by Cait Ashwood
“Wait, you’re actually going to help?” Jasper seemed surprised.
“I took a vow, kid. Some people actually take things seriously.”
The muscles in Jasper’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t rise to the bait. “When do we start?”
Rowan shrugged. “I’m not clear for fieldwork yet, so no time like the present.”
Zeche cleared his throat. “That means going to the Institute.”
“And I would care about that because...” Rowan trailed off.
Jasper shook his head quietly. “The only times he’s been free to visit you, you’ve been resting. He’s stopped by a few times, though.”
It took Rowan way too long to figure out who Jasper was talking about. “Wait, you mean my dad?”
The kid gave him a half smile. “Our dad.” His eyes flicked to Zeche. “That’s if he allows me access to the records rooms, anymore.”
Rowan grunted. “He will if he wants help finding his daughter.”
Hours later, Zeche paced the archive room at the Institute. Rowan stared at their pathetically short list, holding his head in his hand as he read over the few short statements for the hundredth time.
“We’re missing something obvious.” Jasper had said that more than a few times, too.
“Last time he was after the Order, he had the goal to breed monsters out of them, a goal that succeeded.”
“But what we don’t know is what he planned to actually do with them.” Zeche shook his head. “He kept them caged underground, and occasionally demanded payment for their services.”
Jasper squinted his eyes as he scanned the wall for any helpful records. “That couldn’t have been his only plan. That’s too much work for way too small a payout.”
Rowan nodded, eyes glazing over on the piece of parchment before him. “Didn’t the Seekers have a man on the inside before they busted the old Order out?”
“Yeah, Deuce.” Jasper stared at him. “Why?”
“Seems to me if the guy was undercover for a while, he’d have better guesses at what the snake was up to than we would.”
Jasper rubbed the back of his head. “I don’t know. He doesn’t really talk about his time there with anyone, even Amelina.”
Zeche looked more interested than he had all night. “Did he ever get his hearing back?”
Jasper shook his head. “Nope.”
“Wait, this guy’s deaf?” Rowan glanced at Jasper for confirmation.
“Only in one ear.” Jasper shrugged, rising to his feet.
“Sit down, boy. I’ll go get him.” Zeche swept silently from the room, leaving the boys to stare at each other.
“So,” Rowan said, crossing his arms over his chest.
Jasper raised an eyebrow. “What?”
“What’s Dad like?”
His half-brother stared at him for a while, then finally sat back down at the table. “Gosh, where to start.”
Rowan waited as Jasper gathered his thoughts. I don’t know what made me ask that. I’m even more surprised that he’s answering me. They’d gotten off on the wrong foot, and Rowan was beginning to think he’d pegged the kid all wrong.
“Well, he’s got a lot of different faces, you know?” Jasper paused, eyes seeming to stare at something far off in the distance. “I mean, there’s Ace the Commander, who is generally fair, but you never want to cross. He’ll smoke the hell out of you, then get you water when you’re done.” A smile tugged at his lips as if remembering something funny. “Then there’s Ace around Gwyn. God, they’re insufferable together. Like, they’re worse than most of the teens here.”
“Gwyn, that’s your mom?”
Jasper nodded. “I heard it took a while for her to win him over, but you’d never guess it now with how they are.”
Rowan chuckled.
“No, seriously. I had to get my own room at like, twelve. It’s gross.” Jasper shook himself like a dog after a bath. “But as a dad, I dunno. I think it’s different for me because he’s both my dad and my commander.”
Yeah, I guess that does blur the lines. He heard Jasper’s foot tapping under the table.
“He’s pretty funny when he’s relaxed, though. He’ll give you a hard time, but never in a cruel way like some folks. The dad jokes, though. Sometimes the guy needs to quit while he’s ahead.”
Like I know what dad jokes are. Rowan sighed, a pang of loneliness hitting him. All these things Jasper grew up with were second nature to him. Rowan could only guess at meanings and wonder how different his life might have been had Zeche not taken him from his family.
