by Emerson Fray
Chapter 20
Returning to the manor was bittersweet. It was a reminder of all Ren had lost; her true home on Earth, her father, and soon she thought she might lose her brother as well. But she was exhausted, and crashing onto her bed felt like the best thing in the world. Until there was a knock at her door, and Naomi stepped in.
Ren sat up and looked at the solemn expression on Naomi’s face, the way her hair wasn’t beautifully styled, and how her normally perfect posture was slumped over. “Is something wrong?” Ren asked. Panic struck. “Is Elian okay?”
“He’s fine,” Naomi said. “He was wondering where you went today. You didn’t have your watch on.”
Ren looked at her watch on her bedside table, something she normally had on her at all times. She used to put it on each morning, but as the days passed on Novae she didn’t bother. No phone calls came through, no messages. So what was the point of it? Other than the Monarchy checking in it had no purpose. Although she could have used it when Kian had taken her. With that in mind she almost wanted to put it on but…she knew she couldn’t.
“You were tracking me?” she asked.
Naomi nodded. “Just to make sure you were safe. Were you?”
“I’m here aren’t I?” Ren questioned. It had been a long time since she answered a question with a question, she thought. Especially when it was Naomi she was talking to. When Naomi didn’t reply and just sat down beside her she said, “Well I’m fine. I’m sorry if you worried.”
“I knew you were fine,” Naomi stated. “Elian is worried. Understandably of course.” Her voice cracked. “Your father…Maks…he was a good man, you know. I know you two didn’t always get along but—”
“I know,” Ren interrupted. Naomi was staring at the open door, as if waiting for Maks to come around the corner and give an order and make everything okay. Hesitating, she wrapped an arm around Naomi’s shoulders.
“I served under his command for nearly fifteen years,” Naomi said. “And not once had he been bested in battle.” Before a single tear could fall Naomi straightened and wiped beneath her eyelashes. Ren would have preferred she ball her eyes out. At least then she might feel a bit better, but like Maks Naomi would hold it all in.
As Naomi stood Ren wondered if she would be a good ally in Ren’s plans. Naomi was strong and righteous, nothing like Garret. She wouldn’t turn Ren in to the Monarchy just to advance her career, especially if it meant bringing Maks’s killers to justice. Would she?
Losing all nerve, Ren watched as Naomi moved towards the door without another word. Just as it was about to shut Ren blinked hard and called out, “Wait.”
Naomi pushed it open and looked at her. Her eyes were red and already starting to puff a bit. Ren glanced at the watch on the table, wondering if Garret or someone else on the scow above Novae was listening in. For the first time since her arrival Ren hoped that the scow would leave soon, without her on it.
“Ren?” Naomi asked. Ren snapped to attention, twisting her head back towards Naomi.
“If you had the chance to find everyone involved in Maks’s—Dad’s death, you would take it, right?” She looked back at the watch. “You wouldn’t ignore the evidence, right?”
Naomi’s eyes drifted to the communicator and back to Ren. If she was putting two and two together, Ren didn’t know, but soon she nodded. “I would do everything in my power to make sure they suffered.”
“I don’t want anyone to suffer,” Ren murmured. “I just want the grief to stop. For everyone.”
Naomi flinched then shook her head. “Then you’re a better person than I, Ren.”
She shut the door, leaving Ren to her own silence.
Despite returning home so late the night before, Ren was up just as the first sliver of sun came across the treetops. Maybe it was because she was still invigorated after finally making a decision on what to do about the Monarchy. Maybe it was because she knew she wasn’t going to have to do it alone.
After dressing Ren decided to wear her watch, if only to appear innocent to Garret. When she stepped into the hallway she found Sheridan standing by her door as usual. After learning that Sheridan and Kian were siblings she couldn’t look Sheridan in the eyes. And against Abetha’s suggestion, Ren didn’t mention it.
“Good morning,” Sheridan said first.
“Good morning,” Ren replied. Should she apologize for not realizing sooner? Ren knew that Sheridan’s connection to Kian was her own business, but it still hurt to know that she wasn’t comfortable enough to let Ren know. Instead of saying anything she started walking, and tried to mentally compare Sheridan and Kian in her head. In a way, they were similar; strong and unwavering. But that seemed to be where the similarities ended. A hundred questions pummeled Ren’s mind; how could Kai do that to his daughter? Why did her mother abandon her so easily? Ren shook her head, unsure on where to focus her attention. Sheridan’s pain felt just as important as Novae’s.
Ren headed right to Elian’s room. She hadn’t had a real conversation with him since their arrival on Novae, and after talking to Naomi last night she had high hopes he would join her cause. It’s Elian, she thought, he has to be for this.
But he wasn’t in his room. And he wasn’t in the kitchen stuffing his face with expensive pastries or outside working on figuring out how an entire planet could disappear. He was in his office.
Maks’s old office.
The fact that Elian had an office at all made Ren uncomfortable. He was only nineteen—he wasn’t ready to rule a planet or go to war. Ren hated how unfair this was for everyone involved, but most of all him.
“Elian?” Ren said, finding him standing between Garrett and Naomi with a large map of Novae. “What are you doing?”
