by RJ Metcalf
Her stomach clenched.
What if Ben really had been executed, and she was waiting on a false hope?
Chapter One
Ben
Numb anger ruled Ben as he gripped the railing of the Phoenix and watched the city of Lucrum edge into view on the horizon. They’d tried, but hadn’t been able to find the airship taking Raine away to the Hollows. Ben turned away from the sight of the white-washed city, jittery with tension. Would she be able to hold out until he found her? What would happen to her there?
He blew out a breath and wished yet again that they hadn’t left that traitor Roska behind in Camort, Antius. He’d love to give the son of a whale a piece of his mind. Returning to Lucrum right now was a huge gamble: was the rumor accurate that Jade was in Lucrum? Did she have some sort of power as royalty? Could she help them petition to free Raine? Would Raine be fine in the meantime?
Ben hated gambling.
Someone moved along the airship’s safety line behind Ben, and he ignored them, turning back to study the city again as they flew nearer. The crew had a theory on how to find Jade, but there was no guarantee that it’d be quick or easy, or that she even had the political clout necessary to help them. His jaw clenched. If they’d come all this way for nothing …
Dark smudges wiggled just around the north side of the capital, and Ben squinted, unable to make out what he was seeing. His stomach clenched, and he bounded up the steps to the top deck, skidding to a halt by Captain Rebecca. Her long duster coat pressed against her body, and the wind whipped loose tendrils of hair around her goggles. The scars on her cheek seemed to pop in comparison to her pink wind-bitten face. She gave him a nod but kept her focus on guiding the Phoenix.
“Captain, can I borrow your—” He floundered, unable to think of the word for her eyepiece. He gestured to it. “Thing?”
A slight smirk curled her lips, and humor flashed in her eyes, visible despite the dark tint of her goggles.
“Monocle?” she supplied. She dropped her hand to her belt that teemed with different instruments and weapons, and she patted the tool. “Unhook it here and go for it. Just return it in a few, please.”
He nodded and quickly unclasped the monocle, then brought it up to focus on what he’d seen in the distance. It took a moment to find the dark smudges, but now he could see it for what it was: people. People and tents. People and campfires. He lowered the eyepiece and stared, as if it was possible to make sense of what he’d seen without the lens. There was no way an army could have arrived so quickly after the barrier went down, right?
“What caught your attention?” Rebecca’s voice cut into his speculation, loud enough to carry over the wind. “You look paler than normal.”
He ignored her and scanned again. A few kids ran around a campfire, and now he saw weary adults moving about. “Refugees.”
“Refugees?” Rebecca echoed. She held out her hand and he returned her monocle. She frowned a moment later as she peered through it. “This doesn’t bode well for us. Go find Finn, will you?”
Ben nodded and clattered down the steps. He’d worked on memorizing the map of southern Terrene, and the longer he thought about it, the more confident he was that unless northern Terrene had an army waiting in the wings, it’d be at least a few weeks before the armies of the northern Elph could invade. So where were the refugees from? Had the north already started attacking?
He ducked below deck and jumped the last two steps, smoothly walk-landing just outside the bunk room door that he shared with Finn, Geist, and Kerlee. Finn sat on his bunk, papers spread out all around him on the bedspread and the hardwood floor. His salt-and-pepper hair stuck out on one side, as if he’d grabbed it in frustration not too long ago. He scowled at the page in his hand and jotted something down on the sheet of paper next to him.
“Finn,” Ben said his friend’s name with quiet urgency, not wanting to interrupt, but knowing that someone had to do it. “Rebecca needs you up on deck.”
“Rebecca needs me. Raine needs me. The entirety of southern Terrene needs me.” Finn didn’t look up from the paper, bitterness and hurt dripping off each word. He scrawled something else before finally lifting his head to Ben, revealing his red-rimmed eyes and the dark circles under them. Finn brushed a hand over his face, easing some of the deep crevasses that stress and lack of sleep had etched there. Everything in his posture screamed of the turmoil lurking inside. He gave Ben a wane smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m sorry, son. I’m.” He sighed heavily and set the notes aside. “I’m not handling this situation as well as one would hope.”
