by RJ Metcalf
Zane slipped the dark ring on his hand, hiding it under the finger cutouts of his leather gauntlets. It blended into the black of his gloves. Zane fingered it for a moment, his face drawn as he considered Finn’s words. He looked up. “I assume this will require a phrase or action to activate?”
I hate leaving work like this for the young kids to do.
“Yes. If the barrier has only been harassed, it will be sufficient to just bring this near it. But if the keystone has been destabilized at all, you will need to sacrifice more. Blood. Your blood. Traditionally, it was expected that if the use of the ring was needed, the wearer would slit the palm of the hand or a finger to wet the stone and activate it.”
Granted, that was all theoretical, as they never tested the rings after they were made. But Finn was confident in their magic.
Zane pressed his lips together as he nodded. “Thank you for the honor of trusting me with this.” He knelt, one knee on the floor, right hand pressed against his heart, dark head bowed. “I will protect this ring and the barrier with my life. I swear on it.”
A chill shuddered through Finn. “I pray you will never need to keep that oath, my friend.”
Zane looked up with a crooked grin. “Me too.” He stood and gripped Finn’s shoulder. “Now you start packing. I want you safely out of here as soon as possible.”
Chapter Forty-Six
Cole
The timing really couldn’t be any better, Cole reflected. He shifted and rested his gloved hand on his hilt as he walked, reducing the muffled clanks it made as he threaded his way through the crowded street toward the Crimson Hawk.
People scurried about, no one wanting to linger in the crisp, cold air. Winter’s fingers had begun their creeping grasp, starting with overnight frost, and though the first snow had yet to fall, it felt like it could happen any day now.
Cole hoped the snow would hold off till after their coup. Trying to hide their tracks in the slush would be impossible, and the white stuff would add a whole new layer of complications. He sighed and ran a hand through his short hair.
He probably should come up with a contingency plan, just in case of winter weather. It wasn’t common, but nor was it uncommon. And it would be just his luck.
The discus tournament had ended two weeks ago, and with it their greatest cover for bringing men into the city. It had been a phenomenally smooth operation, bringing in men from Vincent’s military town in Aerugo, as well as men from dissenting Doldran neighborhoods and villages. They scattered most the men throughout the city, dispersing them as much as possible so as to not draw attention to themselves, but a good chunk of the men stayed at Vincent’s otherwise empty house. One more week, and their work would be done.
Roney worked with Cole’s help to smuggle a handful of weapons from the Eastern Command to the men, filling out the rioters’ ranks to be sufficiently menacing. Once Richard was gone and Brandon had command, Cole would point out the missing weapons to Captain Jennings and suggest they put in a pitch for more weapons.
It would’ve been too risky to let Slate know the details: arming men and encouraging a riot. So Cole kept those specifics to himself. It was too perfect, having Slate working for them. They couldn’t risk alienating their best source of information. Especially now that Slate had mentioned a secret passage that they’d use, though he’d refused to show it in advance. He’d let them in, open it to let them out, but he wouldn’t reveal anything more than he had to.
“Only to take out Richard,” Slate kept repeating.
It annoyed Cole to have to keep reassuring his friend, but he understood Slate’s hesitance. He was officially an accomplice to a plot to assassinate the crown prince. Slate wanted Richard out of the picture, but he still stumbled over the words “assassination” and “coup” or anything of that nature. Cole didn’t want to risk Slate changing his mind last minute. As it was, Slate insisted that they try to avoid killing any of Richard’s guards, and that they only assassinate the prince.
How that was supposed to work, Cole had no idea.
There was no way he’d risk Slate finding out now about the plan for Rupert and Victoria. If he knew that the goal was more than just Richard … but it wasn’t like Slate would be able to report them now. Not without incriminating himself and being tried and executed for treason. Still, keeping him in the dark was best.
Slate’s idea was mentally filed under “details” that Cole hoped wouldn’t pop up. If Slate asked too many questions, if he hesitated at the wrong time … Well, as much as Cole respected their childhood friendship, this was more important. Sapphire being safe, the queen the country needed, that was a much higher priority. If Slate didn’t survive to the end of the day, so be it.
