Her Graceful War Song (Carissa Sinclair) novel Chapter 540

On the evening of June eighteenth, the ten men raised their coarse cups that were filled with cold water. For years, they hadn't had coffee or a drop of alcohol.

In the border city, coffee was a luxury they couldn't afford. And though cheap, they didn't dare touch the local wine. They feared that even a single sip might lead them to reveal their identities in their drunken state, which would lead to their doom.

The only time they had bought alcohol was when they learned about the deaths of Hector and his six sons. Even then, they hadn't drank it, but instead poured the liquor onto the ground in tribute to their fallen leader. That night, they had spent hours sobbing under their blankets.

But they were only allowed a single night of mourning. The next day, they had to dry their tears and continue their perilous journey, as the Southern Frontier had yet to be reclaimed then.

After the Southern Frontier was recaptured and Victor brought his troops to the border city, it became impossible for the Septimus Tetra reconnaissance team to send messages. Crossing the border had also become exceedingly difficult.

Previously, they had mingled with convoys carrying food and goods to Simonton City to deliver intelligence. Now, they couldn't even manage to blend in and escape.

After Starhaven reclaimed the Southern Frontier, they spent their days trying to find a way to escape. They had run all over, which led to Law being captured.

Law was likely subjected to severe torture after his capture, but he never betrayed them. Otherwise, the Sandorian soldiers would have already found them. Law's resolve was unyielding, preferring to die rather than surrender.

The men of the Septimus Tetra reconnaissance team weren't afraid.

Kicking off their sandals, all ten of them bent down to put on the new shoes they had made themselves. They shed their ragged clothing and donned their new clothes, which they had sewn from black cloth they had bought.

They had once been soldiers who fought on battlefields with swords and knives, so how could they have any skill in sewing? Yet, over the years, they had been unable to afford ready-made clothes and had to make their own from scraps of fabric. Having asked the local old women for advice, they had all gradually learned the craft.

Once, they had no weapons. They had come out of the prisoner camp with nothing, their clothes torn to shreds from beatings. After several years of hardship, they now possessed their own reliable swords. When not on intelligence missions, Tom and Law led the group deep into the mountains to practice their skills.