Radiant's Honor (Founders Series Book 2)

by Mari Dietz

  Scraps jumped in her lap, and she stroked his fur. “I need to see Father about Kai, then wander the streets looking for the prodigal brother.” Why hadn’t she kept a better eye on him? She should have returned him to the house before going to see Kai. It was almost like Samuel had William radar, and now that she’d lost Samuel, she didn’t know if she could find William. “Ugh, these brothers will be the death of me.”

  Vic didn’t want to take time to sleep, not while there was daylight to look for her friends. “This has been the longest day ever.”

  She didn’t know who she talked to, but with the loss of Bomrosy, William, Kai, and now Samuel, loneliness crept up on her. She had to make do with keeping herself company.

  “It’ll work out. I’ll get Father to help with Kai, then I’ll get Maddox to help me in the sewers.” If Mads helped her move stone, she could break into the sewers that led to where William might have gotten lost or taken. She hoped for lost. At least then he might be safe from mogs. She didn’t need to waste any more time waiting. If they could cut through the stone, they might find out more information, even though there might be a hundred masked people waiting for her. She could teach Mads her escape method of jumping into sewage. There was no chance that would go wrong.

  She found coffee grounds in the kitchen and brewed it as dark as she could. She gagged down the bitter liquid and left Scraps in charge of Kai’s house. The caffeine burned through her, making her jittery as she walked to her childhood home.

  The glass home glowed in the light as it always did. It cast rainbows across the courtyard as the sunlight gleamed through. Vic leaped up the steps and went straight to her father’s office. He sat back, making small figurines of glass at his desk with a contemplative look on his face. When he noticed her, he waved for her to sit down.

  Vic paused at the warm welcome. She still wasn’t used to working with her father. Their relationship still carried scars from last year, and she still saw him in a different light. As much as she wanted to get over it, the nagging feeling remained that he was playing a different game.

  “I was about to come see you and Kai. I have good news.” He placed his sand to the side of the desk.

  “Em?”

  Her father shook his head. “Not that good, I guess, but more and more founders are coming to our side.” He leaned back in the chair, and it creaked with the movement. “They’re moved more by greed than the vital story, but we can work with what we have. Clear lines are being drawn amongst us, and it looks like we may have the numbers to vote out the Nordic family.”

  Vic leaned against the armchair. “That was quick.” After all the deaths, they could just vote the problem away? Would another greedy founder take the Nordics’ place?

  Her father rubbed the wrinkles on the sides of his face. “Not really. I’ve been working on this since before Emilia left us. The Nordics are making bolder moves, and that’s what’s drawing the other founders to our side. They’re slipping.” He stretched. “Sadly, at the cost of your Order. It upset many founders that they’re pooling their power in a place where founders don’t belong. Tristan is upsetting many traditionalists. Also, Ethan is making friends with the radiant leader, which is also good for us. Most founders don’t care for radiant.”

  Vic sat on the arm of the chair and placed her feet on the seat. “I guess you already know that Kai has been arrested?”

  He came around his desk and tapped Vic’s knees to move her feet back to the floor. “I’m working on that. There’s a firm case against him.”

  Vic couldn’t help but be impressed by her father’s network. Only moments before, she’d felt alone in this fight, but she’d forgotten about the ones who worked behind the scenes of the battle.

  “I’ve lost contact with Maddox Stone, however, but she’s been more your contact.” Her father pulled out a pouch of sand from his inner suit pocket and began to form small glass beads. Vic eyed the glass and knew this helped her father concentrate.

  “I wish I would have known how much you’d accomplished. That would’ve made Mads feel better about joining our side.”

  He let the handful of glass meld into one large mass. Vic thought she could see a face. “We can make no promises. The danger of this game is that the founders can be fickle. They may say they’ll vote out the Nordics, but we’ll never know until the vote happens.”

  Vic didn’t tell him she’d promised to help get Maddox out of Haven. “I know. I’ll check on her now, though. I wanted to stop by and ask for help with Kai.” She pushed herself to her feet and inspected what her dad had made. Before she could figure it out, he let it fall out of shape.