Cole was too tense, too nervous, and too excited for a better future to even dream of backing out at this point.
Very minor details still needed to be hammered out, but all in all, it was a straightforward plan. Start a riot with Vincent’s hand-picked men from Aerugo at the front of the palace, meet Slate, get inside, take out every royal family member except for Brandon and Sapphire and Adeline, and disperse as quickly as possible.
Simple.
Then the people of Doldra would be free from the poor leadership of the elder three Doldras.
Everything depended on timing. Cole’s men couldn’t mess up. Sapphire and Brandon were going to be out of town, according to Slate, and that was the one window for this all to go down, as far as Cole was concerned. They had to be confident everything was ready.
Cole pulled open the door, warmth spilling across his face as he stepped into the familiar pub. He suppressed a shiver as his body transitioned from the cold to heat and waved when he spotted Zandra. She nodded in acknowledgment and gestured to his corner booth where he could spot the back of Vincent’s head.
He strode over and dropped into the booth, pleased when Zandra popped over a moment later with a hot mulled ale for him.
“You men really like it here, don’t you?” she asked with a smile as she plunked a still-sizzling plate of roasted potatoes down between them.
Cole inhaled the aroma and shot her his best dazzling smile. “Your charm keeps bringing us back.”
Vincent rolled his eyes as Zandra shook her head at him and said, “Nope, only Roney can get away with saying silly things like that. You should know that by now, Cole.”
Not too put out by her turning him down, he grinned and shrugged. “Worth a shot.” She shook her head at him again as she sauntered away.
Cole turned his attention to Vincent, the man’s pale skin slightly tanned—evidence of him being out so much, making subtle connections and plans that Cole didn’t have the time for. Vincent’s eyes were unreadable as he sat silently. He had become more taciturn at each meeting, and Cole could only suppose that his friend was thinking of every possible angle—what could possibly go wrong and how to counter it.
Void knew that was all that consumed Cole’s thoughts these days.
Half the plate of potato wedges was already devoured by the time Roney showed up. Cole snatched another wedge as Roney sat down, eyeing the food.
Vincent didn’t wait for Roney to settle in. “One week. Are you both ready?”
Cole twirled the still-warm wedge of potato in his fingers. “Yes. As ready as we can be at this point. I just need to double-check the schedule for the guards inside the palace and we’ll be set.”
Roney nodded. “The handful of your men that needed help are taken care of. Everyone I’ve talked to is just ready and waiting.”
A small smile grew on Vincent’s face, his dark eyes turning up at the edges. “Excellent. And your friend hasn’t backed out—is that still true, Cole?”
Cole chomped down on the potato as he nodded. “We talked recently and he’s ready. He doesn’t know what kind of distraction we’ll be using; all I told him is that we’d have everyone focused on something to keep the guards busy.”
He had to be careful with what words he used while in publi
c, he didn’t want anyone overhearing anything that could be traced back to them later. “He’s ready for the changes, so I think we’ll be fine. He’s nervous, which I don’t blame him for, and I’m keeping him mostly in the dark for what we have planned. Let him have reasonable deniability.”
“Don’t blame him for nerves at all.” Roney muttered as he reached forward for some of the still-hot food. He munched on it a moment before saying, “It’s a bit much.”
“But it’ll be worth it in the end,” Cole reminded. Relief escaped him in a sigh. “I’m just glad Brandon and Sapphire will be gone. That makes it so much easier.” He tapped the side of his mug. “I just hope everything works out, and their plans don’t change last minute.”
Vincent nodded and looked away, a small smirk disappearing as quickly as it came, leaving Cole to wonder if he even saw it in the first place. “Indeed.”
Chapter Forty-Seven
Finn
The weakening winter sun was starting to sink when Slate showed up at the Crimson Hawk, prepared to take Finn to the airship yards. The younger man walked into Finn’s borrowed room and threw his arms around Finn, nearly squeezing the life out of him while Zane lingered in the doorway.
