Void Born

by R. J. Metcalf

  “True.” He toyed with the green Monomi ring on his right hand, and glanced up at her through his hair. “I suppose I should stop calling them veebs, then?”

  “That’s up to you.” She shrugged and tugged at the lightweight shawl around her shoulders. “But that’s all beside the point. Zaborah can watch me here. You should get out. I know you want to hunt them.”

  He planted an elbow on the table and settled his chin on his fist, frowning. “As much as I need justice served with Victor, I wouldn’t leave you here, wondering what’s going on and going crazy by yourself.” His eyes softened, and the corner of his mouth turned up. “Besides, we don’t get the opportunity to play this like we used to.”

  Jade smiled in spite of herself as she waited for him to make his next move. It was true. When he’d joined the Sapphire so many years ago, this had been one of the first things he’d taught her and Krista. Back when they were all kids. During simpler days.

  Jade tapped on the ten of agate and bit her lip. It was something she’d mentioned before, but ...“What if I ran away? Changed my name?” She tugged on the red braid that rested on her shoulder. “Dyed my hair?”

  Zak’s head was shaking before she could finish the thought. “That won’t stop anything. Everett will still know that you’re out there.” He gestured at the elaborately carved and gilded doorway behind her. “The Doldran nobles know you’re alive. There’s no easy way out. Whether you rule or not, we still have to address what to do with all of them.”

  Jade leaned back from the table and resisted the urge to cross her arms like a petulant child. “I keep telling the nobles, and they don’t listen. I don’t want the throne. I know nothing about ruling people.”

  “Mm, not entirely true.” Zak crossed his arms, and his lopsided smile tugged at her heart. “You know how to inspire people. How to manage things on an airship. How to give orders.” His smile flattened, and his eyebrows twitched. “And how not to follow orders.” He shrugged. “That’s a good start for leadership skills, seems like.”

  “An airship is not a kingdom, Zak.” Jade shook her head and blinked rapidly, trying to keep the tears from welling up in her eyes. “I can’t be responsible for so many lives. I can’t even make decisions for myself that don’t end badly.” She lightly rubbed her healing breastbone. “I nearly got myself killed. And now they want me to lead? They’re crazy.”

  “Have you even considered the possibility? Truly considered it? Not just thought about it and immediately rejected it?”

  Heat flushed Jade’s cheeks, and she stared at a nearby couch, tracing the piping with her eyes. “No.”

  Zak’s words were soft. None of the pushy aggression she’d been hearing from most others. “At least consider it. Fully.” He gripped a tile between his thumb and forefinger, gazing at it with distant eyes. “You could do a lot of good here, you know.” His eyes met hers, and she could see the sincerity in his gaze, the bittersweet smile. “I know you can rise to the occasion.”

  Zander’s words rose in her mind: You’re talented and skilled in ways uniquely suited to you.

  “I’d eventually have to marry,” Jade replied, the words bitter in her mouth. “And to someone royal. Not even a noble would be a compatible match for a queen.”

  “Yes.” Zak’s turn to look away. His jaw clenched, and he swallowed hard.

  “And you want me to consider such a possibility?” Heat flooded her gut, rising to her face and making her hands shake. “No. I’d be willing to consider the idea of ruling, if it meant I could do so by my own rules. But to enter into the arena of politics and abide by what they expect me to do with my life? That doesn’t work for me. Never.” Jade slapped down a tile. “Your move.”

  They played in silence for several turns before Jade’s irritation ebbed enough that she could try to hold a conversation again. It hurt, this rift. He only wanted to do what was right. And he’d made a promise to her mother to protect her. Jade’s birth mother. Jade couldn’t hold it against him. He was between a rock and a mountain, and she wasn’t making it any easier for him. She sighed. “What do you think will happen, now that the Monomi have broken the treaty?”

  Jade didn’t know the particulars of the treaty, what would happen if everyone broke it. Governor Bentley had been the one to reinforce it, and he’d been the one to make Zak’s life as miserable as possible whenever he was in Doldra. The Monomi weren’t allowed to train with weapons, or use them in any sort of a fight—not that it stopped them from training in secret. They were no longer to be considered Guardians of the citadel and keystone—not that it changed all of the citizens’ minds or meant that the Monomi stopped holding their rites of passage. And Zak was banished from Doldra with the exception of Ellie’s shipping yards. All of which had been broken.

