by Zara Quentin
“What?”
“Stressed.”
Jade shrugged. No more or less than usual. “I suppose. Maybe.”
“The Chief Healer warned me not to say anything about this. He said it would ruin my career.”
“Maybe because it’s preposterous.” Jade glared at Neve. “People will think you’re crazy. In fact, you might actually be crazy.”
Neve sighed and her shoulders drooped. “I just thought you should know.”
“What am I supposed to do?” Jade asked. She saw no malice in Neve’s face, but the whole thing was ridiculous. Only Neve would believe something like this. Maybe that was the truth of it. Neve had such faith in the Dragon-Gods that when the Chief Healer had made an off-hand comment about magic, she’d taken it to heart.
Neve lifted her chin again. “Think I’m crazy, if you want. All I know is that someone used magic to kill your father. I don’t know how or why. I just thought you should know.” Neve reached over and this time Jade let her squeeze her hand. There was a renewed ache in her chest as she took in Neve’s sad smile. “I am really sorry about your father. He was a great man.”
Jade blinked back tears. She hadn’t cried since that night on the beach, but now grief welled up inside again. In truth, Jade was so exhausted, hungry and sore that she was barely holding things together. She wrapped her arms around her chest again, battling herself. Neve took another step forward and pulled Jade into a hug. Tears trickled down her cheeks, the dam spilling over. Jade held her breath, desperately trying to keep herself together.
After a moment, Jade stepped away from her friend and requested time alone. Neve gave her hand another squeeze, then Jade heard the door close behind her. Even alone, Jade could not quiet the storm of thoughts and emotions that assaulted her.
Her father was killed? By magic? It was absurd.
Everyone knew only the Dragon-Gods could do magic. Jade wasn’t sure she even believed the stories of Dragon-Gods; creation and magic were just myths.
The light blinked off and Jade stood in the dark. She’d been going to the archery range, but she couldn’t make herself move now.
Something niggled at her. She might not believe in magic, but now that Neve had brought it up, something about her father’s death didn’t seem right. Jade remembered the way Papa had looked, slumped over his desk. Neve said he was strangled without a mark on him. Out of nowhere, Jade remembered the argument she had overheard earlier that day, and the fear in her father’s voice. Lives will be lost over this.
A terrible storm raged in the pit of her stomach.
Something wasn’t right.
9
Jade stood in the dark. Neve’s news nagged at her and, preposterous though it seemed, she couldn’t force it from her mind. She needed someone to talk to. Someone she could trust.
Axel was the first person who came to mind, but he was probably still off-world. Mama? No. Then Jade thought of Uncle Zorman and some of the tension fell away. He’d been so supportive since the reading of Papa’s will. Even before that—he’d been a sympathetic ear after Neve’s accident, when everyone else had been too busy and distracted to listen. Jade remembered how he had stroked her hair as guilty tears had run down her cheeks. Even if Zorman didn’t believe a word of this crazy story, he wouldn’t mock her. Jade straightened her shoulders, brightening a little.
Jade raced towards the platform and dove into the central column, her wings spreading into a glide, before beating powerfully as she angled upwards.
It was only when she approached the retractable roof that she remembered she was confined to Force HQ during training, unless she was with her training unit. She let herself glide, circling and thinking.
Then, as though he’d been summoned by her very thoughts, Zorman appeared below her. He was spiralling upwards, coming from the lower levels. She wondered briefly what he was doing here, before pushing the thought aside.
Jade flew straight at him, her eyes fixed on him as she dodged several other Travellers in the air column. Zorman landed on the platform that led to the officers’ private space.
Jade hesitated. As an airwoman, she wasn’t permitted entrance to the officers’ level, which contained their sleeping quarters and mess hall.
Still, this was her chance. If she was sent back to her unit before speaking to Zorman, they might fly back to the southern plains and who knew how long they would stay there?
Jade ignored caution and followed Zorman, descending to the platform before she lost her nerve.