Slate dashed a hand against his eyes. “Zane found me and told me about your decision. I’m glad you’re going to raise her.”
Finn pulled Slate in for a quick one-armed hug as he lifted his bag over his shoulder. “I had some sense knocked into me by a stubborn Monomi.” He nodded to Zane. “Zandra hasn’t been by yet, have you …”
“I already found her and let her know,” Zane replied, his voice low and somber. “She’s adding some stuff for Raine to your horses right now.”
Finn shook out his cloak and draped it over himself, then raised the hood. “I need to give her my thanks.” He reached for Raine, but Zane scooped her up and shot Finn a look, daring him to argue.
“I’m young enough to be a father, so I’d be less memorable with a baby.” Zane shifted his belt so his dagger wasn’t in the way for him to rest her on his hip. She settled a drool-slicked hand on the hilt and he chuckled. “Someday, little one, I’d be happy to teach you all about such things. But for now you’re a bit too young.”
Heart at ease, Finn followed Zane and Slate to the horses outside, and they mounted up, making quick time down to the shipping yards.
Two young women stood side by side in the gate of the yards, waiting. The shorter woman stepped forward to Slate as he rode up. He dismounted, gesturing to Finn. Finn offered a seated half bow in her direction.
Zane slid off his horse next to Finn, holding Raine close to his leather-armored chest. Finn got down last, gaze wondering over the yard next to them before walking up to the slender woman Slate was talking with. She turned as he approached, her dark eyes scrutinizing his nondescript traveling clothes.
“I thought Slate said you had a baby with you?” she asked without preamble, voice kind but firm.
“I do.” Finn nodded at Zane. “He’s got her for the moment.”
Slate pulled the woman to his side, leaving a hand on her hip as he gestured with his left. “Captain Samantha Leigh, Finn. Finn, Captain Samantha Leigh.”
Choosing to ignore the warning look that Slate was giving him, Finn smiled warmly at the young woman. Her last name sounded familiar, but he couldn’t place it. He tilted at the waist in a full bow as he shook her hand. “I am pleased to finally meet you. Thank you very much for taking us on so last minute.”
“No problem. Anything for a friend of Slate’s.” She smiled and gestured to the lady behind her. The brunette stepped forward. Finn noticed the faded scars on her face. “My sister Rebecca will help you with your luggage and to your cabin.”
Finn nodded to her as he turned to his horse and pulled his bag off her. Rebecca stepped forward and picked up the heavy bag, heaving it over her shoulder as if it was nothing.
He turned as Zane stepped forward to ease the cooing Raine into his arms. “Thank you.” Finn looked at the two young men he considered friends. “Take care. And be safe.”
“You know us,” Slate said with an odd smile. “We’ll stay out of trouble as well as we can.”
“Which means we’ll be safe,” Zane said with a laugh. “Take care Finn. Write us when you get the chance.”
“Time to head out. It’d be good if we could get some miles covered before the light is completely gone,” Captain Leigh interrupted. She stepped up to Slate and kissed his cheek, whispering something to him that caused a blush to rise up to the roots of his hair. Zane and Finn exchanged looks of amusement.
It was good to see Slate finally meet his match.
Finn nodded a final goodbye before following Rebecca to the airship. He paused when he saw it, the familiar lines striking a chord in his memory. Dark letters on the side of the ship announced the name: the Phoenix.
Cogs turned in Finn’s head as he followed Rebecca. He glanced back at Captain Leigh from the corner of his eye. “Out of curiosity,” he asked, forcing his voice to be casual, “how did you come by such a beautiful ship? And what’s the story of her name?”
Samantha’s broad smile was beautiful with recollected memory. “Shortly after I was born, our father, an inventor, got seriously ill. A skilled healer named ‘Phoenix’ saved his life, and years later he designed and built this beauty.” She rubbed a hand against the hull, her love for the ship clear in her gesture. “He named her after the man who saved his life. For us, the name also signifies our determination. No matter what gets thrown at us, no matter how beat down we become, we’ll come back, stronger than ever.”