Rebecca could wait a half minute more.
“Have you been able to find anything in those?” Ben asked, crossing his arms.
Finn ran his hand through his hair and pulled at the strands, causing another tuft to stick out over his ear. “Some. Jaxton had something big planned—he’d been studying the blood bond. And it had to have been more than just controlling Brandon, but I haven’t been able to figure out what, just yet.” He stood, his knees cracking. “His cipher is difficult and it takes a lot to work through it.” He nodded up toward the main deck. “You said Rebecca needs me?”
Ben stepped out the door, letting Finn pass him to the stairs. “Yes. We’ve spotted what we can only assume are refugees.”
Finn froze a half-second, his hand on the stair rail. “Refugees?” He barely breathed out the word. “Already?” Finn bounded up the steps.
Ben trailed him up to the main deck, and he hooked his safety line from the stairs to the main line, making his way to the side of the airship. Wind whipped a few strands of hair close to his eye, and he tugged his goggles down before looking over the edge. Though still at least half a mile away, he could make out the camp in the distance. The airship’s turbines whirred, and the Phoenix started to drift down from their cruising altitude toward a copse of scraggly trees and boulders.
Rebecca’s voice carried through the communication tubes scattered throughout the airship: “We’re landing on the outskirts for a reconnaissance mission. We’re not taking anything for granted here, folks. I want two teams of four on the main deck in ten minutes. Be ready to blend in and fight through whatever we find out there.”
* * *
Ben followed Geist, Finn, and Kerlee as they slowly picked their way through the encampment they’d found on the outskirts of Lucrum. Families huddled around fires to keep the nip of the autumn air away, their meager belongings in bags around their feet. A lucky few had tents, but their bleak stares belayed their “good fortune.” Ben’s gut churned at the sight of so much loss, so much despair and desperation.
Ben watched as Kerlee approached a young couple that moved from one fire to the next. The man looked to be about Ben’s age, and the woman maybe Sara’s age—early twenties, give or take. She settled a hand on her hip, emphasizing a bump in her abdomen and steadied Kerlee, a hard set to her mouth. Her gaze traveled to Ben, then Geist, then rested on the swords they carried. “No one here has anything of value, so if you’re here to loot us, look elsewhere.”
“We’re not looters, miss,” Kerlee soothed, both hands held up in a show of peace.
“Ma’am,” she corrected, lifting her chin.
“Ma’am.” Kerlee dipped his head to her and pointed back at Ben and Geist. “We just arrived here, from”—he hesitated just a brief enough moment that Ben barely caught it—“Perennia, and we want to know what’s going on.”
“Perennia, eh?” Her tense shoulders eased up, and a hint of friendliness softened her face. A nearby man joined them, standing behind her, his hand on her shoulder. She wove her fingers with his. “Have you heard that the barrier is down?”
Ben glanced back to see Finn squatting near a campfire, talking to a young couple with a crying child. Finn drew something from his pocket and gave it to the mother, gesturing at the fire and the packet. He patted the child on the head, something almost heartbreaking in the gesture. Ben tuned back in to the conversation between the lady
and Kerlee.
“There’ve been skirmishes already,” the woman pointed north, shadows haunting her eyes. “Rumor has it Sordes was wiped out first. But I can tell you that Malani, Soleden, and Magmell have fallen.” She lifted her twined fingers to gesture to the man with her. “We’re from Magmell, and escaped only because other refugees had come to Magmell first. We’d started packing and preparing long before the raiding started.”
Kerlee shoulders drooped. “I’m so sorry to hear all that, ma’am.”
Ben stepped forward. “So everyone’s camping outside the city walls?” He eyed the tall walls that encircled much of the capital. “Could Lord Everett not afford to let everyone in or something?”
