by Cait Ashwood
“She, hmm?” Zeche seemed to think that over.
Jasper let him stew. Sometimes people surprised you with what they could come up with on their own. Idolizing the Ravens from his youth, he’d learned a lot about people watching from them. Seems some of those tricks even worked on their former leader.
“That wouldn’t happen to be Audrey’s other daughter you mentioned earlier? What was her name?” Zeche tapped his chin, thinking.
“Brana, and yes, that’s her.” Jasper was reminded of the message he needed to impart. Could he trust the assassin to deliver it? Um, he’s an assassin, adder-brain. The answer to that question is always going to be no. He was just going to have to find a moment to get the warning to Lily. Hopefully, he wouldn’t have to, as she’d be coming home soon. It would undoubtedly be better coming from her mother. At least the First could explain exactly how it all worked, versus his word vomit on the subject.
“Brana?” Rowan turned to Zeche. “She’s my half-sister, as well?”
Zeche nodded. “And this would be Jasper.”
The Tracker nodded.
“So why would you bother to tell your sister that you were leaving? Doesn’t she stay at the Tower?”
Jasper coughed, nearly choking. “Brana is not my sister, let’s just clear that up right now.” He took a deep breath, recovering from that bit of shock. “And yes, she is stationed at the Tower, as am I at the moment.
Zeche perked up. “That’s unusual.”
“Well, the daughter of the First went up and missing. You think we’d just stay over at the Institute and, what, let that work itself out?”
“She ran away, it’s not like she was kidnapped.” Rowan shrugged his shoulders.
“I can’t expect you to understand what the reaction at the Tower was like. No one knows for sure that she ran away. They’re scared. They’re survivors of the last time they all went up and missing with no explanation. Whether our presence is actually required or not, it calms them to feel that they’re being looked after and guarded.”
Zeche cleared his throat. “That all makes sense, but you’re underage.”
Jasper shrugged, not entirely sure how to respond to that. “Brana is... very talented. It’s earned her the enmity of a lot of the girls. She’s taking over for her mother while she’s indisposed, so...” Jasper wasn’t sure how to end that comment. So they sent me along to make sure she’s all right? They know she trusts me, so I’m there to look out for her? Nothing sounded right in his head, much less on his tongue.
Rowan blinked. “Just how fucked up is that Tower? She needs a personal bodyguard to protect her from her own peers?”
“No!” Jasper forgot to keep his voice down for a moment. “No, nothing like that. She just... needs someone to lean on. For her, I’m that someone.”
“And yet you’re joining us, instead.” Zeche raised his eyebrow in question.
“For the time being, yes. Look, there’s some stuff going on here, Lily stuff, that I don’t know a lot about. Right now, it’s important for Brana that her message gets to Lily. It would take a load of stress off of her. That’s technically my job here, so let’s just get on with it, okay?”
“Or you could just tell me. Her twin?” Rowan rolled his eyes.
Jasper’s stare hardened. “Blood only gets you so far, outsider.”
Rowan rose to his feet, but Zeche moved to stand between them. “You, get some sleep. Dawn is coming, and I expect you to be in your usual position by then.” He turned to Jasper. “And you, go do what you need to do at the Tower, then get your ass back here. And know one thing: if you’re sticking with us, you’re playing by my rules. Rule number one: don’t antagonize your superiors. Have I made myself clear?”
Jasper looked past Zeche to the blond on the roof that looked ready to murder him. He glanced back at the assassin. “Crystal.” He pulled a small piece of ore out of his pocket and made a particular gesture in front of his chest before phasing away. Not even Hound would be able to follow him, as long as he remained careful.
Chapter Fifteen
That shit still hurts. Zad had issued orders that no one was to assist his errant son, so Stryker hadn’t been able to get salve on the stripes on his back. He wasn’t excused from working out with Sabre, either. Sweat burned like hell every time it worked its way into the open wounds, but Stryker just grit his teeth and attempted to power through it.