“Hmm.” The girls had really grown since that time. Finn looked around the ship appreciatively as he followed the silent sister ahead of him. “She’s a beautiful ship. Thank you again for the honor of riding her.”
Rebecca smiled back at him, talking for the first time that Finn could remember since meeting her again. “Hopefully air travel will be agreeable to you and your granddaughter. She’s the youngest to ever ride the air with us.” She led him down a narrow hall and opened a wood door, revealing a small but cozy room.
Two hammocks to the right, a small desk and chair, and a chest were all the furnishings in the sparse room, two silver pipes and one copper pipe ran through the ceiling from one end to the other, providing the only decoration, if practicalities could be called that. Finn stepped in, holding Raine on his hip as he surveyed the room, trying to decide what he’d do with her when it was time to sleep.
Rebecca set his bag down on the floor. “I’ll find something that you can use for her as a crib while you’re with us. It should be about a three or four day trip. Meals are three times a day, and if you could please stay in here until we get settled in the air, that would be most helpful.”
Finn nodded. “Yes ma’am.” She smiled and nodded to him before leaving, shutting the door behind her. Finn sat down at the desk, looking down at Raine’s curious eyes.
Here was to hoping for a fresh, safe start.
Chapter Forty-Eight
Brandon
Brandon jolted as a violent sneeze broke through the relative quiet of the sitting room. He looked up from his papers to see Garnet accept a fresh handkerchief from Zane, a small smile playing at her lips though her eyes still held the tired air of someone recovering from a cold. Zane sat on alert next to her, armed with a large kettle, several types of tea, a stack of clean handkerchiefs, and several vials of medicine.
For someone who only just earlier this year claimed she wasn’t interested in settling down in any way, she seemed quite smitten with his best friend. Brandon glanced away, catching Sapphire’s eye and sharing a conspiratorial grin with her. Maybe that little date with Zane to learn about Slate and Samantha had done Garnet some good.
If only she weren’t sick. Two days ago she’d sent a message to Sapphire, saying that she’d need to postpone a few days due to her catching cold. She’d improved since then, enough to visit and discuss their plan for when they
’d be leaving, at least.
Somehow, even though Slate’s schedule had been too busy for them to even run into him and let him know, Zane had gotten wind of the cancelled plans. He’d hunted Brandon down, calling in that outstanding favor from months ago—when Adeline had been born. Thus Zane showed up at their door, bearing a book for Garnet as well as all the remedies and aides he could carry.
“I’m sure we can leave tomorrow morning.” Garnet’s voice sounded better than earlier, more herself than the deep, gravelly quality it had been. “My headache is gone and I’m no longer dizzy.” She sneezed then, her body whipping forward, red strands of hair flying about her head. Wry humor shone in her eyes. “I feel better than I sound.”
“We can plan for that, but don’t push yourself.” Sapphire held Adeline as she sank into the couch across from Garnet and Zane. “Besides, we’ll see what the weather is like tomorrow.”
Brandon agreed with a silent nod. An early snow started the same day Garnet caught her cold, and it had been lightly falling every since; the powdery stuff piling in snowdrifts as the breeze blew.
Adeline fussed, and Sapphire set he daughter on the floor by the couch, letting Adeline struggle to pull herself up to standing, then cheering when she succeeded.
“Also agreed.” Zane tweaked a strand of red hair hanging over the edge of the couch next to him. “Don’t push yourself too hard or you’ll relapse.”
Garnet muttered something in response that Brandon couldn’t catch, but it caused Zane to lean into Garnet’s space and say something too quietly for him to hear. Brandon was pretty sure that the sudden flush on her face was from Zane’s proximity and the kiss he pressed to her forehead, not from any fever.
Sapphire turned her head just enough to make eye contact with Brandon again, her eyes twinkling. She didn’t have to say anything for him to guess her line of thought. Garnet wasn’t pushing Zane away anymore, and Slate seemed to settling for this Captain Samantha. Maybe they’d have two Stohner weddings next year.