Mucking horse stalls, gathering chicken eggs, and milking cows, I've spent three days playing Basecamp's newest farmer. The work is backbreaking, and the smells have me gagging more than once a day. But despite my less than comfortable condition, I've done every damn thing Kyron has ordered through Greer, Ulric, and Terro.

I turn my filthy face toward the dark gray clouds pouring rain and let it wash away the mud clinging to my cheeks. My eyes flutter shut, and I spread my arms to the side while holding a bucket filled with spoiling fruits and vegetables. The rush of water over my dirty, heated skin becomes the most enjoyable thing I've experienced since arriving here, and I'm thankful for this small grace.

I'm snatched away from my small bliss when something rams into the back of my knees. The pale flies from my hand, and my palms smack to the ground, sliding forward. My face plants into a thick, smelly pile of mud. I whimper from the sting in my knees and lift my head. Slicking back my muddy hair, I watch a big plump swine meander to where his friends snort down the slop.

"Impatient assholes!" I growl, spitting mud and limping out of the pen.

"Are you all right?"

I lift my head to find Leif standing under the tin eves of the feed house. He holds an umbrella and not a hair is out of place. Mortification washes over me; of course, someone had to bear witness to the pigs getting the better of me. I can't help but to feel that every task I've been given is to enhance my chances for embarrassment.

Joining Leif, I drop onto the bench outside the feed house door, and my shoulders slump.

"Where have you been?" I ask.

He sits down next to me and scrunches his nose before scooting away. "They've kept me busy."

"You mean Kyron has kept you busy."

I've not seen Leif since the day he left me in the general's office. From sunup to well past sunset, I'm kept busy with essential tasks that are nothing more than random trials. I have no doubt I've proved my ability to take orders and follow through. My first day at Basecamp was the one and only time I failed to do what Kyron and his officers demanded of me. It leaves me to question if I will ever get the chance to train or am I just as caged as the animals.

"My job isn't an easy one, Elle. I'm woken up in the middle of the night, the hours are long, and..." He takes in my scowl and sighs. "Sorry."

"Everyone has to start at the bottom, right?"

He rubs the back of his neck and examines the tips of his boots. "Yeah."

I nudge his shoulder with mine, leaving a smudge of dirt on his olive-green coat. "Hey, I'm working my ass off for this. I just hope my siblings can convince my mother to hold off telling Micah until I can make it happen."

Leif props his elbows on his brown leather-clad knees and rests his chin on his knuckles. "I can't believe you still want to do this? I mean, look at you," he sweeps his hand up and down and curls his lip, "and what are you wearing?"

"Other than pig shit? My uniform. They ran out of my size." A tinge of jealousy courses through me; Leif looks like a force to be reckoned with in his officer's jacket with brass buttons and his rank pinned to the collar. How can anyone take me seriously when I'm sleeping with the pigs and don't smell much better?

Leif gnaws on his bottom lip for a moment before standing. "Go back to your barracks and take a shower, and I'll meet you at the supplies station. We'll find you a fitting uniform."

"They've not assigned me to a room yet."

Leif stops and spins on his heels. Bright red crawls up his rain covered face. "What do you mean you haven't been given a room?"

"I guess there's no space for me. I keep asking and waiting, but I've been sleeping in the stables."

"Get up and let's go."

"I'm not done feeding the animals."

"As a superior officer, I'm ordering you to stop what you're doing and come with me."

"If Kyron gives me shit for this, I'm going to kick your ass."

Leif grabs my hand and pulls me behind him. "Fuck Kyron."

Our first stop is the supply station where I'm issued five new uniforms, several pairs of undergarments, and a brand-new set of boots. I follow Leif through the streets, crowded with soldiers, horses, and wagon stacked with boxes of necessities. We reach one of the many enormous log cabins housing the soldiers, and he yanks open the door. The communal area is made up of worn couches, round tables with abandon card and board games, and a wall of overflowing bookshelves. We climb the rustic staircase in the back of the room and stop at the end of the second-floor hallway.

Before opening the door to his room, Leif commands me to strip and dump my old uniform into a waste bin he holds open. After a moment of hesitation and ensuring no one will catch me wearing nothing but my undergarments, I agree. Knowing how finicky my best friend is about the cleanliness of his space, I tiptoe through his living area. Two overstuffed chairs sit in front of a wood-burning furnace and tucked in the corner is a small dining table. The door to his bedroom is open and inside sits a tidy bed which snuggly sleeps two, a chest of drawers, and a nightstand.

Leif opens the washroom, and I almost drop to my knees at the sight of the copper tub. He pumps the lever on the wall, filling it with water, and leaves me to soak off the grime. I sink into the lukewarm water and scrub my body and hair with soap smelling like eucalyptus and cedar. Never have I been so grateful for a bath.