“Stop.”
Huh? Stryker lowered his blades at the command, his attention on the weapons master.
“Your mind obviously isn’t in the fight. A good fighter tones his body. A true fighter tones his mind, as well.” Sabre inspected his blade and returned it to the weapons rack, his attitude one of careful nonchalance.
Stryker watched his movements, confused and wary. Change wasn’t a positive force in his world, and it never had been.
“Come. Wash off the sweat with me. We’ll see what the steam can do for your mind.”
Shit, is he making a move on me? The underground population was overwhelmingly male, to the point that all Vex had to do was crook her finger and she could have any man she wanted. Rumor had it she wasn’t always happy with just one, either. Homosexual encounters among the men weren’t all that uncommon in the absence of women. Still, as soon as he’d been old enough to go to the surface, it had been the brothels or nothing for Stryker. Sabre was a man he respected. He really didn’t want to push the boundaries beyond that of a student-teacher relationship.
“That wasn’t a suggestion, Stryker.” Sabre’s tone had the formal tone of command and Stryker reluctantly set his limbs in motion.
The cavern they used for bathing wasn’t far from the training grounds, but the walk seemed to go by preternaturally fast today. Dread pooled in the bottom of his stomach. Some of the men were more forceful than others when it came to satiating their needs. With his back only tentatively scabbed over and Zaddicus keeping them awake all hours of the night in preparation for the attack, things were not adding up in his favor tonight.
Stryker watched Sabre disrobe, eyes cautious and skeptical. His master waded into the water, never turning back to observe his student.
“It’s generally necessary to actually enter the baths to get clean, Stryker.” The voice was mild, but Stryker was becoming more familiar with his instructor’s tones. This one warned that Sabre’s patience was thinning.
Part of him wanted to scream that it was all unfair, that he’d suffered enough. He didn’t need another betrayal to deal with. He wanted to slam things around, release his fury upon the world. Another part wanted to remind Sabre just whose son he was dealing with, but that was as much an admission of weakness as anything else and Zaddicus would likely punish him for it. Instead of doing either, he calmly removed his clothing, keeping his weapons far away from the damaging effects of the mineral spring. It was heated by the earth’s core and smelled of sulfur, but was hot and generally soothing.
He made it to the edge of the water before Sabre’s voice reached out to him again.
“Turn around.”
Stryker squeezed his eyes shut. He’d been dreading it but had somehow hoped that Sabre wasn’t that sort of man. Just like most of his other hopes about humanity, however, it seemed to be dashed.
Zaddicus’ voice floated through his mind. “You must be in top fighting shape, Stryker. We have less than two weeks before the assault. No fights on the surface, no fights here, do you understand me? If you fail in this, Vex’s first kill on our attack will be you. I have no use for rotting flesh, boy.”
So that was it, then. He wouldn’t even attempt to defend himself from his teacher’s advance. No more scrapping allowed. Though if the penalty is death, wouldn’t I rather go out fighting in a steamy pool? Red hair invaded his vision. Lily had found a way to free herself. Maybe he simply wasn’t looking hard enough.
Somehow, he got his feet to turn. He set his jaw and closed his eyes, unwilling to see Sabre’s shadow move across him as the man approached. He
wished he had cotton for his ears. The last thing he needed was those grunts in his memory.
“These aren’t healing well.”
Instead of a touch against his flesh, Stryker heard Sabre splash about as he left the water, heading for the wall of unguents kept on the wall. He returned, holding one and moving around once again to Stryker’s back.
“This is going to hurt, and there’s nothing I can do about that. You ready?”
The possibility for so many innuendos was there, and Stryker still wasn’t sure what exactly he should be ready for. He nodded anyway, the muscles in his neck twitching.