Thinking about Zeche seemed to summon him from thin air. Rowan peered behind him at the taller man that followed his master. He had brown hair and piercing blue eyes that rested on Rowan longer than he felt was necessary. The man eventually broke eye contact, giving Jasper a brief nod. He sat down sideways at the end of the table.
“Zeche said you had questions for me?” He spoke softly in an expressionless tone, demure in his behavior.
Jasper shifted awkwardly in his chair.
Lucky me, I don’t know the guy from Adam and don’t really care what he thinks of me. “I understand you spent some time undercover in Zaddicus’ compound.”
The man’s eyes were on his lips as he spoke and he leaned forward, tilting his head so his good ear was toward Rowan. “That’s correct.” His face was a carefully schooled mask.
Rowan glanced at Zeche. “We’re trying to identify his new target. Thing is, we can’t even nail down the motivations for his prior actions. What was the point of breeding the half-breeds and third gens? What was his plan for them?”
The questions were largely rhetorical, but Deuce looked at his hands clasped in his lap, appearing to give them some thought.
“Zaddicus... rebels against anything resembling a matriarchal society. He works to undermine them, bring them down any way he can. If he can control them, that’s even better.” His expression was blank and Rowan honestly doubted if the man knew where he was right now, he seemed so out of it.
“So, he just doesn’t like women? That doesn’t seem to be grounds for everything he’s done.” Jasper’s tone wasn’t argumentative, but cautious.
Deuce’s eyes flicked to his lips as he spoke. “He was wronged by someone once. It ruined his life, exiled him from the only place he called home. He didn’t like the fact that she wasn’t challenged, that no one held her accountable.” He paused, picking at the hem of his tunic. “It is his life’s mission to get revenge on a woman long dead. Instead, he takes out his frustrations on others, but nothing will bring back the life he lost.”
The room was silent as they digested the information.
“So, this woman that wronged him. Does she still have family around? Descendants, maybe?” Jasper was clearly ahead of him when it came to chasing down the next target.
We’ve been at this for hours, and I’m bushed. He hadn’t sat upright for this long since taking Vex’s blade down his back.
Deuce’s eyes tightened, but he inclined his head at Jasper. “I imagine she does.”
Rules out any of the Chosen. But this guy isn’t that old. How could some female in power have wronged him?
Zeche gave a dry cough from his corner. “You also believed he’d found a way to prolong his life through the taint, yes?”
Deuce hadn’t looked up quickly enough and tilted his head, having not caught the question. Jasper, sitting closer, repeated it for him.
“Yes, he did mention that. Wanted to get me on board with the plan, as well.” His tone turned wry toward the end.
“Eternal life at the cost of damnation. Can’t see why you turned him down.”
Deuce raised an eyebrow. “I don’t believe I actually mentioned the price or the means.”
Rowan glanced at Zeche. “Did you have to? If they were minimal, you would have accepted.”
The older man snorted softly. “My compliments, Zeche.”
Zeche shrugged. “You do what you can. What they r
etain is up to them.”
“My girls thankfully rely on their mother for most of that.” Deuce finally smiled at the mention of his daughters.
Jasper was the only one still painfully on-topic. “If what you’re saying is true, then the Order should still be his prime target, and the Chosen a secondary one. Yet we’ve seen no evidence of activity on either of these fronts.”
“Even the Ravens are led by a woman.” Zeche stroked his goatee thoughtfully.
Deuce remained silent, not offering anything further.
It doesn’t make any sense. We must be missing the activity. It’s the only thing that fits the parameters.
Jasper looked up at Deuce suddenly, eyes sharp. “You said, ‘anything resembling a matriarchal society.’ Is there something out there we’ve overlooked?”
Deuce stared at the youth for a long time. “Not to my knowledge.”
