26
Lane’s Two Sons
“I really don’t need any more water, Reyn. I’m feeling much better.” Lane was still moving slowly, but she managed to stand from her bed with only a muted noise of discomfort.
“I’ll get you the healer again. You’re clearly in pain.” Reyn wrapped a blanket around her shoulders and kissed her temple. It was sweet to watch him hover; it was far better than when he hadn’t been able to process anything. “Bastien, will you watch them?”
“Of course, brother.”
As soon as Reyn left the room, Lane rolled back her shoulders and discarded the blanket on the bed with the ten others. “He’s obsessed with bringing me blankets. It’s sweet, but I can’t be the sick person anymore. Someone give me a job I can do from in here. I can’t go back out until my face is healed, but I’m not useless! I’ve got a funeral to whip up and a nation to calm down.”
Draper put the blanket around her shoulders again, wrapping her in it like a towel at the beach as he rubbed her arms. He was tall and princely looking, appearing more Lane’s age than the son she’d adopted him to be. “I’ve already started making arrangements for Damond. I’ve had his things sent to Duke Henri in Province 2, and the Wildmen are coming up with a dirge to invoke reverence and peace into the hearts of the people at the funeral. All of that is my job. Damond is my brother.”
I didn’t love that Remy wouldn’t get a grand funeral, but in the end, he was my knight, not an actual royal. Still, I held the unrest in my heart at his death, wondering how long it would take for a wound of this caliber to heal.
Lane was irate. “But I’m the one who let Damond come here! I should be the one handling his affairs. And I sent all the people from Province 8 here. Do we have the land for everyone?”
“We can make room.” Draper was kind, but firm. “Whatever you want to do can be done from the bed. You know Jean-Luc told you to lie down.”
“I’m fine,” she said, chin raised. I knew that stubbornness anywhere.
I giggled. “Whoa. Is that what I look like when I’m being bull-headed?”
“To a T,” Bastien replied. “Like mother, like daughter.”
I loved Bastien for declaring Lane as my mother, and not Morgan.
Judah knew Lane’s temper was about to flare, so he picked up a piece of parchment from the messy desk, welcoming the five birds that perched on his shoulders. “What are these?”
“That’s a speech for Urien to give later today in Town Square, announcing Prince Damond’s death. Plus he’s got to deal with the growing tension. There’s been frustration with too many people trying to share the two water sources we have.”
“What about Master Kerdik? He said he wanted to help. Can’t he just make us a new well?” Draper suggested. He’d been withdrawn, not wanting to talk about Damond’s death, though it was clear by the perpetual wrinkle between his eyebrows that he thought of his brother often.
Lane and I both shook our heads as if they were tied to the same string. “No,” I ruled. “Kerdik’s awesome, but we can’t be a nation who relies on him.”
Lane chimed in with, “Master Kerdik’s benevolence turns on a dime. When Rosie moves back to Common, who’s to say he won’t join her, and leave us to our drying wells? We have to be able to sustain ourselves on our own. Otherwise, we risk total devastation if he leaves.”
Bastien scoffed, offering his arm for Lane to lean on as he led her to her desk and helped her to sit down. He took great care transporting her, not hesitating to dole out the gentleness our family needed. “Kerdik’s not moving to Common with us.”
I held up my hands to show my innocence. “I didn’t say it. Lane did.”
Bastien stared down at Lane. “Kerdik’s staying in Faîte. I’ve had about all I can take from him. Rosie’s my girlfriend, and when we move somewhere safer than Avalon, she’ll be my wife. A marriage takes two people, not three.”
Lane’s head snapped to me. “Your wife, eh? Is that so? Looks like you’re going to have to do some serious groveling if you want my blessing or Urien’s for her hand.”
Bastien narrowed one eye at her, ignoring the four dozen birds who chirped wildly their happiness that we were getting married. “I’ll grovel when it’s time. Until then, I’ll watch your daughter to make sure she’s safe, and I’ll guard your castle to make sure no one snatches at you again. Now sit down and take it easy.”