She threw a quick look over her shoulder as she touched down, then hurried through the sliding door. The hall was empty except for Zorman striding away from her. Jade hurried after him, wincing at the sound of her feet on the metal floor.
As she drew closer, Zorman turned to speak to someone. Jade slowed, treading lightly. Though not close enough to hear their conversation, Zorman moved aside and she saw who he was talking to.
Scosse.
Jade flattened herself against a door. The flush of adrenalin swept over her. She shouldn’t be here.
She stood in the doorway, aware that it hid her from the two men speaking in the hall, then peeped out, looking for an opportunity to slip away. Scosse was facing in her direction. If his gaze wandered from Zorman’s face, he would see her. She pulled back into the doorway, holding her breath.
She waited, listening to the timbre of male voices, but their words were unclear. She pressed the side of her face to the metal wall, feeling the cold seep into her skin where it touched. Scosse looked uncomfortable, even afraid. Then Zorman handed him something, a package, which Scosse quickly tucked into a pocket of his black uniform. Then he disappeared back into a room she couldn’t see.
Zorman spun around and strode in her direction.
When he was level with her, Jade stepped out of the doorway. She shot Zorman an apologetic smile and saw his eyes widen, then narrow. He grabbed her arm and pulled her along the hallway with him.
“What are you doing here?” he hissed. “This area is restricted to officers.”
“You’re not an officer,” Jade pointed out.
Zorman glared, but the corners of his mouth started to twitch. “No, but I used to be. And Trev Scosse has been one of my good friends since we trained together. I visit him regularly. People know me so they bend the rules a little.” Zorman’s expression became stern. “Don’t expect them to bend them for you, though. You have to earn those privileges. What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to speak to you.”
Zorman raised an eyebrow. “Something important?”
Jade nodded and her stomach twisted as she contemplated what she was about to tell her uncle. “I heard something…” She remembered to keep Neve’s name out of it just in time. “About Papa’s death. That it wasn’t—”
“Stop,” Zorman ordered, glancing over his shoulder. He leaned closer and lowered his voice to a whisper. “We’ll talk, but not here. Follow me.”
Zorman turned to leave, but Jade caught his arm. “I can’t leave Force HQ,” she said. “Not while I’m in training.”
“If anyone asks, leave the talking to me.”
Before Jade could reply, Zorman stepped through the doorway and leapt into the air column.
* * *
Zorman’s confidence was not misplaced. They flew past security without any questions from the guards and the retractable roof was opened to allow them to exit.
Jade breathed in the salty air, as the wind streamed over her wings. She twisted into a roll, then turned her face up to feel the warmth of the sunlight.
When she righted herself, Zorman was flying away from the cliffs and over the water. She followed as he turned north to follow the coastline.
The strong off-shore winds soon stung her eyes. She angled her body into the wind to follow the course Zorman set. They hadn’t flown far before Zorman started to descend, coming to land on a little beach at the base of the cliffs—an alcove protected from the wind. The sea lapped at bla
ck pebbles that shined with moisture and sparkled where the sunlight hit them. Jade landed, treading carefully on the odd shapes of the slippery but sun-warmed pebbles under her feet. From here, Jade couldn’t see Ingresston or the Portal.
“What do you want to tell me about Magnus?” Zorman asked.
Jade recounted what Neve had told her while Zorman bent down to pick up a handful of pebbles and started tossing them, one by one, into the waves. She watched him as she spoke, taking in his uncharacteristic frown.
“But magic doesn’t really exist,” Jade finished. “It’s crazy. Even so, something happened to Papa. He didn’t just die of natural causes…” She trailed off. She didn’t know what to believe, but she knew something wasn’t right. She waited for Zorman to reply. The silence stretched between them, broken only by the sound of the waves lapping at the black pebbles.
Jade heard the plop of Zorman’s last stone dropping into the water. She rubbed her hands against her trousers while Zorman stared out towards the horizon.
“I’m sorry you had to hear that.” He cleared his throat. “Unfortunately, it’s not news to me.”
