Raine tugged on his arm. “Ben, kneel.”
Ben glanced up from the floor to realize that everyone but him was in the process of kneeling before the emperor. He dropped to his knees, wincing at the hard impact against his kneecaps. He heard Raine’s exasperated sigh, but kept his head down, hoping he hadn’t been noticed as the inattentive one.
“Emperor Ezran, these are the people who worked to protect Kelstone from the dragon attack,” Corporal Adonis announced. He cleared his throat. “They were there just after it was confirmed that the sacrifice stone had been used.”
“Rise, and let me see your faces.”
Ben stood with the crew and shifted so he wouldn’t be directly behind Kerlee, allowing the emperor to see him, and for him to study the emperor.
Ezran was taller than Ben had somehow expected, with short hair that was a few shades away from being light enough to be called blond. His face was round, almost like a cherub, but without the rosy cheeks and mischievous smile. Something about his eyes put Ben’s nerves on edge, though, as if they held some secret, or some power. They felt ...off. His gaze seemed to hold too much knowledge for a face that looked to be only in its mid-thirties.
A young woman stood behind Ezran, her shoulder-length hair a similar shade to his, and her face a bit thinner. Silver robes with green edging draped her form like a waterfall over rocks. Her lips pursed as she eyed Finn.
An Elph in shades of brown joined Adonis’s side. The newcomer looked over their group with hard, calculating eyes, his gaze stopping on each one of them, as if memorizing their faces. A chill swept through Ben as the man looked at him before moving on to Kerlee.
Rebecca glanced back at Finn, and his shoulders rose and fell before he squared them and stepped forward.
“We thank you for seeing us today, Your Grace.” Finn bowed.
Ezran’s eyebrows pinched together, and his mouth formed a little O. “Flint. I didn’t know you were still around.”
Raine made a little sound in the back of her throat, and Ben frowned. Flint. Who was Flint? A relative of Finn’s? Whoever he was, he must be popular in the higher social circles.
“I’m not—I’m not him.” Finn’s smile looked strained from Ben’s angle.
Ezran cocked his head and folded his hands behind his back. “Oh?”
“You could say I’m a relation of Flint. But that’s not important right now, Your Grace.” Finn took a deep breath, and his hands lifted as if they were going to tug at his vest. Then he seemed to remember he was in a robe, and he simply smoothed the blue material. He took a few minutes to explain about the keystone and the attack it had suffered at Perennia’s Isle of Heather, Slate’s sacrifice in Doldra, their tracking of the traitor Victor, and their lead on Lucio. “So we believe that Madrilla Island may be their target at this point, and we wish to be made confident of its security,” Finn finished. “We beg of you to make it more secure than it already is.”
Ezran sat in his polished stone throne and rubbed at his chin. “I recently received a message from the queen in Aerugo sharing such concerns.”
Ezekial stepped forward and bowed. “And did you heed her words?”
“I owe you no reply for my actions, but, yes, we have already increased the laws regarding travel to the island.”
“How do we even know that this Lucio is so dangerous?” The man in brown asked. “We’re going to take them at their word, sire?”
Ezran gestured to the man who just spoke, “My advisor, Kaius, raises an excellent point. What proof do you have?”
“Not much,” Finn admitted. “Just our honor on our word.”
“Lucio is extraordinarily dangerous.” Ezekial drew himself up, bringing attention to his large frame and towering height. Ben winced. Making himself a threat wouldn’t help their case right now. Ezekial stabbed the air with his finger. “Do not underestimate him. I made that mistake once, and it cost me far too much.” His voice lowered at the end. “A life, once lost, can never be regained. Don’t take Lucio lightly.”
Ezran nodded, his eyes keen. “Thank you for sharing that. I believe he could be quite dangerous. And thank you for saving my citizens in Kelstone. I agree, they were woefully unprepared to face Lucio with his ability to manipulate dragons. What a powerful and terrifying skill!”
