded two long wooden swords which he twirled in a showy display before moving to his left to attempt to flank the Maquar terir. Loraica did not move. Her arms were taut with preparedness and her face serene.
The Maquar soldier pitted against her nodded to his Durpari counterpart and, with a guttural bark, swung the