When my skin prunes, I dry off, slip into my new uniform, and enter the living area.

"Come eat," Leif says, pointing to a bowl of soup and a loaf of bread across from his own on the table.

I slide into the chair and shovel the warm vegetables soaking in broth into my mouth. As gratitude spreads through me, my muscles relax, and I focus on the taste of my hot meal. I've never gone without, never had ill-fitting clothes or missed a meal because there was no food. The Statera has blessed me in countless ways, and I'll never take the necessities I have for granted again.

My spoon hits the bottom of my bowl, and I smile at Leif. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." He pushes the rest of his soup toward me and stands. "I've got something I need to take care of. When you're done, meet me at my office and I'll show you to your quarters."

I nod and dig into his food.

It's not long before I'm left with another empty bowl and a full stomach. I slide on the cropped jacket which matches my brown leather pants, stopping to admire the uniform in the mirror next to the door. My clean hair looks like a cinnamon pastry rolled into a neat bun at my nape. The freckles that sprinkle cross my nose and cheeks are no longer covered under smudges of dirt and my brown eyes dominate my round face. I pull loose the leather string at the base of my neck, deepening the neckline of my cream tunic and adding a little flare to it. The military attire is drab and nothing like the fine clothes hanging in my closet at home, but it's better than mud covering me head to toe.

I hold my head high as I make my way down the street. For the first time since arriving at Basecamp, I feel as if I blend in with the other soldiers. My new confidence boost even gives me the courage to nod in greeting as I pass others. When I reach the hub, I yank open the door and march toward the back of the building.

The soldier standing guard at the hallway stretches an arm to stop me, but I walk around him, saying, "Captain Stone is expecting me."

"But you can't—"

I dismiss him with a wave and head to Leif's office. His door is open, and I peek inside. A desk with a map spread out over its surface and four chairs surrounding it sit in the center of the room. Two bookcases overflow with books about military strategy and past wars. No personal touches and no Leif.

Stepping out of the office, I meander down the empty corridor. My hands slide into my pockets, and I keep a mindful eye on my surroundings. Leif couldn't have gone far, but I'm nervous someone will catch me before he comes back. As I grow closer to the end of the hallway, muffled voices catch my attention. I pause at the double doors of the general's office and contemplate turning around. It's not until the cool surface of the door brushes the side of my face that I realize my body made the decision for me.

"You are overstepping your bounds, Captain."

"She was filthy, and her clothes didn't fit. She was covered in pig shit. Did you know she's been sleeping in the stables? Since when is it all right to let someone in your keep sleep in the fucking stables?" Leif bellows.

I should turn around and return to my best friend's office. Leif will tell me what has him heated with Kyron later, but the crack between the two doors lures me in. Holding my breath, I peek inside to find Leif stands before the general's desk. Kyron leans back in his chair, his fingers stippled in front of him. The tension in the room is thick, like I should chew the air instead of breath it in.

The general's dark eyes boar into Leif, and he hisses, "I advise you to step down."

"I advise you to take better care of your soldiers, General!"

Kyron slaps his palm to the top of his desk and jumps to his feet. "Not everyone in this camp has the luxury of sitting behind a desk and contemplating war strategies, Leif. The soldiers who fight alongside me have endured a hell of a lot more in a single hour than she has in three days. If she wants to fight with my regiment, she will earn her place amongst them or go the fuck home!"

The men remain in a standoff, jaws clenched and bodies rigid. Leif sucks on a front tooth and takes a small step back. His submission seems to appease Kyron who eases back into his chair.

"This discussion is over unless you would like orders to go before the king for insubordination," Kyron coolly says.

"At least get her out of the stables. She doesn't deserve to sleep in there."

The muscle in Kyron's cheek ticks. "Fine, move her into the room next to Greer's and get the fuck out of my office."

I push back from the door and tiptoe down the hall. Leaning against the wall next to his office, I examine my nails and pretend I have no clue of what transpired.

Leif charges out of Kyron's office and slams the door behind him. He spares me a glance and breezes past me. I push away from the wall and match his stride.

"Don't pretend like you weren't eavesdropping. It's not in you to keep your nose out of things," he says.

"What brought that on?" I ask.

"Shitty leadership."

"I didn't know you had the authority to talk to higher-ranking officers like that."

"I don't."

"All the same, you were pretty badass in there," I say with a weak smile.

"We will see how I feel after he makes me pay for it during physical training tomorrow morning."

My gut wrenches at the thought of Leif getting in trouble because of me. The last thing I wanted to do is make his life difficult. Although Basecamp is different than the capital, Leif enjoys his time here. He's worked hard to get to where he is, and I hate to think I'm setting him back.

"If it is any consolation, you did get me a room next to Greer's. I'm sure that will be torturous for me."

His lips quirk to one side, and he shakes his head. "Just be thankful you aren't sleeping with the pigs."