Rook (Bridge & Sword: Awakenings #1): Bridge & Sword World

by JC Andrijeski

  “Not now, Cass.” Jon patted my shoulder when I didn’t look up. Taking my hand, he rubbed my fingers with his. “You all right, little sis? Your brain’s not going to explode, is it?” Once my eyes flickered up, he smiled. “Surprised to see us?”

  I nodded.

  “Did you think we were dead?” he said.

  I nodded again, feeling tears come to my eyes.

  “And Revik?” Jon prompted. “You thought he was dead?”

  Fighting the impulse to turn, to confirm what I’d seen standing in the hall, ignoring me, which should have been confirmation enough… I gave Jon another nod. I wiped my cheek with the back of my hand, then sank to the leather couch. Cass and Jon sat on either side of me, each with an arm slung around my back. I don’t know how long I sat there, but eventually, I took a hand from each of them. I cleared my throat.

  “We haven’t eaten,” I said. “Maygar’s probably—”

  “Yeah.” Cass’s voice was quiet. “They’re talking right now. Him and that other guy.”

  “Oh.” I didn’t look towards the door.

  “So I guess Terian wasn’t lying about you and Revik?” Jon smiled, punching my arm. “You’ve got a frickin’ husband, Al? How did that happen?”

  “He really did save our lives,” Cass added. “He’s a nice guy, honestly… if a little scary at times.” Her voice grew tentative. “Is he still your husband though, Allie? He thinks you’re really mad at him. It sounded like he deserved it. But, well… I like him, Al. A lot.”

  I stared at the pattern in the rug.

  After a few seconds, I let out a short laugh. It sounded like a seal’s bark.

  “I think she’s in shock, Cass,” Jon said.

  “Well, where is he?” she said, sounding angry. “I thought he’d come in here at least. What’s he doing out there?”

  “Hiding.” Jon laughed, poking me in the ribs with his fingers. “Turns out Rambo might be afraid of his wife. Are you going to talk to him, sis? Or let him stew out there?”

  I raised my hands, using my fingers to comb the hair out of my face.

  “Is there a bathroom?” I said.

  I felt them look at each other.

  Then Jon’s voice grew matter-of-fact. “Yeah. Sure.”

  He stood me up, steering me gently towards the door of the study. He walked me right past Revik and Maygar, both of whom I felt looking at me now. I followed Jon to the base of the staircase without returning their stares, and he pointed up.

  “Bathrooms are bigger up there. You can even take a bath if you want… in fact, I highly recommend it. There’s clothes, too. Cass has bags of new stuff. Second door down, I think. He took us shopping a few days ago, and man does that guy have an expense account.” Jon grinned when I glanced up, but the grin faded when he saw my face. “Al. Are you all right?”

  I nodded. “Don’t wait for me. I won’t be long.”

  He pulled me into his arms. I felt his heart, a warm flare in his chest.

  “I’m so glad you’re all right, Al. I’ve been worried about you. For months. I was beginning to think…”

  Tears stuck in my throat. “Me too.”

  He let me go. After standing there awkwardly for a few more seconds, I turned and began to climb the stairs. When I glanced down from the half-floor landing, Jon still looked up at me, his eyes worried, his hands resting on his hips below too-thin arms decorated with tattoos. I noticed new scars, fading bruises, and looked away.

  I need a bath, I thought. Then I would feel normal again.

  Then I would be all right.

  44

  LUNCH

  IT TOOK ME longer than what I’d told Jon.

  I didn’t know whose bedroom I was in, didn’t want to think about it too closely when I saw women’s shampoo on the rack alongside men’s.

  Wrapped in a towel once I’d finished, I wandered into two different rooms before I found the shopping bags Jon mentioned. I was over two inches taller than Cass by then, with a chest about two sizes smaller, but I finally settled on low-hung silk pants and a stretchy tee. After scrutinizing my reflection in the mirror for far too long, contemplating make up, then abandoning the idea, I tied my hair in a loose knot at the base of my neck and made myself go downstairs.

  Jon and Cass were alive. My best friends were alive. By the time I reached the bottom of the stairs, that much had finally penetrated.