Kaius glared over their group. “All we have is their word and the word of an untried leader of the village. Who knows if it really happened as they say? For all we know, they were the ones to use the sacrificial site, and they killed Marius to keep him from revealing the truth. Marius mentioned training Cato, but we haven’t met him yet. For all we know, he’s able to be bribed, and this group took advantage of that.” Kaius lifted his chin. “Our keystone is well defended. There is no need to fear it falling.”
Brandon’s fists clenched, and Ben tensed. Would Brandon snap at that? He’d been gradually improving, but Brandon had gone so long without an outburst that Ben was wary an eruption might be due at any time. But Brandon’s hands relaxed, and he pressed them to his sides, still silent.
Ezran’s head was shaking before Kaius finished. He raised his hand. “No, we’re going to heed this warning, Kaius. Ground all the non-military ships. Only those with express permission from myself or Abigail”—he gestured at the silver-robed woman behind him—“will be allowed to use their boats during this time.”
“Very good, my lord.” Kaius tilted at the waist in a sign of obeisance, but not before Ben saw the small twitch in his cheek. The advisor rose, pulled something from his pocket, and handed it to the emperor. “Per protocol, we did investigate their belongings. We found these.”
Ben stiffened and forced himself to not clench his hands in the too-short sleeves, trying desperately to keep his face as neutral as everyone around him. Raine straightened next to him, shifting her hair over her shoulder, her bearing calm. She clasped her hands behind her back, and her forearms turned white where her fingers gripped them.
Ezran held out his hand and accepted Kaius’s offering. “If they were against us, why would they be traveling with a lodestone?” Ezran gave Finn an odd look. “I’m assuming it’s yours.”
“Yes, Your Grace. That is mine.” Finn bowed deeply. “That is the very same lodestone ring that our friend used in Doldra.”
Ezran lifted the ring to the light, turning it. “Fascinating how such a small thing can do so much good.” He let his hand fall, still holding on to the black jewelry. “And so much damage. I believe you, for why else would you have such an artifact with you?”
Kaius coughed, frown lines marring his smooth face. “And what of the other thing?”
“I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anything like this before.” Ezran held up Ben’s dog tags. Ben’s heart leaped in his throat and he strove to keep his face devoid of any guilty expression as Ezran studied one metal plate, then traced the curves of his mother’s wedding ring. “Whose is this?”
Silence reigned in the room for three full heartbeats before Ben exhaled and lifted his head. “Mine.” His voice seemed much calmer than he felt. “It’s a trinket that’s been handed down in my family. The ring is my mother’s, and I wear it like that to honor her.”
“Interesting.” Ezran lifted it up. “Where does your family hail from?”
Ben’s mind blanked, and he stared at Ezran, unable to think of a single city.
“Deckett, on the border of Doldra and Aerugo, Your Grace.” Raine curtsied, utterly graceful despite the robe. Her voice took on a lighter tilt. “Please forgive him, he’s not accustomed to speaking to those in such great esteem.”
Relief at Raine’s save overrode any annoyance at her subtle jab. Ben snapped his mouth shut and nodded several times, keeping his gaze on the ground to stay in character with Raine’s excuse.
“Forgiven.” Ezran sounded amused, and Ben allowed himself a small breath while Ash chuckled in the background. Bless Raine and her quick thinking. Ezran continued, “We’ll hold on to the lodestone for now, for safekeeping.”
“We will keep it behind many wards, so fret not.” Ezran held out the items to Kaius without looking away from Finn. “In the meantime, my advisor here makes an excellent point about the validity of your story. While I am inclined to believe you, we will need some time to verify the accuracy of your words. We will host you as our guests over the next several days, and take time to interview each of you.” He gestured at the domed ceiling. “We expect a storm to hit within two days, so you would be landlocked anyway.”
“The second child of trouble,” Roska muttered behind Ben. “I knew I should have purified the Phoenix before we came here.”
Geist nudged Roska. “Shut up.”