  “Their case hinges on bones and the grate. They don’t have any proof that Kai brought the bones, and the latch on the grate is different from the others they found. I think there’s a chance he will get out.” He set the lump of misshapen glass on the desk next to his other creations.

  Vic drooped. “I’ll take any chance.”

  “When did you last sleep?”

  Vic waved him off. “I’ll sleep after I go see Maddox.” He opened his mouth to speak, but Vic cut him off. “I need to see her tonight.” She’d already waited too long, and on the way, she could look for Samuel. Maybe she would need to warn people before they got near her since everyone around her disappeared.

  Her father rubbed his jaw. “You look like the walking dead. You’ll be no help to others if you collapse on the street.”

  “I know, I know.” Vic turned to leave but paused at the door. “Thanks, Dad, for doing all this. I understand how dangerous this is. Please look out for yourself.” Another time, when her brain worked, she would talk about what a change in leadership would mean for all those who weren’t Verrin founders. She had a list of missing people and needed to check off the other two before she could pry into her father’s mind.

  “I am.” He traced the rim of an empty glass. Vic worried he drank too much these days.

  They both let unspoken words pass between them. They would go down fighting if they had to. “We’ll find her.” She believed he wanted Em back, and that kept her going.

  “I know.”

  Vic left his office feeling lighter. The power of the founders gave her more confidence. The problem of who would be in charge next could be left for later. Losing Nyx hurt, but if it caused Tristan to mess up, she could handle it. She couldn’t tell who was winning, but it seemed like either side was one move away from causing the downfall of the other. GicCorp hadn’t yet shown its hand to the city. She feared that when they did, it would be too late to stop them.

  Vic got in a water taxi, and it rocked her to sleep while she rode it across the wide city to Maddox’s house. The driver nudged her awake, and she stumbled out of the taxi and wiped the sleep from her eyes. The cool evening air helped wake her up. After she got Mads and they found Samuel, she promised she would sleep.

  The Stone house sprawled over acres of land that Verrin couldn’t spare. Since they’d built most of Verrin with stone, they were second in power to the Nordics. Vic had a feeling the Stones had sided with GicCorp. They benefited too much from them and vice versa. Unless they wanted to be in charge, there was nothing the founders could offer them that would be more attractive than what they had now.

  Vic rang the bell, and after a moment, the stone gate slid to the side. The extensive building rose from behind the gate. Where her house was filled with light, the stone house basked in darkness. The gray walls made Vic feel small. No fountains or statues graced the courtyard. The blank void of stone sucked in all the darkness.

  Maddox had hated going home after school, and Vic could see why. The bleakness of the house was overwhelming. Even though she couldn’t see anyone, she felt eyes on her as she walked to the front door. The Stones employed security for their home. She didn’t know any fool who would attack them, but maybe they were the smartest of them all. They might know the Nordics better than anyone and had thought ahead to protect themselves.

  The doo
r opened as she approached, and Vic nodded to the butler as she entered.

  “Mr. Stone is expecting you.”

  “He is?” Vic could count on one hand the meaningful interactions she’d had with the man—the interesting drunk at a party and the standoffish father to her friend. She had to admit she’d enjoyed him always causing a scene at the boring events, even though he was a jerk to his daughters. Maddox didn’t have the desire to hurt her sister. Vic assumed that might be how she’d “lost” becoming the heir.

  The butler led her through the cold stone hallways. Barely any light from the outside came in, only the flickering magic behind the glass lamps. A thick carpet dulled their footsteps, and he directed her to an office. Different stones could have been used, but only bleak gray graced the halls. The feeling of being buried alive in the house overwhelmed her. She breathed better in the sewers. Stone could stand to put in some windows to let in a breeze.

  They came to another stone panel that blended in with the wall. It swung open to reveal Mr. Stone’s office.

  He sat at an enormous marble desk molded into the floor. It would seem strange to have something placed with such permanence, but with his skill, he could move the desk at a whim.