Zeche dropped a parchment on the table and began spreading it out. Rowan moved out of the way and placed a weight in one corner. It was a map of the known world and had seen recent additions with their activity on the northern continent.
“The Seeker that took her disappeared here,” Zeche marked the location on the map.
Deuce barely looked over, then did a double take and leaned forward to inspect the location. “Are you sure of this?” He sounded skeptical, but Rowan saw his pupils dilate.
That’s curious. He knows something.
Zeche grunted an affirmative response, crossing his arms over his chest.
“There’s nothing on those mountain ranges. No fields for crops, no way to support a population.”
Something in his tone set off a slew of alarm bells in Rowan’s mind. From his straightening posture and narrowed eyes, Rowan guessed Jasper was thinking the same thing. He glanced at Zeche, who was wearing his ‘I’m-not-impressed’ face.
“If it’s a small population, supplies could easily be phased in, I presume.” Zeche provided the counter argument, but Rowan knew this tactic. He was trying to get Deuce to talk himself into a corner and force him to reveal whatever it was he knew.
Deuce snorted and rose to his feet. “Nothing Zaddicus ever does is small. Gentlemen.” He tipped his head at them and left the room without another word, closing the door sharply behind him.
“Well,” Jasper said, shaking his head, “that was more informative than I was expecting.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Hound leaned back in his chair as the last of the town representatives filed into the room. Calanon was one of the larger cities and had graciously agreed to host their meeting. Various Seekers nodded to him and Ace before leaving the room, having brought leaders in from their respective hometowns for expediency’s sake.
Ace sat at the table’s head, with Hound at his right as the representative from the Tower. Zeche was on his left, in more of an honorary position, though his former command of the Ravens would add some legitimacy to their conversations.
I still don’t like him being here. Hound could hold one hell of a grudge, and for taking Rowan away, there could be no forgiveness. Unfortunately, the man had the insufferable ability to make himself indispensable. No one else could fill the gap he did. Hound shifted in his chair, pointedly leaning away from the assassin. Zeche seemed more interested in the town leaders gathering before them than he was with Hound, which suited him just fine.
The general chatter died down as Ace rose to his feet, surveying the people as they found their seats. His once brilliant red hair was fading with silver streaks running throughout. A clown in his youth, events had forced him to grow up and steady out, and now he was one of the most dependable men Hound knew. It had taken them a while to resume their friendship, as Ace had initially blamed Hound for losing Audrey. It could have sullied their relationship for good, but the times hadn’t permitted that sort of luxury. Hound was secretly glad for it; while he would never give up Audrey for anything, he would have hated to lose Ace’s friendship. They still worked well together all these years later, but today was definitely an event that Ace handled far better than he ever could. Social butterfly, that one.
Ace cleared his throat. “I’d like to thank you all for agreeing to meet with us on such short notice.”
There were nods from councilors with larger-than-healthy doses of ego as they gracefully acknowledged the greeting.
Ace glanced at Hound, who gave a subtle incline of his head.
“We’re here today to discuss a matter of grave importance.” Ace paused as the eyes of the attendees swung toward him. “You are all aware of the events leading up to the restoration of the Order, and the man that caused their disappearance in the first place.”
The representative from Calanon, Cyr, cleared his throat. “Yes, the man you call Zaddicus. I don’t believe he was ever brought to justice?” Cyr had gotten grayer over the years as well, but Hound liked him on principle. He’d guided Audrey through some of her earlier troubles, and been the first person outside of their immediate party to take an interest in her martial training. She’d shaped up into quite the archer under his guidance.
Ace nodded. “One and the same.” He leaned forward over the table, resting a fist on the slate surface. “Not long ago, my daughter ran away from home.”
Murmurs broke out among the assembled, with many of the women shaking their heads.
“Ran away? Why wasn’t I informed of this?” Hallie, Ace’s mother and the founder of Hallie’s Manse, spoke up, rising to her feet.