Judah distracted Lane by asking her question after question about the wells, until I remembered what I’d been trying to draw up in the saferoom when I’d been waiting out the Sluagh. “I was thinking about aqueducts,” I interjected.
“That’s what I was going to suggest,” Judah nodded. “But what’s the building equipment like around here? Better than Ancient Rome?”
“On par, at least.” Lane’s eyes grew to the size of saucers. “I didn’t even think of that. But I don’t remember the specifics of your high school World History project. We have limited resources and manpower, so we can’t afford to get anything wrong. Can you draft something up for Urien? Like, something you’re sure will work?”
Judah and I mimed putting our thinking caps on in unison. “On it,” Judah confirmed with confidence. “We used hollowed-out Lincoln Logs for the actual ducts, because it was to scale of the houses we built out of milk cartons.”
“But we don’t want wood. We can use stone. That, we can ask Kerdik for help with. And if he’s not up for it, the masons can figure it out.”
“Can someone help us out by drawing a map of the province?” Judah tore off a long chunk of parchment and spread it out on the floor.
“Lane and I can do that,” Draper offered, taking the ink pot and quill from the desk so he could kneel next to Judah. He shook Judah’s hand with a composed expression. “I’m Draper, by the way. Lane’s son.”
Judah slapped Draper on the back. “Laney, you’ve got some ‘splaining to do. Who you been making babies with, girl? I thought I was your only son.”
Lane smiled, and I could tell she wasn’t expecting to be able to find anything to grin about this soon. That was the magic of Judah. “Before I left Avalon to live in Common when Rosie was a baby, I was raising my nephew. Now that I’m back, I finally was able to adopt him, just like I always wanted. Now he and Rosie are brother and sister, just like the two of you were raised to be.” She winced when Bastien helped her off the chair so he could lower her to the floor next to the parchment. “Draper, Judah grew up down the street from us with his mother. Now he and Rosie have an apartment together at the college they go to.”
I didn’t want to rain on the parade by telling her that Jill probably couldn’t afford the place on her own, so Judah and I were technically without our tiny haven.
Judah quirked his eyebrow at Draper. “I always wanted a big brother to sneak me smokes and teach me how to pick up chicks. I already know how to change a tire and unclog a drain, but having a big brother to show me how to hang drywall would be cool. Do you know how to do that?”
Draper was surprised how easily Judah took to the idea of being invited into the family we’d crafted. I winced that Draper still thought of himself as the black sheep, perplexed when anyone smiled at him without agenda. “I’m sure I could teach you that. You’re right, pumpkin. He’s great. I think we’ll keep him around.”
I squinted at Draper as Lane started drawing out where the forest was, and moved her quill inward on the parchment from there. “You’re not teaching Judah how to pick up women.” I sighed in Judah’s direction. “Draper used to run a brothel. He’s reformed now, courtesy of Lane tearing him a new one.”
“Dude, why does everyone’s job sound cooler than mine?”
“Hey, now. Being a Geek Squad techy is cool.”
Judah rolled his eyes as he sat on the floor next to Lane. “Yes. I have to fend off the ladies with a stick. I whip out my name badge, and they fall all over themselves trying to get at me.”
Lane wrapped Judah in a motherly hug and ruffled
his hair as the birds hopped around us. “Who said my baby boy’s not cool? I think you’re the best Common has to offer. No contest, Judah’s the man.”
I fanned myself and donned my girliest voice. “Judah’s going to be at the party? I have to get in now! If Judah’s there, then it’s gonna be off the hook. I hope he notices me.”
Judah’s neck shrunk as he indulged Lane in the hug he would never push away. His own mother was nice enough, but she wasn’t the same lovey goofball as Lane. “Okay, okay. There’s enough of me to go around, ladies.”
“I think the northern quarter’s bigger than that, Lane,” Draper said, moving his finger along the map that was slowly coming together.
“You know, you’re right. It’s this rectangle shape of the paper. It’s messing with my brain mojo.”
“On it.” Judah hacked off the end, making it square for her. “Can’t have the brain mojo being scrambled.”
“My hero,” she crooned.
He batted his hand at her. “You’re just saying that because I’m amazing.” Judah sat back on his heels while Draper and Lane worked on the map.