  My smile as I entered the dining room even felt real.

  I sat in the chair closest to the door without making eye contact with anyone other than Jon, who, seeing my smile, grinned back. I looked for Cass, found her sitting next to Revik in the opposite corner. He had an arm draped over the back of her chair, and she laughed as she told him something. He smiled, tugging the ends of her long hair. I stared at his hand where he touched her, saw more affection in his eyes as he looked at her than he’d ever aimed at me.

  I heard Maygar’s mocking voice as we’d approached the building.

  …prefers humans.

  Revik’s eyes swiveled to mine. For the first time, he looked directly at me, and the look there was…

  Christ. It was guilt.

  I moved before my brain could process a complete thought.

  “Allie.” Revik’s chair squealed on the hard wood. He stood almost as I did. “Allie.” He held out a hand, what looked like a peace gesture, or something you might do to calm an animal. “Allie. Where are you going?”

  Silence fell on the room. I swallowed, looking around at faces.

  Honestly, I hadn’t fully realized I’d stood until then.

  Maygar sat back in his chair, arms folded. He raised an eyebrow at me, but I flinched when I saw the pity in his eyes. Jon gave Revik a warning look I couldn’t interpret, and Cass just looked confused.

  I couldn’t make myself look at Revik.

  “I…” I cleared my throat. “Sorry.” I waved vaguely at the spread on the table. “Go on, eat. I’ll be right back.” Anger at myself made it hard to look at any of them. I needed to regroup, to come back when I had my head on straight. I couldn’t look at Cass like this. They’d obviously been through hell. I had no right to begrudge anyone anything that might have come of it, especially since I was—

  “Allie!” Revik’s voice was sharp.

  When everyone looked at him, he cleared his throat.

  “Can it wait? We need you here. Maygar didn’t want to speak for you.”

  I looked at Maygar, who nodded, indicating for me to sit. “We need a plan, Bridge. Your husband…” He said the word with open contempt, and I felt Revik’s eyes shift to him. “…seems to believe they may have been followed. That they were allowed to escape in the hopes he would lead the Rooks to you.” Maygar looked to Jon. “Did I get that right?”

  “Yeah.” Jon glanced between Maygar and Revik, wary. “Yeah. That’s right.”

  I stood there, feeling trapped. I looked at Cass, saw that Revik had moved his chair several feet from hers. Feeling sick, I looked at Jon. His eyes openly asked me to stay. Noticing again how thin he was, I swallowed, nodding. I glanced at the scar on Cass’s face, saw her looking at me with worry in her eyes, and hated myself more.

  Gods, what was wrong with me?

  “All right.” I lowered my weight to the chair. “Sure.”

  I felt everyone around the table exhale.

  Cass was the first to smile at me. “Maygar said you’ve been in India this whole time?”

  I nodded. “Yeah. For the last few months, anyway. Learning. Training. You know.”

  “Why are you here?” Revik said.

  Before I could stop myself, I looked at him.

  His face had fallen back into the infiltrator’s mask, his eyes focused on the table. He really was thin. Thinner than Cass or Jon, although all three of them looked like concentration camp victims. When Cass shoved a plate at me, I tugged it closer with my fingers, picking at a pile of what looked like fried potatoes with a fork.

  “I was looking for clues,” I said.
“Imprints, I guess.”

  “Of what?” Revik said. He didn’t raise his eyes.

  “I’ve been tracking Galaith. I got as far as you.”

  Cass shoved a forkful of salad in her mouth. “What’s a Galaith?” she said.

  “The head of the Rooks’ network,” Revik said. “Terian’s old boss.” His voice aimed back at me. “Why him?”

  I shrugged, not answering. I honestly didn’t have a good answer. None I could say to all of them. I’d been tracking Galaith to find Revik, to get him out of the Rooks’ network, where I thought he was stuck after he died.

  I couldn’t say that to him, not now, so I shielded my mind.

  I felt Revik react to my silence, a near flinch.

  “What about the bomb?” Jon said. “Pakistan. Was that you?”