  Even if Queen Violet understood and didn’t hold it against the Monomi, Lord Everett wouldn’t tolerate it. Jade had witnessed his callous cruelty before. What would he do to the noble clan? Would he banish them all? Like Zak had been? Her stomach clenched. Would Everett execute them? Children, along with the adults? A snippet of her dream the other night flashed through her memory—Zak and all his family, beheaded in the City Circle. She swallowed hard and shook away the bloody images. That had been a dream. Only a dream.

  Zak’s shoulders dropped as he looked at her, sorrow mixed with a hint of fear in his eyes. “Your guess is as good as mine.” He shook his head. “But it won’t be good.”

  “When do you think we’ll hear from him?” Jade bit her lip, rolling a tile in her hands, the black onyx glinting with each rotation. She set it on the board with a sigh.

  Zak gripped his black sleeve with his right hand, brow furrowed. “I don’t know.” He glanced up. “But don’t let him intimidate you. No matter what. If you choose to rule, that’s your choice. Don’t allow yourself to be blackmailed or bribed. If you show weakness like that, Everett will exploit it and make your life shehalla on Terrene.” Zak’s hard gaze pinned Jade to her seat. “Even if he were to go to the extreme, to threaten everyone you love, hold fast.” He swallowed hard, his eyes searching hers. Her heart stuttered under his intense scrutiny as he continued, “If you become our queen, you need to be strong. Unmovable against Everett. Even if he threatens me, my family, my clan. We Monomi made our choice, fully knowing the risk of retaliation. Don’t bear a burden that isn’t yours.”

  Jade took a shaky breath, trying to process all that he’d just said. She rubbed at the goosebumps that had erupted across her arms as he had talked. Does he really think I’d be able to be that strong against Everett? How could I accept that they may die because of me? I can’t. It was like he knew what her nightmares had been about last night, even though she had no memory of sharing them. Did he really know her that well? Or was she that transparent? And how could she accept the idea of such losses, when she was still reeling from Slate’s death?

  Zak placed an eight of topaz on the board and gestured at his remaining tile. “Almost out.”

  She looked up to see Zak smiling gently at her.

  He shook his head. “Don’t dwell on it now, Jade.” He gestured to the board. “Finish this round, then call it a night. You don’t want to sleep through everyone leaving in the morning, do you?”

  “Right.” Jade glanced at her two tiles, then back at the board with all the twists and turns the game had taken. Just like my life. “You’ll be there for their send-off, right?”

  “I’ll be wherever you are.” Zak’s simple words melted some of the stress and sorrow from her shoulders, and she relaxed into the chair.

  Now if only she could banish all the freshly renewed concerns, and sleep.

  Chapter Six

  Jade

  Jade turned from Queen Violet’s airship and breathed a sigh of relief as it veered away from the palace. Finally. Violet had been in Doldra for only one full day, but that had been enough for Jade. She’d tried to avoid her and her talk of Jade stepping up to the throne, but Violet seemed to know all the places
that Jade had tried to sequester herself away. This morning Violet had found her hiding in the library and had informed her that she would be recalling Advisor Samuel from his Perennia mission to be her and Jade’s in-between, here at Doldra. He was trustworthy for both of them, and he was the only familiar face that Jade could be somewhat comfortable with.

  Because—according to Violet—Jade was going to realize the inevitable and take on the crown.

  And Queen Violet wondered why Jade wanted to avoid her?

  Two guards opened the double-wide doors for Jade as she walked into the palace. The notion of ruling Doldra, especially so soon after learning the truth, just didn’t sit right. Too much had happened in too short a time, and she felt like she was on an airship going down in flames. It had to end.

  She still hadn’t had time to even mourn her own father. Life kept moving too fast for her to take the time to fall apart and grieve.

