by RJ Metcalf
“Zane. Yes. Yes, I saw the note you boys left me. Thank you. Uh.” Finn turned to gesture at the kitchen door. “Garnet is looking for you to tell you I’m here.” He turned back to his friend.
Zane had stepped away, leaning back slightly, eyes narrow in appraisal. He crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. “You’re far too jumpy for just a break-in. Come on.” He motioned to the central table with the half-eaten plate of food. He dropped into his chair and looked up at Finn. “Catch me up on what happened.”
“Actually, if you don’t mind, I’d prefer a more private location. A corner, perhaps?” Finn suggested.
Zane nodded as if Finn’s request was expected. He jumped from his chair and scooped up his plate and mug in one smooth movement, glancing around the room. He dipped his head to the corner furthest from the fireplace. “Corner booth. It’s by the entrance hallways for those staying here, but it’s also an available route for a hasty getaway. It’s also by the kitchen doors, and there’s a bit more shadow to sit in. You can sit and see the front door. I’ll watch the exits.”
Impressed, Finn nodded and followed the Monomi. Before they could sit down, both Garnet and Zandra came out of the kitchen, joining them.
“I couldn’t find you in the back, and then I see you out here with Finn already!” Garnet scolded Zane with a shake of her head, red ringlets swaying from the motion. “I really shouldn’t be surprised though. Zandra said you were likely sneaking about.”
Zane smiled and winked at Garnet. “Not sneaking about at all, m’lady. Merely checking the building for anyone who shouldn’t be here.”
“Uh-huh.” She exchanged looks with Zandra and shook her head, her cheeks pink. A small smile played her lips. “A likely story.” Garnet turned to Finn suddenly, clapping her hands together. “Finn. I glowed Slate, he should be here soon. Can we get you anything to eat or drink while you wait?”
“Whatever the cook is making right now would be fine, thank you,” Finn replied graciously as his stomach rumbled in hunger. Zandra bounced towards the kitchen.
Garnet nodded, as if pleased with his answer. “If you need anything at all, let us know.” Pity crossed her face and she touched Finn’s arm. “We heard about your house, and we want to help get things right again.”
Finn swallowed hard, thinking of how it was so much more than just his house that he’d lost in the last week. “Thank you.”
She pulled out her pocket watch and sighed. “I need to run errands for the inn, so if you need anything, write a list for Zandra, and we’ll see it done. I’ll be back in a few hours, and then we can catch up.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Finn’s heart throbbed at how her smile echoed with similarity to Maria’s. He reached out, keeping the bag with the sleeping Raine opposite of Garnet as he pulled her in for a one-armed hug. “I appreciate it.”
“Of course! Anything for a family friend.” She leaned in and kissed his cheek, then backed up, rubbing her lips. “Did they steal your razor?” She teased. “I can pick one up if you need.”
“Why not.” Finn’s laugh had a slight choked quality to it, but it was genuine. Being around Connor’s friends hurt, but it was a good pain.
“What? I don’t get a goodbye kiss too?” Zane protested with an indignant scowl as she turned to leave. She laughed at him, tossing a wave over her shoulder as she winked at Zane and sauntered away.
Zane’s eyes lit up and he sank into the seat, a pleased smirk stretched across his face.
Finn lifted the flap on his worn bag, confirming that Raine was still asleep and doing fine. She was curled like a little bug, her knees drawn up and one arm crossed over her chest while she sucked her thumb, her chest rising and falling with her steady breathing.
“So, Finn,” Zane began conversationally. He gestured at the seat across from him. “Your house has been broken into, you nearly manipulated fire—I saw that, you know—you wanted to sit somewhere more private, and you’re holding that bag like it holds something precious.” Zane leaned back in the booth, arms crossed. Speculation gleamed in his eyes. “What’s going on?”
Finn opened his mouth to reply, then spotted Slate walking in the door. Finn waved and Slate jogged over, dropping into the booth beside Zane, who scooted over.