  I felt the illness worsen, realized Revik was actually scanning me with his light. “No,” I said. I glanced at Jon, forced a smile. “No bombs lately.”

  There was another silence while everyone ate. I watched Revik cut up a piece of meat and stare at it. Jon and Cass ate like they were starving, like they might not eat again. I saw Cass nudge Revik to eat then, and looked away.

  “Allie,” Revik said, still not looking at me. “What do you want with Galaith? You know he’d only be replaced, if—”

  “Yeah, I know, I…” Realizing I’d cut him off, I stopped. I felt my face warm, but kept my voice neutral, almost businesslike. “The seers in India, they had a plan. It required knowing who Galaith is. In the real world, I mean. I’ve been able to help them some, with the tracking…”

  I trailed, trying to decide if that was true.

  “…Well, I had more of a direct line to him, anyway. For a number of reasons.” Swallowing, I didn’t look at Revik. “Their plan is kind of a long shot, but anything would have been. I couldn’t just do nothing, and Vash asked for my help, so…”

  Feeling them all staring at me again, I glanced at Maygar, maybe for help.

  “Look, this isn’t really the important thing now, is it?” I said. “It sounds like they probably know I’m in London. Maybe we should split up. Head back to Asia separately. Revik can probably do whatever it is the Seven needed me for, now that he’s back.” I gave him a bare glance. “I only came here to try and tap his memories, anyway.”

  I felt a pulse of something, realized it came from Revik. Whatever it was, it was intense enough to startle me. I glanced over at his face, but his eyes were fixed on Maygar.

  His voice flattened. “You should know… there’s a factional struggle happening within the Rooks. Terian’s making a play for the top spot. My guess is, he wants you to do it for him. Or to use you as leverage, maybe. Maybe even to do whatever it is you were planning to do with the Seven.”

  “I doubt that.”

  “Allie,” he said. “All I meant is—”

  “I know what you mean,” I said, cutting him off again.

  At his silence, I flushed, waving a hand over the table.

  “I get it, Revik. You think he’s playing me. That he maneuvered me into whatever I’m doing.” I glanced at Maygar, who scowled, folding his arms. “Maybe you’re right. I was just trying to help, like I said. Maybe you’ll feel differently if you know it’s not my plan. It’s Vash’s. I haven’t known him that long, but he seems to have the confidence of the rest of the infiltrators.”

  Another silence fell after I said it.

  I felt my face warm, but didn’t look at anyone around the table. Replaying my own words, I realized again how they probably sounded, given everything.

  I tried to decide how I could walk them back, or change the subject maybe.

  Revik broke the silence.

  “I didn’t mean what I said as an insult, Allie,” he said, his voice quiet. “He’s good at that. Manipulating events. All I meant was—”

  “I understand,” I said. “It’s all right, Revik. Really. Sorry for being so defensive. I don’t know what I’m doing. Believe me, I get that. It’s fine.”

  I felt my jaw harden when I realized I’d cut him off again.

  Avoiding his eyes, I looked around the table, forcing myself to take in their physical condition, to really see it. I replayed Revik’s words in my head, looking at Jon’s hand, the cut on Cass’s face, whatever was wrong with Revik’s neck. Suddenly, everything I’d been doing with the Seven struck me as borderline delusional.

  “Maybe you’re right,” I said again, speaking into the silence. “You probably are right, Revik.” I hesitated, looking around at them again. “I went after the wrong Rook.”

  I felt my face warm again when I replayed my own words.

  Shaking my head, I fought my voice.

  “Look, I’m sorry. I really am. I’m not saying anything right. I guess I don’t know how to say how terrible I feel about what happened to all of you.”

  “Allie,” Cass said, softly.

  I glanced at her. Seeing the brightness in her eyes, I looked at Jon. “The truth is, it’s still not safe, being near me. It’s not safe knowing me at all. You must realize that now. I wish that was different. I really do. But it’s not. It might not ever be.”

  When no one said anything, I cleared my throat, wiping my eyes.