The lady shook her head. “I don’t know why. But they check for identification at the all the gates now, so we’re stuck out here. And all we hear about is”—she lifted her fingers to make air quotes—“that he’s ‘working on unifying all the kingdoms,’ ‘the Leader’s Summit means more security,’ and that there’s supposed to be ‘a wedding soon.’” She spat in the dirt. “How a wedding is supposed to be more important than the lives of his citizens is beyond me.”
Ben’s breath stalled, and he looked up again, wishing for the ability to see through the thick sun-bleached walls. Had Brandon not made in time after all? Was Jade still going to get married to Weston? What exactly was happening in Lucrum?
Chapter Two
Jade
The joyful strains of wedding music started playing from the trio of musicians in the corner of Francene’s garden, and Jade wiped her sweaty palms against her satin gown, her mouth dry. Weston’s fingers grazed hers, and he gave her a small, sympathetic grin that faded as quickly as it came.
She couldn’t bring it in herself to respond to his reassurance. Not today.
Right now she had to focus on her best friend.
Krista stood next to her father, William, beside a large swath of goldenrod, the bright yellow flowers complimenting her deep emerald wedding gown. A circlet of white heather blossoms adorned Krista’s black braids, and her dress swished side to side as she bounced in place before stilling as the music swelled into a crescendo. A bright smile broke across her face, her gaze aimed somewhere over Jade’s head.
Jade turned in her seat in time with the other guests, suppressing the urge to twitch when Weston rested his hand on the small of her back. She lifted her chin and let the tension roll out of her. Genuine happiness replaced it as Briar wound his way through the garden, resplendent in shades of green that matched Krista’s dress. He made slow progress, still learning to balance properly on the prosthetic leg that Jade and Krista had stayed up most the night prior to complete.
Samantha sat on Jade’s other side, and she gently squeezed Jade’s knee, while watching Briar. Jade gripped her mother’s hand and looked on past Aunt Garnet’s red curls.
Krista and Briar had decided that with the barrier down and everyone’s safety essentially gone, that it was time to get married—while they still had the chance.
It had been two days since the barrier went down. Two days since Lord Everett had given the ultimatum that Weston claim Jade or Zak would be taken sent to the Hollows. Two days of lying and pretending that she was softening to Weston’s advances—that she’d given up on Zak. Two days of working in secret with Weston, during every spare moment, frantically trying to work out a treaty that would satisfy both Aerugo and Doldra. A treaty that they’d present at the Leader’s Summit as a proper solution that didn’t involve a forced marriage between her and Weston. Two days of emotion-numbing fear for Zak’s safety—Lord Everett might decide to act out against Zak anyway. Two days of hoping and praying that the plan of the treaty along with her, Weston, and Zak’s acting would be enough. And they had one day left to appease Everett.
Jade shook those thoughts to remain focused on the wedding. Francene had outdone herself as a gracious hostess, bringing in a small army of seamstresses to alter a Perennian tradition-worthy gown for Krista and a long shirt and pants with the customary bright designs and whorls for Briar. Francene had then cleared out a wing of her villa for the newlyweds to stay in after the ceremony. She had also offered her insights to the treaty that Weston and Jade worked on, helping them in their deception against Everett. Francene’s relentless energy and drive had provided a cushion of stability for Jade as she worked to remember all the political lessons she’d ever been given.
“Stressful” and “exhausting” didn’t do the last two days justice.
But right now, at least one good thing was happening.
Grass rustled and Jade beamed up at Briar as he passed by. He winked at her, peace and joy easing the tensions she hadn’t realized had become so characteristic of him the last few weeks. This, at least, was as it should be. Krista would marry the man of her dreams, while those closest to them witnessed their union.
Zak sat directly behind Jade, and Zaborah stood in the back with several other guards provided by both Weston and Francene. Jade resisted the desire to look over her shoulder at Zak. They were supposed to be breaking whatever bond they’d had, not “making eyes at each other” as Zaborah had so disdainfully said earlier. Next to Zak sat Brandon. Her birth father.
He’d shown up just a day ago at Francene’s gate, dirty and exhausted, claiming he was here to help Jade. She still refused to talk to him, though he’d spoken to every one of her friends as much as he could in the busyness. She scoffed quietly to herself. Now he wanted to help?
