PART 5
Fiona’s eyes snapped to me.
“Something funny, Jocelyn?”
“No.”
“Then why do you look like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like you know something.”
I leaned back.
“I know a lot of things.”
Arthur’s voice hardened.
“Jocelyn.”
Fiona laughed softly.
“Oh, let her talk. She’s probably about to explain how supply inventory prepared me for sniper school.”
A few guests laughed.
Donovan did not.
Malcolm did not.
Fiona tilted her head.
“Go ahead, Joce. Tell everyone what part of the course I’m remembering wrong.”
I looked at the badge.
Then at my father.
Then at Donovan.
“Wraith never congratulated candidates on natural talent,” I said.
The tent went quieter.
Fiona’s smile thinned.
“How would you know?”
“Because Wraith hated that phrase.”
Arthur snapped, “Enough.”
I ignored him.
May you like
“Natural talent gets people killed,” I said. “Discipline keeps them alive.”
And for the first time that night, Fiona looked scared.