  Zak’s words from last night echoed in her mind: If you become our queen, you need to be strong. She was strong. As a mechanic. Not a princess. Then Zander’s comment: Each citizen needs to do his or her part to fulfill their role, or everyone suffers. She knew her role. Mechanic to the Sapphire. Again, not a princess.

  She shook her head. No. She wasn’t going to go on that spiraling spring again. It would only lead her down to the bottom, then bounce and bring her to the top to go down again. She had to focus. Ben and part of her crew were going to be leaving soon, and she couldn’t miss saying goodbye to them.

  Would they still be packing? Done packing? Already boarding the Phoenix? Jade picked up the hem of her sky-blue skirt and rushed through the hallways, not caring if the palace staff had to dodge out of her way. She’d apologize later.

  She skidded to a halt just outside Ben’s open door, panic filling her. Had they already left, and she’d missed them? No, Ben was still here, kneeling by a bedroll. She panted in the doorway, watching him roll a shirt and tuck it in his pack, his back to her. Oh, to be free to go with them!

  He’d become a close friend in such a short amount of time, and it was hard to imagine what life in the palace would be like without him or the guys.

  “Are you going to stand out there all day and watch me pack, or are you going to come in here and watch me pack?” Ben shot her a grin over his shoulder. He quirked an eyebrow. “Besides, are you healed enough to run?”

  “Sorry.” Jade crossed the threshold and perched on the nearest bed. She gnawed on her lip and touched the thin scar above her shirt line. It burned with each breath, but it was worth it, just to make sure she didn’t miss at least Ben. “I ...probably shouldn’t have run. No telling Finn.” Ben snorted and she ignored him, tracing a finger along the embroidered bedspread. “They’re still all going with you?”

  “Yeah.” Ben dropped a toothbrush in his pack, tugged the laces to cinch the top, then buckled the flap down. He pivoted to face Jade and plopped on the floor, his back to the wall. “Ash wanted to get his ‘last royal breakfast,’ so he packed as soon as we got back here this morning. The others went down to prep the Phoenix. I thought they were going to find you to let you know they were heading out.”

  Jade tamped down on her disappointment. They’d probably looked for her while she was with the queen. “I guess I missed them.”

  “I’m sorry,” He shot her a sympathetic smile. “Geist wouldn’t admit it, but I know they’re all nervous to leave you alone. Something about you being a troublemaker or something?”

  “Funny,” Jade deadpanned. “I’d say the same for them.”

  Ben grinned, then snapped his fingers and pulled the bag closer, digging through an outer pouch.

  Jade’s gaze dropped to her shiny new “princess” boots. “I don’t want you to go.”

  Ben froze in her peripheral, and heat rose to her cheeks at how her words sounded.

  “I mean, I know why you are going, and I want you to catch him. Really. I want him stopped.” She glanced aside. “But, I’m going to miss you. Come back safe?”

  Ben stood and walked over, standing directly in front of her, arms crossed. “I can’t make any promises that I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep.” He untucked a hand, presenting her with a fist. “Hold out your hand. Actually, no. Stand up.”

  Jade squinted at him before allowing Ben to pull her to her feet. He grinned at her suspicious frown. “It’s nothing bad, I promise. Turn around.”

  She obeyed and shivered when he brushed her hair aside, then dropped a necklace over her head, clasping it for her.

  “There.”

  The satisfaction in his voice made her smile as she turned and lifted the jewelry to look at it. A wrench charm. He’d gotten her a necklace. Of a wrench. A short laugh puffed out of her.

  “I know the last few weeks have been tough for you,” Ben explained. “I didn’t want to leave you to face the politicians without something to remind you of who we see you as.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and nodded at her. “A mechanic, who could be a princess if she wanted, or a captain of her own airship, or whomever she wants to be.”

  Ben blurred and Jade sniffled, brushing a hand against her eyes. What in the world did she do to deserve a friend like him? “Thank you,” she croaked.

  “Of course.” Ben squeezed her arm, pulling her attention away from the jewelry and to him. His brow dropped, eyes fierce. “I know Zak is going to take care of you as best he can in this arena. And I’m going to do my best to stop Victor. Have faith. Don’t lose hope.”