Hound cleared his throat. “We understood it to be a simple act of rebellion and anticipated no complications with her recovery. She had assistance from a Seeker, but heavy storms wiped out her trail.”
Ace glanced at him. “Indeed, my son and Zeche of the Ravens found her not long after, but there was someone else we didn’t expect.”
Many eyes swiveled to the assassin, though few dared to speak to him.
Zeche picked at the dirt under his fingernails before glancing at the assembled leaders. “There was a boy hanging around her from time to time, a boy my trainee assured me was at least half tainted. A boy, I might add, that is not on any of the rosters of the Order. He was a wild card.”
Ace’s hand was shaking enough that Hound could see it. Lily’s disappearance was still very hard for him to discuss.
“They delayed her recovery, hoping to lure the boy out again and trak him back.” Hound shook his head. “Obviously, things didn’t go according to plan.”
Cyr frowned. “But what does any of this have to do with Zaddicus?”
“The boy took her to an underground compound far to the southeast. He gave our Trackers a good run, but they’re better trained than he was.”
Hound stared at Zeche. Our Trackers? Since when did you number yourself as one of us?
Ace cleared his throat. “I am one of the most accurate Phasers in the ranks today, but even I couldn’t risk the jump. The compound is deep, and will require physical exploration before we can safely mount any numbers to go in on a recovery mission.”
Karina, the leader of the Cabran, appeared thoughtful. “The last time he was active, Zaddicus also chose an underground compound. What makes you think he’s taken up in such a remote location, far from any possible targets he could have?”
This would be me. “We took Amelina, the First Advisor and one of Zaddicus’ half-breeds, with us to analyze the compound.” Most people already knew who she was, but mentioning rank with the current crowd wouldn’t hurt. “She confirmed that the place is saturated with the taint, though Zaddicus doesn’t seem to be using it to control his charges this time around.”
Wefton’s leader, Evelyn, frowned. “But that would mean they’re serving him willingly? Who would do such a thing?”
Ace shrugged. “We don’t know. We do know that he has decent numbers and that he has my daughter, thanks to this boy in Ebonwallowe.”
Reid spoke up, his brows drawn. “Your daughter ran to my city of all places?”
Zeche gave one of
his nonchalant shrugs. “The theoretical protection of the Ravens was nearby. She thought she would be safe enough.”
Hallie half-rose out of her chair. “And why was their protection only theoretical for my granddaughter?”
“My dear woman, they cannot protect someone who does not actually ask for their protection. They had no idea she was even in the city.” Zeche clucked his tongue as if the answer should have been obvious.
Hallie’s face flushed red but she returned to her seat, crossing her arms over her chest.
Cyr shook his head, frowning. “If your own men can’t infiltrate the compound, I doubt there’s anything we can do to help you, Seeker.”
Ace shook his head. “We’re not asking for your support in recovering Lily.” He had to pause before he could continue. “Our biggest concern at this point in time is that we don’t have a target pinpointed as the source of Zaddicus’ attention. We’ve seen nothing, but our men cannot canvass all of your cities.”
Cyrus, the beefy smith from Anvilon, gave a grunt. “You need us to keep a closer watch on our own cities.”
“And raise your guard numbers,” Hound interjected. “Without a clear target, we must assume that Zaddicus plans to move on all of the cities. Make sure you have efficient evacuation plans, stockpile needed goods, and keep all wagons in good repair. Make sure you have enough animals on hand to move your people if the need arises.”
Willow, the scrawny old woman leading Twin Rivers, spoke up, her voice thin and reedy. “And what will the Seekers do if we fall under attack?”
Hound gestured to Ace. All yours, buddy.
“We have agents in most of your cities already. We are asking for permission to have a greater presence to better monitor the movement of any tainted entities. They also need to alert the Institute in the event of an attack. We could have Seekers on the ground in minutes to assist with fighting and evacuations, as necessary.”