Chapter 67

BLAKE

The next day, I checked Charlie’s schedule and saw he had patrol duty. He’d be doing a twelve-hour overnight, from four at night to four in the morning. For these assignments, warriors normally went out in groups and rotated throughout the night in two-to-three-hour shifts, taking turns keeping watch while the others slept. I snuck out of the packhouse a little after four while Jasmine was working upstairs in the office we’d set up for her.

I made my way to the eastern border, where Charlie was stationed that evening, pulling up to the patrol station in my car. When I exited, I asked the senior on duty, an elderly warrior close to retirement named Fred, where Charlie was.

“He took one of the new recruits out for some training. Told me she needed some one-on-one attention. Nice girl. Comes from a good family. I see them at temple every week,” Fred replied.

“Any idea where Charlie took her?” I asked.

“I saw them head over in that direction.” Fred pointed toward the forest.

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