  “Right.” Jade pressed her lips together as she nodded. What was with the guys in her life being so intense recently? Her poor heart couldn’t take much more. But what hope did they have, really? Ben’s group had to search a whole continent for a man who was so good he’d fooled even her father and Zak, working right next to them for a year. Real Void Born were involved, ready to wreak who-knew-what-kind of havoc. Her birth father was a berserker bandit who’d nearly killed her, and now he planned to leave her to a throne she didn’t want. Abandoning her in an impossible place, unable to wiggle free. She touched the pendant. “Thank you, Ben.” She lifted her eyebrows. “Any new memories?”

  Ben sat down on the bed, his posture not quite tense but no longer at ease. “Some.” He rubbed his forehead and looked away. “I know for a fact I’m not from Doldra.”

  “That’s a start,” Jade cheered.

  He hesitated, and a tender smile softened the tension in his brow. “I remember getting my sister a charm necklace before I left home, hence the idea to get you one, too.”

  Jade grinned. So it was a sister thing? “That’s sweet.” She started to sit, then realized it could look bad if someone came in and they were both sitting on the same bed, regardless of the open door. She wrinkled her nose and crossed over to the chair nearest the door. Stupid propriety, already interfering with my life. “Do you know where you’re from now?”

  He cleared his throat. “Oh, nowhere important.” He glanced at her, his smile dimming slightly. “I’d tell you if it were.”

  A whisper of movement drew Jade’s attention from Ben, and she jerked back, heart hammering when she saw Raine standing in the doorway. Today, the swordswoman wore a sleeveless green tunic over cream-colored breeches and tall boots, with two brown belts—one for her sword, one for her pouches—slung over her waist. Raine shot her an apologetic grin.

  “Sorry,” Raine ran a hand over her long braid as she dipped her head at Jade. “Papa scolds me for walking too quietly and sneaking up on people. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

  Jade pressed a hand against her heart and shook her head. “I should be used to it by now, with all the times Zak’s done that to me.”

  Raine chuckled and leaned against the door frame. “How are you feeling? Any improvements?”

  “If, by improvements, you mean can she run, then yes, she can run,” Ben said. He grinned at Jade’s outraged scowl. “You said to not tell Finn. You didn’t say anything about Raine.”

  “My bad.” Jade shru
gged lightly, looking up at Raine as the raven-haired woman laughed. “I wasn’t sure if I’d missed everyone, so, yes, I ran a bit. I’ll rest later, promise.”

  “Mmhmm. You seem as good a patient for Papa as I am.” Raine tilted her head at Jade, friendly respect in her eyes. “Take care.” She paused. “And good luck.”

  Jade’s heart twisted at the well-wish. Raine seemed to have the makings of a good friend, and it would’ve been nice to know her aunt’s friends better. “Thanks.”

  Raine nodded, all business as she looked to Ben. “You ready?”

  “Let’s roll.”

  Ben stood and slung the bag over his shoulder. Jade dropped her head. It was time. He was going. And she’d missed the chance to say goodbye to the rest of her crew. Some captain she was.

  Ben paused in front of Jade and brushed a kiss against her head. “Stay out of trouble, Red.”

  “You too, Steamboy.” Jade put on a brave smile as he walked out with Raine, but she let it drop once their footsteps faded.

  Now what? Was she to just wait around until Advisor Thistle showed up? Would the Monomi be comfortable with her wandering through the town? She tugged at a loose strand of hair and leaned into the cushion of the chair. It was too early for her afternoon nap. Maybe she could find Briar and Krista, challenge him to a cook-off, or see if he wanted to sweat it out in the physical therapy room. Finn had given her an extensive list of exercises she could work up to while he was gone, after all.

  Of course, all that required moving, and right now she lacked the motivation to do anything but sit and stare at the glossy floor and the thick rugs that spread out below each bed.

  “Jade.”

  Even before she looked up from the tile, she could hear the warning in Zak’s voice. Whatever he was about to say, she wasn’t going to like. She tilted her head, curious.

  “Adeline.”

  That voice was unwelcome.