Cool gel hit his back, replaced immediately by fiery pain. He grunted, tensing his arms and curling his hands into fists as Sabre applied more of the gel to the gashes left by Vex’s whip. His mind spun, even through the pain. Zaddicus issued orders. No one was to assist me. The ramifications of Sabre’s actions pounded loudly in his head, pushing the pain to the side. He risks death and exile for me. Why? Why would anyone be so stupid?
The voice that answered in his ear didn’t even make him jump with the unwanted proximity. “You don’t belong in this world, Stryker. You are more than what he has created.”
He was going to ignore that comment for now. His own doubts were loud enough in his head without indulging Sabre, too. Stryker stammered. “But, I thought--”
Sabre moved from behind him and flashed a wry grin. “I prefer my partners willing. I would have hoped you’d know that by now.” The other man started to towel off.
Stryker looked at the water but was unwilling to wash off any of the healing ointment. He fetched his clothes and began to redress, ignoring the man in the room with him. Only when he was finished did Sabre turn to face him again.
“You have choices to make, Stryker, and not much time in which to make them.”
Options whirled in his mind, each seemingly more impossible than the last. The only common thread connecting them all was that they were all relatively new ideas, and new meant dangerous. New meant that he couldn’t predict how badly things could turn out. Zaddicus had been very careful in who he allowed around his children during their formative years. He’d wanted to raise unquestioningly loyal warriors, and in Vex’s case, he’d succeeded. So why did he fail with me? Why do I always question? Sabre stood in front of him, waiting for a response.
“You. Why did you do this to me? Why did you fill my head with all this moral bullshit? I was perfectly happy before you came along.”
Sabre’s face fell and he shook his head, seeming disappointed. “Were you really?” The weapons master turned and padded silently from the room, leaving Stryker alone with the drip of water in the cavern.
Choice. What does he know about choice? There is no choice here. I will be what I was raised to be, what my family designed me to be.
Lily’s face swam before his eyes and he waved his hands in front of his face, banishing her. She’s ‘free,’ sure. But at what cost? Without help, she never would have maintained it. I don’t have anyone on the surface that cares about me, that would be willing to help me. Even Sabre is trapped by my father. What exactly does he expect me to do? When can I live my life for me, and not just doing what others want me to do?
It wasn’t worth the risk. Zaddicus had been after the Order longer than anyone else had been alive. He would no sooner forget his obsession than he would give it up. The only thing that would stop the man was death, and even that seemed to be something he could fight off. Him and that damned lab of his. Even Stryker didn’t know what unnatural things his father did down there. Whatever it was served to make him unstoppable.
I just have to get through this fight. Become the commander he wants. Following orders used to be simple; it can be again. Stryker looked after the doorway Sabre had disappeared through. I hate what he’s done to me. I didn’t see the trap for what it was before. Now all I want is out, and he isn’t even going to help me. He’s a bastard that just couldn’t resist making my miserable existence just that much worse.
Vex was right. The only people that cared about him were down here, not up there. He needed to get his head out of the clouds and focus on his life where he belonged. That may not be the choice Sabre wanted him to make, but it was the one that was going to keep his skin in one piece.
All that was left was to get ready to slaughter a bunch of old women worshiping trees. They’d leave some of the younger ones alive to start the next generation, but they’d be working under Zaddicus’ control. Their dominion over the Dwellers would be over, and Zaddicus would have the empire he so desired.
At least Lily is with the surface Order. She’s safe. He didn’t want to kill the girl or her family if it could be helped, though her mother sounded like just the kind of woman Zaddicus was fighting to remove from power. And yet you’re willing to lay waste to an entire city that could be full of girls just like her. Suddenly, the faceless, evil enemy had a face with piercing green eyes and flaming red hair.
“I can’t see her again.” It was a quiet admission, but one that felt like it was a nail in his coffin. He couldn’t question it or give himself a chance to talk his way out of it. If he was getting ready to march and possibly die, he had to avoid the woman that had inspired his thoughts to rebellion, however brief it had proved to be. Her story was a cautionary tale for someone like him. Fight what you have, and you lose even that.