Slate leaned over the table, his cheeks flushed and his typically immaculate hair windblown. “Finn. I’m so sorry. I don’t know who did it yet, but we’re investigating and searching for any leads. We’ll let you know as soon as we know a hint of anything. I’m so sorry you had to come back from vacation to find this and—” Finn held up a hand to allow Slate a breath from his rambled greeting.
“First, hi Slate. Please breathe; it’s recommended for longevity of life. Second, it’s not your fault. Third, Zane just asked me about my bag, and I’m going to answer him, now that you’re here.” Finn forced his words to be calm despite his dancing nerves. The longer he sat in public, the more nervous he felt. It was going to be difficult, staying in town with the feeling of being targeted.
Slate glanced at the satchel with a quizzical expression. “What about the bag?”
Finn carefully lifted the bag in question and set it gently on the table. He slowly slid it across to the guys. “You were right Zane. It is very precious cargo to me.” Zane lifted the flap and glanced in, freezing a moment later. He stared in the bag for a long minute before turning to Finn, questions dancing in his eyes. Slate glanced in a moment later with nearly the same reaction.
“Meet Raine. My granddaughter and only living family,” Finn stated simply.
Color drained from Slate’s face, leaving him sheet-white as he clutched at the table, swaying. Zane’s eyes narrowed and he stilled, utterly focused on Finn.
Finn swallowed hard, his eyes on the bag. “To make a long and difficult story as short as possible, Connor and Maria’s house was attacked four days ago by five men. Raine and I are the only survivors. We came home and discovered that home is no longer safe.” He looked up over Slate’s head, scanning the room. “I’m looking for somewhere safe to hide for now, but I need to stay here in town.”
Slate’s mouth opened and closed silently.
A tall man in a white top hat entered the pub and sat down in the booth behind them, his back to Slate and Finn. Zandra appeared a moment later and talked to the man before moving to their booth.
“Your food is almost ready, Fi—”
Finn interrupted her before she could say his name aloud. “Is there a more private location we can talk?”
Zandra glanced at Slate and Zane, taking in their expressions as she nodded, her stance shifting from her characteristic bouncy barmaid persona to something else. She straightened, and her dark eyes roamed the room as she dropped her voice when she replied, “Yes. Follow me.” She waved to the other barmaid and made a motion that made no sense to Finn, but the other nodded, the skin around her eyes tightening momentarily. Zandra stepped back, blocking them partly from the sight of the customers in the inn to let them slide out of the booth. Finn picked up the bag as gently as he could while still trying to maintain a nonchalant facade.
Finn and Slate paused in the narrow hall to let Zandra pass them. She led them silently down the hallway for those staying in the inn, Zane bringing up the tail of their group. Reaching the end of the hall, she fished a small key out of a pocket, unlocked the room and pushed it open with one hand. She gestured and followed the men in.
The room was simple, yet clean. A single bed with a crimson bedspread took up the center of the space, and a washbasin and pitcher on a dresser sat in the corner by the window. A closed door by the entry was what Finn presumed to be the lavatory. Zane sat on the edge of the bed, fingers pressed together as he watched Finn.
Zandra closed the door and crossed her slim arms as she looked at the three men, her stance wide. “Alright. What’s going on?”
Finn sighed and looked at Zane askance. Did he really want to get his friend’s younger sister involved in this? He pressed his lips together when
Zane nodded to his unspoken question.
Finn quickly repeated what he’d told Slate and Zane, this time mentioning the paperwork and stolen stone—omitting what they were for, let alone the significance of the ring he now wore. During his re-telling, Slate turned away to look at the wall, shielding his face from them.
Zandra waited for him to finish talking before she spoke. “It’s too dangerous for you to return home.”
“Agreed.” Slate didn’t turn around as he rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet, agitated.
Finn nodded. “That’s three of us. I need to find somewhere to stay for a day or two while I find a new place to live in.”
Zane looked up at his sister. “Zandra?”
She was already nodding and reaching out, handing Finn a small key—the same humble key she had used to open the room for them. “You’re staying here while you figure out what your plan is. This room is available, and the girls working here can help as babysitters for you whenever you need. Free food, it’s owned by Madame Stohner and run by us Monomi. It’s the safest place in town.”