  Many said his imbuing with stone had yet to be matched. He cut through it like soft cheese and barely used any of his relic’s power. In his office, another thick carpet lay on the floor, but the entire room only had the desk and his chair. The wide chair fit his vast frame and was likely molded for comfort. Sitting on stone couldn’t be that comfortable. From the lack of other furniture, Vic guessed he wanted others to stand. She admitted the walls, with unique types of stone molded together to create vibrant swirls, impressed her. So he appreciated colors other than gray.

  “You came to see Maddox, but she isn’t here.” His wide face didn’t look up from his desk. He could have used his head as another block in the walls of his fortress since it was square enough. His face was flushed red, even though the room felt like an icebox, so he might be running hot or enjoying drinks while he worked. He finished counting what looked like credits figures and put them in a stone box, which he sealed with magic. “She said you would stop by, and I waited for you like a messenger boy. I will meet her at your famous Order.”

  “Why?”

  He waved his flabby hand. “Something to do with tunnels. I agreed to help.”

  Vic cleared her throat. “You agreed to help Nyx?” That didn’t seem right. Her father had mentioned nothing about Maddox’s father being involved. He hadn’t exactly told her which founders were involved, but if Stone had joined their side, he probably would have mentioned it. His eyes shifted rapidly. He must be lying.

  He pushed his thick frame up and tucked his wand in his holster. “She wanted one favor before her ceremony.” Vic doubted he would dote on Maddox, even if she’d asked for a last meal.

  “Why didn’t she wait for me here?” Vic’s fingers itched to grab her scythe. Had she walked into a large stone jail? Did Stone know about the masked figures that had chased her in the sewers?

  His beady eyes glared at her from under bushy eyebrows. “You can come with me or not. I’m doing you a favor, and I don’t have time to deal with you.”

  Stone threw on a jacket and brusquely walked to the doorway. The stench of stale alcohol followed him as he brushed by her. Vic jolted after him. Even though she didn’t trust him, she wanted to get out of this house. It felt like a giant jail cell. With the constant running from danger in the sewers, she hadn’t thought about the danger above ground.

  He trudged ahead, and after they’d gone out the door and through the gate, Vic breathed normally. They went to a water taxi. The boat teetered from his weight when he stepped inside. Vic went to the one beside his.

  “What’s wrong, girl? There’s room for you.”

  “I think I’ll go home since Maddox is gone.”

  Stone tapped his side. “I’m not one for subterfuge.”

  “Obviously.” He should have known that Vic knew he would do nothing to help Maddox. Even tired, her brain still worked that well, at least. If they’d trapped Maddox in the house, Vic didn’t know how she would go about getting her out.

  “There is something you need to see.” He rested his hands on his large stomach and relaxed back in the boat. The driver waited, glancing between the two founders.

  A sheen of sweat appeared on her forehead. “Is Maddox okay?”

  “Let me show you the thing first, then we can talk about my daughter.” He shifted, making the water taxi rock.

  She could run away now that she’d escaped the stone walls of his house. “Fine.”

  It might be something she needed to see. She worried about Maddox.

  On the way, she tried to think of ways to break Maddox out of her own home. Each idea seemed more impossible than the next. Maybe Maddox could stay at the Glass house. Maddox worried about losing her wand, but that might be the price she needed to pay to stay out of Haven.

  At their stop, the taxi bucked as Stone got out. Vic followed him at a distance. She monitored the alleyways. If the masked figures were around, she’d need to run. She had yet to see them outside of the sewers, so she felt a tad safer. If she couldn’t find Maddox, she would have to locate William some other way.

  They approached the abandoned Order, and Vic’s heart hurt to see it so empty. Soon, it would be teeming with life again. The reapers, maybe besides Landon, were good people. They would forgive Kai and come back. They might not want to fight GicCorp, but they wouldn’t turn people into mogs. Vic held on to her uplifting message. She could believe it if she had to. She had to believe in something.

  Stone paused at the Order. He said nothing, staring at the building. The surrounding stench grew stronger now that they’d stopped moving. Didn’t the man ever shower? “Credits matter these days. There’s little that happens without credits to back it up.”