Jade blinked. “It’s not?”
Zorman shook his head. “I didn’t want to worry you or Esme about it, but I was informed of the inconsistencies in the Chief Healer’s report.” Zorman paused. “That’s not even the whole story.”
“What?” Jade gasped.
“You were at Scosse’s announcement today? About the killing of Travellers on Premye?”
Jade nodded, frowning at Zorman’s sudden change in subject.
“It seems that Magnus’ murderer is responsible for these killings.”
Jade’s mouth fell open. “Why?”
Zorman took a deep breath. Before he answered, another question tumbled from her mouth.
“Premyans?”
Zorman shook his head. “Unlikely.” He paused. “Another Taraqan, I think.”
“Why would the Chief Healer tell us it was natural causes, if it wasn’t?”
This time Zorman did not pause. He looked straight into her eyes. “Because I asked him to.” Jade stared at her uncle. The wind picked up and tugged at the hair around her face, lashing her eyes and cheeks. “You and Esme were—are—grieving. I didn’t want a scandal surrounding your father’s death. I didn’t want either of you to be hurt,” Zorman sighed. “Perhaps it was the wrong decision. Esme seems more depressed. I might help her to know—not accusations and guesses, mind you—but if someone were to be brought to justice, it might bring her out of her melancholy.”
Jade felt dizzy. She slumped down onto the beach and pushed her hands into the pebbles. She clenched her teeth and closed her fingers around a fistful of the little stones.
Jade flung both handfuls of pebbles into the water, watching them disappear into the waves rolling in towards the beach in haphazard lines of white foam. Her anger burned out and she buried her face in her hands. Her body collapsed in on itself. Then, like a whisper from a dream, Papa’s voice echoed: Release me.
Jade opened her eyes, watching the waves crash on the black pebbles, seeing nothing. She made a fist around the pendant Papa had been holding when he died, squeezing it so tight the edges of it bit into her palm. When she looked up at Zorman, she was breathing hard, but her words rang out clear and strong. “I’m going to make them pay for what they’ve done to our family.”
* * *
As Zorman sat next to Jade, a bank of clouds raced across the sky, casting moving shadows over the pebbled beach. The wind grew stronger, carving the Western Sea into whitecaps. A plume of smoke curled up from the crater of Mt. Reve, and the ground trembled, as though Our Lady Taraqa herself had heard Jade’s declaration. The clouds obscured the sun, the temperature dropped and Jade wrapped her arms around her chest.
Zorman ran a hand through his hair, a sign that reflected his unease. “Let’s not rush into anything,” he said. “You’re angry. I am too—but it is dangerous to pursue this.”
Jade tensed. “You think I should do nothing?”
Zorman looked out towards the horizon.
“Nobody else knows,” Jade continued. “If the Chief Healer didn’t report it, the authorities won’t act. Not unless…” Jade’s eyes widened. She turned to Zorman. “You could make him change it back.”
A muscle in Zorman’s jaw twitched. He shook his head.
“Why?”
“It would upset Esme.”
“You said it would help her if the murderer was caught.”
“Yes, after he’s caught.”
“We’ve come full circle then.” Jade grabbed another fistful of stones, hurling them at the white-capped waves. “The authorities won’t act unless the Chief Healer changes his report and you won’t even talk to him!”
Zorman put a hand on her shoulder, but Jade shrugged it off, refusing to meet his eye. When he spoke, it was in a quiet, measured tone. “Even if I did, the Chief Healer is a proud man. He did me a favour, but he won’t be made to look a fool.”
“So, the authorities won’t act,” Jade said, her voice rising with frustration. “But you don’t want me to do anything. You’re happy to let things be as they are?” She scrambled to her feet, unable to sit any longer.
“No.” Zorman stood and, taking her by the shoulders, turned her to look at him. “I don’t want you putting yourself in danger.”
Jade felt the intensity of his stare. “But if I don’t, who will? You?”