If he’d wanted to help, he would’ve stayed back with her aunt and uncle and Ben and the crew to help keep the barrier up. Or, better still, he wouldn’t have left her behind to take up his crown in the first place. Her fingers spasmed into claws, and Samantha made a tiny noise in the back of her throat, belatedly reminding Jade that she still had her mother’s hand curled in hers. She eased up the pressure.
William raised his hands, drawing Jade’s attention away from her bitter musings and back to the wedding. His eyes crinkled as he placed a hand on both Briar and Krista. William beamed out to the small group gathered. “My friends, today we celebrate the twining of two lives.” He clapped Briar on the back, and Briar nearly stumbled under the unexpected force. William touched Krista’s loose green sleeve and continued, “Briar Sasperil and my daughter, Krista Cedrus.”
William gestured for everyone to stand. Jade stood, bracing for what she knew William would say next for the Perennian wedding custom: “Let us gather around them and all hold hands for this joining.”
Jade swallowed hard, aware of both Zak behind her, and the guards that were not guaranteed to be under Francene’s or Weston’s sway. Even here, even now, at Krista’s wedding, there were no breaks from the acting. She took a deep breath, let it out, then smiled at Weston as sweetly as she could manage while she slipped her hand into his. He rubbed her knuckle with his thumb, and she looked away, following her mother’s lead into the circle around her friends.
Even if it was all an act on her side, how much of it was a farce for Weston?
Genuine joy broke through Jade’s discomfort at the sight of Krista’s wide smile and the warmth glowing in her friend’s eyes. It was worth it, putting up with this farce with Weston, if only to see that joy return to her friend.
But a tendril of guilt wound around Jade’s heart like a poisonous vine, and she tried to banish it before it tainted everything. Krista and Briar had no idea that refugees were already at the gates beyond the city. Jade had been working on the treaty with Weston yesterday evening when they’d heard the news, and Jade had immediately sent Zak out to talk to every staff member in Francene’s villa: Krista and Briar were to be kept in the dark until after the wedding. Jade didn’t want to have any other dampers on their special afternoon. And despite what she and Weston had feared, thus far, his father hadn’t shown up to inspect how they were doing—it meant that Everett likely had someone there to report back to him, but for now, she’d take it.
They’d take the fight to Everett la
ter.
And somehow, she would find a way to protect her people. Hopefully, through the treaty. And if that failed, she’d cross that river when she got to it.
Jade shook her head, trying to dislodge all the thoughts running rampant in her head. She wanted to be in the moment here, wanted to celebrate with Krista, not miss the whole ceremony just because her mind wouldn’t cool down and shut off for a bit.
Krista bent down to pick up a pot with two blooming cream-colored tulips. She held it out to Briar, and he settled his hands under it, both of them supporting the plant. William stepped to the side, revealing a freshly bared patch of earth in Francene’s garden. He handed Briar a shovel. “As a symbol of your new life together as one, the two of you will plant this tender life here, as a testament for all to see of your love and commitment.”
Briar took the tool and carefully lifted his metal-and-ceramic foot, setting it on the shoulder of the shovel, then pushed it into the terra. It slid into the earth easily, and he had the needed depth in just a matter of moments. He and Krista knelt as one, gently removing the Perennian plant from the pot and transplanting it into its new temporary home. They’d already agreed to someday transplant it over Krista’s mother’s grave in Perennia. William’s hands twitched as if he wanted to help the couple to their feet, but he stilled and allowed Krista and Briar to pull each other up, both awkward in their movements, her with her dress and him with his leg.
Once they were steady, William grinned, a mischievous twinkle in his dark eyes. “A kiss to seal the deal.” He waited until Briar leaned into toward Krista, then added, “But keep it tame, please. You do have witnesses, you know.”
Laughter rippled through the guests, and he gestured to the circle around them. Jade raised her twined hands obediently with everyone else, providing a framework resembling tree branches around the couple.