“We’ll get this straightened out as soon as possible,” Ezran consoled. “The leaders’ summit is in two weeks, and I aim to have this taken care of before then.” He lifted his eyebrows, and a quick grin flashed across his rounded cheeks. “I know humans are quite impatient.”
Finn bowed, his voice scratchy and rough. “Indeed. We are aware of how quickly time moves.”
Ezran snorted, the most un-Elph-like sound that Ben had heard any of them make yet. “Just like those in Aerugo?”
Long strands of Rebecca’s brown hair bounced as she looked up. “What’s happening in Aerugo, Your Grace?”
“Nothing of significant interest to travelers such as yourselves, I am confident.” Ezran shrugged. “But if news is what you want, we just received word that Lord Everett has announced his son’s engagement to the re-surfaced Doldran princess, Adeline. And rumor has it that they will be married before the summit.”
***
The crew of the Phoenix talked quietly amongst themselves as they followed their guide to the house where they would be staying. Brandon and Ben walked in utter silence.
Jade was engaged ...to Weston? How had that happened?
It was too easy to pull up the memory of her tears and trembling from visiting the palace and the possibility of running into the prince. For her to be marrying him? She’d never consent to that.
Unless she was being blackmailed. Ben snatched at that idea, turning it over in his mind while he aimlessly followed the group across a well-kept yard of short, green, grass-like turf. Ben might be under house arrest, but he wanted to help Jade. But where was the better place for him to be right now? Helping Jade or hunting down Victor and Lucio? Protecting the entirety of southern Terrene was important, too.
Even as the thought flitted through his mind, Ben knew the answer. Terrene had to come first. The lives of many over the life of one. He gritted his teeth as he followed Kerlee up the porch and into their cage of a house. Even though he knew it was the right choice, it didn’t make it any easier. But she has Zak with her. He’ll keep her safe.
Ben flopped on the first chair he found inside and scrubbed his face in his hands and groaned, ignoring the crew as they moved through the room to explore the rest of the house. The keystone had to come first. Find Lucio. Get the bloodstone. Return to Doldra—no, not Doldra. Jade would be in Aerugo for the leaders’ summit. If not also her wedding.
Then find his way home.
But, if he was being honest with himself, the burning need of that concern was starting to fade the longer he was in Terrene. He was in too deep here. It was sidetracking him.
He stiffened. Zak wouldn’t be allowed in the palace with Jade. And Andre was in prison. What allies did Jade have there? Ben closed his eyes and forced his thoughts to slow down. It wouldn’t do any good to panic about it when there was nothing he could do.
Raine settled in a chair next to him, a line of concern creasing her forehead. “What do you think happened?”
Ben paused, mentally switching gears from silent brooding to talking aloud. “I think Everett is holding something over her to make her do what he wants.” He glared at the little table in the center of the room. “I just can’t think of what it would be, or how to—”
“I’m leaving.” Brandon interrupted.
Ben tilted his head back to better see Brandon’s face. The prince stood there, posed like a determined knight from kids’ story books, shoulders set, head raised, hand on his sword. Brandon looked at Finn, his eyes pleading.
“I have to do what I can to save my daughter. I’ve failed her too many times already, and I cannot do nothing and let her marry Everett’s son. She deserves so much better than that.”
Finn crossed his arms, his face and tone neutral. “And what will you do that will save her?”
Brandon’s finger traced over the gem on his sword hilt while his face darkled. “I don’t know. But I have to go.”
“Are you stable enough?” Ben asked. From what he’d seen, the answer was yes, but he knew how easy it was to hide struggles behind a smile.
“I think so.” Brandon shrugged and lifted a flask off his belt, shaking it slightly. “Ann’s potions have been helping, and I know how to make the prescription myself, when I run out.” He looked at Ben, concern drawing his brow together. “It’s for Jade’s best interests. Please, don’t try to stop me.” Brandon ran a hand over his blond hair and furrowed his brow. “Report me as missing. Say whatever you need to have them believe you. Just wait until the morning, afternoon, if you can help it. Please.” He nodded to himself, spun on his heel, and walked out of the room.