His resolve didn’t explain how it was that he found himself in front of Saffron Shores in the early afternoon. Maybe it was some twisted desire to be caught where he shouldn’t be, to have decisions taken out of his hands and only suffer the punishments doled out for his infractions. Not thinking would certainly save him from a hell of a headache. He sighed, staring up at her window.
Lily didn’t appear to be in her room. Right, that bastard brother of hers probably took her back to go pump out babies for the rest of her life. If he’d wanted confirmation of the death of hope, he’d certainly gotten it. Something tickled in the back of his mind, though, something that made him want to be absolutely sure that she was gone.
He strode into the inn and the innkeeper seemed happy to see him. I’ve given him enough coin, for crying out loud.
“Ah, it’s you again! Here for a room for yourself this time?” He wiped his hands on his apron and reached for his ledger.
“I was actually here to see if there was a balance left on the room.” Stryker took in his surroundings with a distracted glance, but he was done being caught unawares.
“Uh, well, that would be a no, sir, as the room is still occupied.” The innkeeper gave him an odd look, as if he should have known that already.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know. I ran into someone claiming to be her relative and had assumed she’d gone home.”
The troubled expression left the man’s face. “Oh, no sir, she’s here, safe and sound. Well, I expect she’s at work, now. I bet you’re glad your days of footing the bill for her are over, no?” He winked at Stryker, who tried to force a socially acceptable expression onto his face.
“Reassuring, at the very least.” It was the opposite of reassuring, actually. This wasn’t why he’d come.
“Well, is there any message you’d like to leave for the young miss?” The innkeeper’s eyes darted toward the keg of ale sitting on the back of the bar.
Stryker wanted to say yes, but he couldn’t think of a damned thing to say. “No, no, I’m good. Thank you.” He left the inn without saying goodbye, torn. Was it so much of a crime to wish that someone on the surface might care about him? That maybe Vex’s statement was false, that there could be flaws in the logic surrounding him?
She’s not free though, not really. They’re waiting, lurking, ready to take her back. It’s a false freedom that she has, and she doesn’t even know it. The question he should be asking, and the one he intentionally avoided asking, was why were they waiting? What purpose did leaving her here in Ebonwallowe and letting her work as a stable hand serve them? There had to be some reason for t
hem to let her stay.
The answer came even though he did his best to avoid it. They must have sensed the taint in me. They’re trying to follow me back, see where I go. But if the boy had been a Tracker, they would have had him last time. This has to be my last trip here. It’s too dangerous.
Stryker kicked around town for a while, waiting for the day to pass him by. Every minute gave Vex and Zad a chance to notice his absence, but he felt sure that he just had to speak to her one last time. If nothing else, he could let her know her brother and the assassin were waiting for her. He owed her that much, at least. He just had to figure out how to get to her without alerting her guard dogs.
I guess I’ll assume it’s just the two of them. They may have called in more, but I’ll never know. He debated strategy with himself for some time as he walked around the marketplace. He even paid Bergie a visit and happily slurped down a piece of her blueberry pie. Eventually, he decided to phase into Lily’s room and wait for her there. Getting anywhere near the inn or trying to find the stables where she worked was sure to have him crossing paths with her guardians. He could only hope they saw no need to guard her room when she wasn’t in it.
His feet touched the ground and a slightly musty smell hit his nostrils. The room was quite ordinary as far as surface inns went. There was a bed with a small nightstand, a small desk, and two windows as she had the corner room. Lily had apparently tried to do something about the musty smell, as a vase of fresh flowers was on the desk. Stryker was struck by the odd urge to go smell them, but that would put him in front of one of the windows, a place he had no business being. If the place was indeed being watched, he had to remain unseen. He dropped to his hands and knees and crawled across the floor to sit next to the desk. He wanted Lily to be able to see him as soon as she entered the room, but also be positioned so that someone watching her room from the ground wouldn’t be able to see him.