Lane was happy to be useful, comforted by the knowledge that the soldiers hadn’t been able to take her work ethic from her. Despite the demons that might haunt her for years to come, she was happiest when she had a trail to blaze, a project to tackle, and a nation to save. My Lane was fantastic at rescuing whole worlds – she’d saved mine on more than one occasion.
Judah crossed his arms over his chest as he stared at me across Lane’s bent-over form. “So, you met your mom, who’s evil somehow. You have a dad somewhere in this place. Is he cool?”
“Only the coolest. Richard the Lionhearted, in the flesh.”
“You’ve got a new brother, who’s not quite Geek Squad cool, but he’s got his own thing going. You could totally win an episode of Cribs, with this palace you’ve got going for you. Though, it’s no one-bedroom apartment, that’s for sure. You’ve got a fake ex-fiancé and a boyfriend, which is quite the achievement, you dog. Plus you joined a gang. Is that about it?”
“That’s the whole story, just about.”
Bastien scoffed. “That’s nothing like the whole story.” He took it upon himself to tell Judah my life in Avalon from the beginning, catching him up on the highlights of my journey that he’d missed. Judah was quiet, commenting only when a new term hit him that didn’t make sense. Judah had always been an excellent student, and I could see him mentally preparing for some sort of exam.
When Kerdik entered, most of the room stiffened at his presence, but Judah crossed the room and wrapped him in a tight hug. I covered my mouth to stifle a laugh at Kerdik’s stiff body and eyes that were wide with alarm. Judah’s gratitude was heartfelt as he squeezed Kerdik. “Thanks for rescuing us, dude.”
27
Aqueducts and Meeting Superman
Kerdik raised his eyebrow at Judah’s lack of fear. “I’m Master Kerdik. And you’re Rosie’s Commoner friend who shares a bed with her.”
Judah laughed and clapped his hands twice as he stepped back. “Oh, please make that my title. That’s too funny. Or you can call me Judah, Grand Master Kerdik.” He offered his hand to Kerdik, but Kerdik looked at his palm as if it was an annoying fly.
“Be nice, now. You’re going to get along with Judah,” I informed him. “There’s not a second option tucked in there.”
Kerdik rolled his eyes and shook Judah’s hand. “How nice to have you here, taking up space in Rosie’s bed.”
Judah did a stage whisper out the side of his mouth. “Dude’s skin is green! That is so cool!”
“I know, right? That’s what I said when I first met him.”
Kerdik looked on Judah with new appreciation. “What are you working on?”
“Aqueducts. It’s one of the advancements that moved Ancient Rome ahead of its time.”
“I don’t know of these aqueducts. What are they?”
Judah motioned to the map, which was about halfway filled in. “They take the problem of centralized water and distribute it to where everyone can get some. Then there won’t be any more long treks to the wells, and we could even talk about getting running water indoors down the road. That’s if the initial setup goes smoothly, of course.”
“Running water indoors? Like, in the palace?” Kerdik scoffed. “That’s not a thing.”
Judah and I both nodded, then I voiced my concern. “The problem I ran into when I was puzzling this out was that the water sources aren’t raised. So during the times of year when the water level is low, the aqueducts might not be super helpful.”
“You need the well raised? Like, on a hill or something?” Kerdik inquired. “I can do that for you.”
Judah shook his head. “No, like actually raised, not a pail of water raised in a bucket or something. I didn’t realize the wells were at ground level, though maybe that’s the first thing I should’ve asked. It’s alright. We can figure it out.”
I pointed to Kerdik’s affronted expression. “Kerdik’s an elemental, so he can legit raise a well up a few feet by making it be on a hill.”
“No way. You’re friends with an elemental? What level?” Judah’s mind was in full-on D&D mode, which was when he was at his most precious.
“Level Infinity. Kerdik’s the king of like, all the things. Except Province 9. My dad’s the king of that.” I smirked up at the doorway when my father entered. “Dad, meet Judah, King of the Geek Squad.”