Finn pushed out of his chair and followed Brandon, leaving Raine and Ben alone.
Raine shook her head. “This is going to circle back and bite us, if we let him go.”
“Agreed.” Ben stared across the room at the window. Outside, dark clouds swirled on the horizon of the ocean. Ezran said the storm would be in a day or two, but it looked like it was already rolling in. “But can we really keep him here? And what if he can somehow help Jade?”
“Or, what if he makes things worse for her, and for us?” Raine countered.
Ben tore his gaze from the waterline and glanced at Raine. “Are you going to stop him?”
Raine dropped her head back against the cushion of her seat. “No.” She stared up at the ceiling and shrugged. “He’s already improved quite a bit. Papa said that the next step would be seeing how Brandon handled independence.” She shot Ben a little smile. “If he can help Jade, it’s worth it. I know how much she means to you.”
“You know it’s not like that,” Ben reproofed with a small laugh.
A genuine grin broke across Raine’s face, and she fluttered her hand in his direction. “So you say. I think you just like saying you have a princess back home.”
Ben snorted. “She may technically be a princess, but she’s not home. Not home for me, anyway,” he amended.
Raine pulled herself upright and tucked a leg under her, smoothing her tunic over her tights. “And where is home for you?”
“Right now? Deckett.” Ben joked. He sobered and got up, moving away from her inquisitive gaze. He walked to the window, watching the clouds slowly drift and change shape across the sky. “Home is just a word for me. I don’t have a place. Not yet.” He turned around leaning against the frame. “What about you? Where is home for you?”
Raine dropped her gaze and tugged on a strand of dark hair. “Papa and I were moving around so much, I’m not sure if I can think of a place that I’d really call home. Deckett was home once, long ago.” Her shoulders hunched. “That’s why it came to mind so quickly. But home is less of a physical place, and more of an emotional one.” She shrugged, a shy grin crossing her lips. “Home is where my family is.”
“And that’s Finn? No one else?”
“Yes, just Papa.” Contentment warmed her eyes. “Hopefully you find what you’re looking for soon.” Raine’s voice held no teasing this time, just gentle warmth. “Wherever, or whomever, your home is with.”
Chapter Forty-Three
Christopher
Smooth, white clay walls towered above Christopher as he followed Lucio through the neighborhood in Camort. Not-
too-distant waves crashed against the cliffs, providing a background noise that itched under his skin. He hadn’t been close to the coast very often, and the constant whooshing both soothed and irritated him. But the rest of Antius suited his taste—lush grass everywhere, no humidity to stick his shirt to his chest, and simple, elegant sculptures scattered throughout the city. Nothing gaudy or overbearing. Mornings had a cool dampness to them that wasn’t unpleasant, and by midday it was perfectly comfortable. During the nights, he just needed a lightweight jacket. Apparently end-of-summer didn’t visit the coast.
If only he could be rid of the present company.
“Once your superiors sweep the land, I get a ranking in the hierarchy,” Lucio boasted yet again. He flicked a hand with a small scoff at Christopher’s covered arm. “Nothing like your new rank. What are you? Third strata? And you only got it before crossing to come down here?” Lucio preened. “I’ll be bottom of the top tier.”
Christopher rolled his eyes. The darkness would hide his reaction, and even if Lucio saw, Christopher couldn’t care less at this point. He’d heard the same rot from Lucio before, and there was no use to trying to converse about it.
“It’s because I’m Elph now,” Lucio continued, oblivious. He trotted along the worn rock path, lamps lighting their way through the dark of night. “Victor is a wise man, making such a deal. He knew quality when he saw it.” Lucio rubbed his hands together, his eyebrows waggling at Christopher. “Maybe I’ll even be over humans such as yourself.”
Not if you’re dead first. Christopher set his jaw and looked at a distant polished metal statue of a female holding her hands up to the sky. He swallowed hard, consciously keeping his arms crossed, fingers away from the sword that he desperately wanted to use.
Void Born Page 28