  Was he talking to himself? “Okay, then. Are you giving me a loan?” She tapped her foot on the cobbled ground outside the Order.

  Stone grumbled, “Some may think I have little power since I do what others tell me.” His face reddened. “I could buy out every factory if I wanted. I could buy out GicCorp.”

  “Why are you telling me this? I get it, you’re rich.” He could buy them out, but he couldn’t run them all. He would still need the other wands to imbue materials.

  He rubbed his pudgy jaw. “I don’t know. I never liked you.”

  “Fine, I’ll go.” He’d dragged her all this way to tell her that? Where was Maddox? He was a waste of time.

  Stone grabbed her arm and squeezed. “He wants you to know there’s no going back.”

  Vic jerked her arm away, and it smarted where he’d gripped her. “Why come all this way to say this? He shut it down. I get it.” She stepped away from him and pulled out her scythe. She didn’t like him touching her. He was fast with magic, but she would cut off his hand if he grabbed her again.

  Stone’s lips parted, then the air felt heavy. The light breeze stopped, and the crisp scent of rock surrounded them. Stone placed his wand on the wall of the Order. Vic thought he would seal up the gate with stone, but then the wall sank into the ground in a blink. One moment it had stood strong, and the next it had disappeared.

  “No,” she whispered. She pushed at Stone, but it didn’t matter. The large, proud building of Nyx had sunk into the ground. Only a large patch of cobbles remained.

  “Why?” She’d become a witness to the rumors of his power. She had never seen anyone imbue that much in one go. When Tristan had told her to leave, this was what he’d wanted. Stone’s gem didn’t gleam, but he shouldn’t have been able to level an entire building. That was impossible.

  Stone put away his wand. “I think he likes to make a show. It hurt, didn’t it?” His jowls grinned at her, showing small teeth.

  Vic swallowed. Even though she’d recently found her way into the Order, the empty space felt wrong. When the other reapers saw this, their
hearts would break. Bomrosy had found a place and acceptance here without a relic. Kai had lived here, and the Order had helped support his family. For many, it had meant safety from Verrin, if only in the form of a hot meal. She tried to tell herself it was only a building, but in Verrin, walls kept you safe, and now there was nothing.

  “Destroying the building won’t destroy me.” Vic squared her shoulders at Stone.

  He knew it still influenced her. “Fine. I’m the messenger today.” He whistled. “I even impressed myself with this.”

  “Glad you’re happy.” Vic turned away from him.

  His annoying voice called after her, “Don’t you want to know where Maddox is?”

  Vic really didn’t want to know. This man had nothing good to offer her. She faced him once more.

  Stone’s jowls wobbled. “Tristan generously offered to take her to Haven early. I’m thankful for the honor I can give to the city. We sent her off this morning.” He tapped his pudgy belly while delivering the final blow.

  Vic’s body grew limp as she tried to accept the reality of his words. She wanted to scream at him that he was lying. She flicked open her scythe, and the smugness on his face vanished.

  He backed away. He’d probably thought she wouldn’t react this way in daylight.

  Vic lunged forward before he could move for his wand. Fat meant slow, no matter how much magic the man had. She pressed the blade under his double chin.

  “Try to lower your arms and we’ll see who is faster. You used up your magic, didn’t you?” Her voice came out flat.

  The confidence in his stance vanished. When he tried to move, she pressed harder. A cut formed, and he stopped moving. He whimpered.

  “Do you think this is some cute little joke to me? You bring me here and destroy my home and then tell me my friend is gone?”

  Stone didn’t talk, but he shook his head almost imperceptibly so he wouldn’t cut himself on the blade.

  Vic leaned in and grinned. “Where are your guards to protect you?” A bit of madness overcame her. She could slice his neck and might not even care. Then the smell of urine came from him. Vic sneered. “Next time Tristan wants you to play messenger, I’d decline.” She stepped back, and in a flash, she flicked the tip of her scythe across his flabby cheek.