Judah scrambled to stand and brushed his hand down his shirt in an attempt to look presentable before he extended his hand. “Pleasure to meet you, sir.”
My dad postured, looking every bit as kingly as his title proclaimed. “The pleasure’s mine. I hear you’re responsible for looking after my Rosie up in Common. Thank you for keeping her safe with Lane for me.”
Judah seemed to swell with pride. Like me, he had a bit of a dad complex, and beamed at making a good impression as Superman shook his hand. “That was all Lane, to be honest. Rosie had my back every bit as much as I had hers.”
“Modest,” Dad commented. “I like this one.”
Judah spoke out of the corner of his mouth to me in a loud whisper. “Dude, an actual king likes me and thanked me for keeping a princess safe. I win all the points ever.”
Lane and I shared a giggle. “You know everyone can hear you when you do that, right?”
“No, they can’t. It’s my superpower.” Judah sat back down between Lane and me, studying the map that was nearing fruition.
“I can’t believe how many other provinces joined us. We’re barely Province 9 anymore,” Lane remarked as she scribbled on the map.
I spoke slowly, meeting her eyes as the new idea hit us at the same time. “If we’re not Province 9, then maybe we should have a new name, so everyone’s included. The land should belong to all of us.”
“Province 10,” Lane decreed.
Dad nodded, his jaw going tight as he factored in the new information. “I think that’s a splendid idea. It will keep any sort of elitist attitude from forming and dividing the people further. Everyone in Avalon will be in either Province 1 with Morgan, or Province 10 with us.”
“Us,” I echoed, touched that I was part of such a legacy. We were renaming a whole people, and I got to be part of that process.
Judah let out a low whistle. “Wow. I barely understand what’s going on, but that felt important.” His eyes drifted back to the map as it started to come to fruition under Draper and Lane’s careful measurements. The others chatted quietly around us, but I heard Judah’s low humming. The tune both of us knew by heart relaxed my shoulders and made me feel so much more at home than I had in a while. Funny how music could do that to you.
I started quietly singing along to his humming, knowing by heart every single lyric Lost and Forgotten had ever recorded. “‘You say I’ve found a new road to drive down. We both know we can’t go there together. You found a new car, but I’ve moved on, driving my old Cadillac to something be
tter.’”
Judah joined me at the chorus, and we harmonized almost as seamlessly as the perfect musicians on the album had. “‘You taste like spring, but I prefer whiskey. How glad I’ll be when you don’t want to kiss me. It was good while it lasted, but now that it’s done…’” We paused for the solo on the bass guitar that totally made the song, playing air guitar together to the same beat. “‘You say I’m the loser, but losing you’s where I won.’”
Judah and I grinned at each other, grateful that after everything we’d been through, we still knew the lyrics to our favorite songs. We hadn’t forgotten the important things in life.
Lane dabbed at her eyes with her sleeve, waving me off when I asked her what was wrong. “Nothing, baby. I’m just being emotional. I worry all the time. Are you eating your vegetables? Are you making the right kind of friends? Are you safe? I forget to worry about if you’re still able to play. Hearing you sing after all we’ve been through?” She melted as Draper pulled her into his arms so she had a safe place to unburden herself. “I think I needed that.”
Judah started yodeling to break the tension, making Lane and me burst out into fits of giggles.
Bastien was on edge, gathering me closer every time Judah high-fived me, which was whenever we agreed on the measurements or anything concerning the aqueducts. I wanted to explain for the millionth time that Judah was no one to be worried about, but it was no use. I’d kissed Kerdik when we weren’t totally together yet, so I understood Bastien’s insecurity, and decided to be patient with it. I kissed my boyfriend’s cheek, just to make it clear that we were very much together, and that no matter how many penises were around me, he was the only guy I wanted in my bed anymore.
When Reyn came back, I thought he might have a heart attack. “Are you serious? Get her off the floor!” I was about to blow him off with a “Lane’s fine, you drama king,” but his scared expression closed my mouth. He drew Lane up as if we’d thrown her down on the ground and told her she was a bad girl. His arms cocooned her, as if she was too fragile for such things as company. Maybe she was; it was hard to tell with Lane.
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