Finn raised his hands and shook his head in protest. “No, I cannot accept. It’s dangerous. I haven’t told you the other thing I found.” He sighed and pulled the half letter out of his vest. “I sincerely doubt this is what it seems to be. If this was truly done by orders of the royal family, I suspect they’d be much more subtle about it.”
How he’d find a place to rent that was out of the royal eye was going to be a headache for later.
Slate turned and plucked the paper out of Finn’s hand. He flipped it over, saw the crimson seal, and sat heavily on the bed. “This is Richard’s seal.” Disbelief colored his words.
Zane reached out and took the envelope, examining it.
Slate looked up at Finn, his eyes red rimmed, the emotions on his face warring between anger and fear. “What in the Void is going on? I can’t believe he’d be behind something like this.”
“Of course he isn’t.” Zane’s voice was calm, but dark with anger. He held the envelope in his hand, angling it this way and that, as if able to discern the truth from just looking at it. “I doubt it was anyone in the royal family. Who would be foolish enough to use the royal seal?”
“Richard has been irrational lately, but he’d be more likely to hire Finn, not kill him.” Slate popped off the bed and started pacing. “It makes no sense.”
Zane shook his head and tapped the envelope against his charcoal gray pant leg. “Richard wouldn’t be stupid enough to use his seal. I’m guessing someone wants to set him up.” His lips flattened. “We can test if it’s real or not.”
Finn blinked at the Monomi. “How?”
“Do you have a match?” Zane asked instead, his face serious. “I need fire. And all of you need to swear to not let this secret leave the room.”
Curiosity burned in Finn as he pulled out a match and nodded to Zane. “I know how to keep secrets.”
Zane waited for Slate to also voice his assent before he accepted the match from Finn and lit a candle that Zandra held out for him. He picked up the cream-colored envelope and held the wax seal over the flame. “If it turns the flame blue, the wax and seal are from the royal family, not an imitation. But I expec—” he cut himself off and stared at the blue flames licking at the wax. “Bloated whales,” he swore softly. “What the Void.”
Apprehension snaked tendrils through Finn’s veins. Why would the royal family want him dead? Could it still be a setup, just more elaborate? Finn curled his fist to shrink the fire to nothing, then blew on the wax to cool it rapidly. “Well. Now we know. Thank you, Zane, that’s a secret I wasn’t aware of.”
Zane scowled as he handed the partially burned envelope back to Finn. “I just don’t understand the connection. We’re missing something here.”
“Now that you’ve seen that, you have to understand why I don’t want to risk you or those working here by endangering you with our presence.” Finn addressed his words to Zandra. “And I can’t take a room when you’re about to be hit with the busy season with that discus tournament around the corner!”
Zane shook his head. “No, this is definitely the safest place for you right now, possible royal threat or not. Zandra is just as good as I am, and every Monomi working here is armed, whether you see it or not. The crowds will make it easier to hide you here.” He gave Finn a no-nonsense scowl that forcibly reminded Finn of Zane’s father, Zebediah. “You’re staying here.”
Finn sighed and opened the pouch on his hip. “Fine. But not for free. How much?”
“Free. Garnet ordered that we help in any way we can, and this is a way we can help.” Zandra shook a finger at him. “No protests. Just accept it.”
“Accept it or you’ll come with me to the barracks.” Slate rubbed his face and looked at Finn with naked sorrow in his eyes. “Don’t argue it. I’m not about to lose you too.”
Mounting arguments died on Finn’s tongue and he nodded. “I accept then. Thank you.” A whimper sounded from his bag, and Finn lifted the flap to see Raine’s big eyes staring up at him. He lifted her out, cuddling her close as he looked at Zandra. “If anyone here needs a healer, please, come to me. I want to be of use to you.”
A grin softened Zandra’s hard eyes. “Deal.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small pad of paper, placing it on the nightstand. “Please write two lists. One for the guys to get whatever you need from your home or shop. The other list is for me, for whatever you need me to get for Raine. We’ll be your hands and feet while you lie low.” She moved to the door. “I need to go help Katrina, and your food is probably ready by now.” She paused and gave Finn a tender smile. “I’m sorry for your loss, Finn.”