Zorman let his hands drop from her shoulders and ran a hand through his hair again. He gave her a look. “I can’t. I have a duty to run Gariq Industries now.” He raised an eyebrow, seeking her reaction.
Jade swallowed, digesting his words. She felt the full force of the wind on her face. He was giving her a choice: take back Gariq Industries and let him look for the killer, do nothing and let the killer go free, or find the killer herself.
She dismissed the second option; she couldn’t live with herself if she did nothing. If she took over Gariq Industries, she wondered, would she ever get away? The third option was dangerous, sure, but it also meant travelling and following her dreams. And she would be the one to avenge Papa, which felt somehow right.
Release me.
If Papa couldn’t crossover to the next life without justice being done, Jade wouldn’t let him down.
“I’m going,” Jade said.
Zorman pressed his lips together, then gave her a sideways glance. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “If I was in your shoes, I’d make the same decision.”
Jade beamed at him. This was the uncle she knew; the charismatic daredevil, always up for a challenge. She took his hand and squeezed it, understanding that, for all his caution, he was behind her.
“I didn’t want to tell you, not before you’d made your decision,” Zorman said, “but I haven’t been doing nothing these past few days. I have been trying to find out who is behind this.”
“You know something?” Jade’s heart tripped, then raced. She looked expectantly at Zorman.
Zorman nodded. “I wish I didn’t have to tell you,” he paused. “It’s a terrible betrayal of your father.”
“Who?” Jade demanded.
Zorman looked at her with pity in his eyes. “Axel.”
Jade frowned as she tilted her head to the side, trying to understand what Zorman was telling her. “Axel what?” Jade asked. Her stomach lurched. “You don’t mean—”
“I do. I know it’s a shock. I wish it was a shock to me.”
Jade was shaking her head, staring at Zorman with wide eyes. “Papa trusted Axel.”
“Magnus took Axel on despite his past, despite who he is, and raised him up from nothing,” Zorman shook his head, his mouth curling into a snarl. “I always said Axel couldn’t be trusted. You only needed to look to his… upbringing. I warned your father, from the start. But Magnus always saw the potential in people.” Zorman grimaced. “Sometimes not the reality.”
Jade swallowed, feeling sick in the stomach. She
opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again. She didn’t know what to say. Axel? Axel?
“You know Axel,” Zorman continued. “He’s a friend—but a wily one. When he needs someone, he masks his faults, only lets them see his good side. He has a grudge against the Traveller Force. He was dishonourably discharged; did you know that? It’s why he’s doing this.”
Jade’s mind whirled. She wanted to reject this idea. Axel couldn’t have done this.
He wouldn’t.
Jade thought back to the last time she had seen him. He’d seemed so strange that day. Distracted. Distant.
Nervous.
He’d spoken resentfully about the Traveller Force that day, too. Then Kyssa had seen him going through the Portal on the same day Papa had died.
Was killed, she corrected herself.
Axel hadn’t been seen since.
There was a bitter taste in her mouth. If Zorman’s accusation was true, Axel had betrayed her too. He’d made her believe he liked her, that only respect for Papa was holding him back from taking the next step in their relationship. Had he been stringing her along to get closer to Papa? Jade’s chest tightened, squeezing all the air from her lungs. Tears moistened her eyes.
“Does this make a difference?” Zorman asked. His gaze prickled the back of her neck.
Did it? Papa was dead. Taraqans were dying. Nobody else knew why. Could she put aside her feelings for Axel? Her stomach lurched. Could she let Papa’s death go unpunished? Could she allow his spirit to wander aimlessly, unable to cross over? Could she let Mama wallow in grief?
Would she ever forgive herself for standing by and doing nothing? Jade closed her eyes, knowing what her answer must be. “No.”
10
Jade trailed behind Zorman, beating her wings against the strong southerly winds. Her body hurt all over—wings, back and arms especially—and she was exhausted.
She barely noticed the landscape as she flew, her mind reeling with everything she’d learned from Zorman.