“Working on finding the insurgents,” he declared. There were large half-moons sitting under his eyes, and his normally ruffled hair was smoothed back and patted down. Naomi looked exactly as she had last night, while Garret remained the same as ever. It was as if coming to Novae had no effect on him.
“Didn’t Dad do a scan with the scow?” Ren asked carefully.
“Yes, but he didn’t have my modifications when he did,” Elian said, his eyes barely lighting up. He was dressed in the Monarchy’s silver attire, with his gold and silver sun shining brightly over his heart. It hurt just to look at him. “When we do the next scan we should be able to find whoever’s hiding out there. Then we can do a raid and make sure we capture everyone.”
Ren swallowed audibly. “Great. But…what if they get away during the raid?”
“We’ll find them,” Garret cut in. “Elian—His Grace has suggested giving all Novaeans watches from the Monarchy, to ensure they’re safe.”
“To ensure they’re watched,” Ren corrected, wondering why Garret would even bother trying to lie to her. Her hands began to shake, so she stuck them behind her back. If anyone noticed they didn’t say anything about it, because it wasn’t unusual for Ren to shake, was it? Garret smiled.
Ren caught Naomi glaring at him when he looked away. He said, “If we can track the Novaeans we will know exactly who is a rebel and who is not. And if they are, we’ll know exactly where they’re hiding.”
“And if the scans work, which they will,” Elian mumbled, “we can find the Absolution and find out why it really crashed. Or if it crashed at all. None of this Beginning garbage.”
Ren couldn’t help but flinch at that. Elian wasn’t one to question a person’s beliefs. Ever. “If you’re giving communicators to everyone, does that mean Ross is free to go?” An idea sparked, but Ren couldn’t even fake a smile for them. “Maybe you could use him to track where the rebels are hiding.”
Behind Ren, Sheridan shifted her feet. Elian looked up and met Ren’s gaze. “That’s not a bad idea. Garret, go do that.”
Garret furrowed his brow, clearly not happy with the way he was being given orders. “Your Grace, are you sure—”<
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“I’m sure,” Elian replied, keeping his head lowered to the map. Ren didn’t know if he was letting Ross go because he believed Ross was innocent, or he really thought Ross could be tracked. Either way Ren wanted to make sure Garret didn’t do anything wrong.
“I’ll join you,” Ren suggested as Garret began walking towards the door. “As will Sheridan.”
Garret eyed them but nodded. “A Sotarian would be of use, should anything happen.”
And Ren was certain that because she and Sheridan joined Garret that nothing would happen. They found Ross imprisoned in an EM field, the very same kind that the rebels had used to lock Sheridan in the pit, and got him out. Ren went as far as to escort him back to Mahendra, where he was reunited with his sisters.
They were invited to stay and eat, and Ren tried not to ask anything about the Sisterhood or rebels. It was hard enough warning them about the communicator, and that should anyone on the scow overhead want to listen in on their conversations, it was only a click away.
Thunk!
A knife was stabbed between Ren’s fingers on the table, her eyes going so wide she thought they might fall out. Abetha smiled, her hand still around the jade handle. “From Enn,” she stated. “She was very specific in how I should deliver it.”
Ren swallowed. “Thanks.”
Of course it would be from Enn, but Abetha took a little too much pleasure in the delivery. With a steady hand Ren unraveled the note attached to the dagger, and found it wasn’t another invitation. It was a rejection. Her heart sank and suddenly it felt like it was her alone against an army of patriotic soldiers. She licked her lips, unable to comment on anything with Ross around. Her eyes fell on his bracelet. Ren clicked hers off; a feature that had never seemed practical was now a blessing. She was suddenly very glad that Elian liked to modify everything the Monarchy gave them. At least he did when they were on Earth.
“I’ll go get a cake from the store down the street,” he suggested, his voice low. “To celebrate.”
“That would be lovely,” Abetha said.
“Thanks,” Ren mumbled as he left.
“Is something wrong?” Abetha questioned when her brother was out of range.
Ren was shaking her head, unable to believe it. “The Sisterhood doesn’t think I’m the right fit.”
“Why?” Sheridan asked. Her outrage showed in her voice, but more so in the fist that slammed onto the table. “You want everything they want.”
“Hm, not everything,” Abetha mentioned. “You want to take action while the Sisterhood would rather let everything happen on its own.” She shrugged. “They believe the problem will be solved by itself, without you.”
“What is this problem you keep mentioning?” Ren asked. “Is it the Monarchy—the rebels?”
Abetha tilted her head. “Both, I suppose.”
“Why don’t you just tell me?”
“I can’t. The Monarchy isn’t the only one that listens.”
Ren ground her teeth together.
“The Sisterhood likes to keep its secrets,” Abetha added.
Slamming her hands on the table Ren stood, surprising everyone. “If they won’t give me the information I need, or the help, I’ll find it elsewhere.”
Annoya arched a brow. “And where do you think you’ll find that?”
Ren had an idea, but she didn’t want to announce it to anyone. If the Sisterhood was listening in, or even the Monarchy, she would be stopped immediately. Even if it was Sheridan to find out…Ren wasn’t sure she would be able to go alone.
