Free The Crimson League (The Herezoth Trilogy) by Victoria Grefer

After Kora set it on her head, amazed at how it itched, she put her orange wrap back on and went to grab fabric of a different color.
    Bennie went brunette for the day, and Kansten chose a wig a shade or two darker, and much longer, than her actual blonde locks. Menikas’s hair turned black; it made his skin look pale. Lanokas wear no wig at all, but a hat similar to Laskenay’s. So did Neslan. Ranler was the only Leaguesman who did nothing to change his appearance.
    “Hey you,” Sedder greeted Kora. Her jaw nearly dropped to look at him. He was in a shorn brown male’s wig, a different style from the one the day before, and he looked…. He looked nice. Elegant. Longer hair brought out his eyes, and made his cheekbones more pronounced. He drew her aside.
    “Don’t forget about that shield you summoned yesterday. Use it if you need it.”
    “I will,” said Kora.
    “Be careful,” Sedder told her. “And change that bandana, it looks awful.”
    “That’s why I came back in here. What do you think? Blue?”
    “Brown,” said Sedder. He handed Kora a length of cloth. She had never seen his lips so thin.
    “I’ll be fine,” she assured him. “The League knows my limitations. I talked to them yesterday, when you were off with Bennie. Look, Sedder, I’m taking this dead seriously.”
    Immediately, Kora regretted her choice of phrasing. A shade of color faded from Sedder’s cheeks, and he said, “You’re the most responsible person I know. I trust you won’t do something stupid, but that doesn’t guarantee…. Just be careful, all right?”
    Kora took him by surprise in a loose, one-armed embrace. “You already told me that. I’ll be careful, I promise. But what about you? Take care of yourself. I expect you to be waiting when my group gets to Yangerton.”              
     
    * * *
     
    Noon had nearly arrived when Kora, Menikas, Lanokas, and Ranler drew within sight of the makeshift base. The elite guard had requisitioned an old farmhouse past the hills, one almost falling apart. The roof was missing shingles and the walls’ brown paint was flaking off, revealing a blackened white coat beneath. “There shouldn’t be many men here,” Menikas whispered. “They’re out looking for Kora. Which is why,” he tossed as an afterthought, “she really shouldn’t be here.”
    Lanokas said, “She is here, so let it be.”
    Kora felt her resolve wane. The crossbow she held ready fell to her side. She knew her voice was weak, but could not strengthen it. “I didn’t ask to come. I was told to. Laskenay told me to, and you agreed.”
    Menikas countered, “I agreed too soon. The guards will want nothing more than for you to make their lives easier by paying them a call. You know what they think you are?”
    Kora adjusted her bandana. Lanokas glanced worriedly at Ranler, and told his brother, “Let it be. We’ve a job to do. She’s been no liability up to this point, has she?”
    If the conversation confused Ranler, or piqued his curiosity, the man kept his reaction to himself. He seemed nothing but anxious to move on, and whispered for the brothers and Kora to follow him.
    They crept down low, following the path that gave the most cover, moving through overgrown weeds. The most direct route it was not, but the safest, yes, assuming they met no snakes in the growth; Kora tried not to think about snakes. When they reached the last stretch of land, they were facing the back of the house Zalski’s men had commandeered. The closest wall had a barred door and two square windows, large ones, one of which held broken panes.
    “That’s our in,” said Ranler.
    They had one last stretch of grass to cross, grass tall enough to hide them if they crawled. Kora went last. She felt awkward clasping a crossbow, forcing herself onward with her elbows, but exhilarated as well. She succeeded in forgetting the snakes; no panic gripped her heart. She found she was alert and thinking clearly, two things she never