  “When we’re done here, Maygar and I should probably go.” I hesitated, glancing at Revik. He wouldn’t return my gaze. Looking past him, to Cass, I said, “Revik can probably get you somewhere safe. I’ve got money now. Vash promised me funds. I could…” I glanced at Revik. “…Hire him, I mean. If that’s all right.”

  Another silence fell.

  I felt them staring at me, everyone except Revik.

  Then Maygar grunted in amusement. He glanced at Revik, tossing his napkin to the table.

  “Hear that?” he said. “You’ve been dismissed, Rook-boy.”

  “Shut up, Maygar,” I said.

  “Oh, don’t worry. I approve, Bridge. And you’re right. He’s probably screwing the hot Asian chick…”

  “What?” Cass stared at him, then at me. “What did he say?”

  I shook my head, giving Maygar a hard look. “He didn’t say anything, Cass. Please, just forget it.”

  I saw her open her mouth, then look back at Maygar. Her eyes narrowed at him, right before she seemed to make up her mind, folding her arms.

  “Whatever.”

  I stood up, unable to look at any of them now.

  “Look, this isn’t me blowing you off. Maygar was assigned to me by the Council, so he’s stuck. But none of you are.” I looked at Jon. “I don’t want to leave any of you. I love you. I hope you all know that. Revik knows how dangerous is it to be around me… he’ll tell you.”

  There was a silence, this one longer. Revik didn’t move in his chair.

  The human servant, Eddard, finally broke it by walking into the room. He glanced around, one eyebrow arched in question at the silence.

  Then he cleared his throat, looking directly at me.

  “Ma’am?” He waited for me to turn.

  For a moment I couldn’t take my eyes off the others around the table. Jon was staring at Revik, as if willing him to say something. Cass was looking at me, her eyes holding a kind of disbelief, but I saw anger there, too. She glared at Maygar then, but he only smiled, winking at her before he kissed the air with his lips.

  When I glanced at Revik, I found I couldn’t look away. He was staring at the table, his face completely devoid of expression.

  “Ma’am?”

  I turned my head, finally realizing his words were aimed at me.

  “What?” I said. “Eddard? What is it?”

  “The military is outside.”

  “What?” Maygar leapt to his feet, shoving his chair back. “Which one?”

  Eddard looked only at me. “I believe all of them, sir.”

  45

  DESCENT

  I CROUCHED IN an alcove by a long row of chimneys.

  Revik and Maygar pretty much took over once the military showed up. Within seconds they wer
e using Revik’s secure network, contacting people in the Seven’s Guard, calling in a team to get us out through the roof.

  Still, the silence was deafening.

  I didn’t know what the others thought.

  I didn’t want to read any of them, but I felt a fair bit of anger and hurt off Cass especially. I felt hurt on Jon, too, but more sadness than anger. I bit my lip, doing everything in my power not to point out that what was happening right now was exactly the kind of thing I was worried about dragging them into.

  “I should have never come here,” I muttered.

  I’d been standing to the side of one of Revik’s windows when I said it, looking down on the street. I felt a kind of futility wash over me when I saw the line of military cars clustering at the base of the building. Someone down there had a voice amplifier and was shouting instructions. I heard other languages besides English, so it was a good bet SCARB was down there, too.

  Feed vans pulled up right as Maygar grabbed my arm, tugging me away from the window.

  I let him drag me up the stairs along with the others, then to a smaller, hidden staircase behind a small bureau in the master bedroom. Above that one, an even more narrow staircase lived, one that led up to a metal plated door and out onto the roof.

  All six of us now squatted in a low line, gazing at the same expanse of gray sky.

  Revik leaned on the wall beside me.

  I hadn’t really thought through the order in which we walked that last piece of stairs, but now he was clearly too close. Clutching the edge of one brick by my face, I managed to close off my light from his, but my eyes drifted to him again and again.

  He didn’t return my glances.

  I focused on a fading welt that showed above his white collared shirt.

  “I’ll tell you, Allie,” he said. “Anything you want to know. But not now.”

  My throat tightened. He’d felt me looking at him.

  Of course he had. Even if he wasn’t who he was, he still had a construct over this place. Given our connection, he could probably hear everything I thought when we were this close, whether I tried to shield my thoughts or not.