“Thank you,” he whispered before looking around the room, feeling a tickle in the back of his throat as the emotions of the last few days started to hit now that he was somewhere safe. “If I could just have some time to rest for a bit, I’ll get those lists to you soon,” he said to Slate and Zane.
“Of course.” Zane stood from his perch on the edge of the bed. “We’ll be out in the pub.” He clapped a hand on Finn’s shoulder before walking out, leaving Slate and Finn alone in the room.
Slate swallowed before he spoke, voice rough with emotion. “I’m glad you made it, Finn. We’ll figure out who this is. I promise.”
Finn reached out and pulled Slate into a tight hug, feeling his heart shatter, wishing that he had been able to hug his own son one last time. “I know. We’ll find them.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Cole
Cole whistled as he stepped over the threshold and into Vincent’s home. A pine staircase led up to a matching balcony and a cathedral style ceiling. The floorspace seemed to stretch endlessly with two doorways leading out to opposite corners, and a quick glance around Vincent revealed a third doorway with a glimpse of a kitchen beyond.
“Nice place.” Cole shoved his hands into his pockets as Vincent closed the door. “Seems to be missing some furniture though.”
Vincent’s lips twitched in a humorless smile. “I need the space for later.”
“Oh?” Cole followed Vincent into the kitchen and raised his eyebrows at the long counter and many cupboards. “Just how much lut do you make as a dragon purveyor? Living in this neighborhood and in a house this size has to cost you a small fortune.”
Vincent pulled two glass mugs from an open shelf and poured water from the cooling box into them. He shrugged. “I have a wealthy benefactor.”
“Benefactor?”
Cole accepted the offered mug and leaned against the unpolished wooden counter. He crossed his ankles and sipped the cold drink while keeping his eyes on his fellow collaborator.
“There are those in Aerugo who also have an interest in seeing a more stable king ruling as their neighbor.” Vincent’s casual reply contrasted with the gravity of his words. “I’ve been gifted with funds to help us accomplish this goal.” He gestured toward the large empty room by the front do
or. “Having so much floor space will be useful when we need more men.”
“Aerugo?” Cole clenched his fists. “Just what is that country playing at? If they sent bombs and tech to the Reformers in Selvage, and now this?”
“Different people, I’m sure,” Vincent assured as he poured his own drink. He lifted in silent toast to Cole before sipping the water. “There are many different factions in Aerugo, each with their own agenda. It would be unthinkable, if the same Aerugans who funded that ambush on your men were also funding this.”
Vincent’s words only slightly soothed Cole’s concern. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to take a calming breath before focusing on something else Vincent had said. “And you mentioned more men?” He hated how he echoed so much of what Vincent said. But this was all new to Cole, cloaks and daggers in the dark. It wasn’t simple and straight-forward, and he missed that familiarity at times like this.
“Indeed. It will be useful to have a distraction when we enter the palace, and we’ll need more than just a handful of us when we go in.”
Well, that was true enough. There was no way they’d be able to last against the palace guard just the three of them. Cole grimaced. He didn’t want to face down Slate. Maybe he could convince his friend to take the day off, whenever they decided to strike.
“Thinking of the palace—” The front door opened and Cole cut himself short. His fingers caressed his sword hilt until Roney strode through the doorway, sunlight streaming in through an overhead window and glistening on his darker skin.
Roney dipped his head in a greeting and flashed a tight grin. “Good news. Jake and Ozly may want in on the action.”
“Excellent.” Vincent’s long ponytail bobbed as he nodded. “We can include them for our inside strike team.”
“Yeah, about that,” Roney blocked the doorway as he leaned against the doorframe. “How are we getting in the palace without anyone knowing that we’re in?”
“I may have a solution to that.” Cole strode over to the dining table on the other side of the counter and pulled out a chair to plop into. He cracked his neck. “Slate Stohner. He’s an old friend, one of the royal guard and Sapphire’s older brother.”