Like now.
The old shed appeared abandoned on the outside. But inside, it was crisp and clean, outfitted with the latest technology. She tried not to let her thoughts wander to how good Bastien smelled when freshly bathed as they went to the comm room where Cin and Kindel were waiting.
At first, she couldn’t understand the thick accents of the speakers over the channel. It wasn’t Gorturnum. But the longer she listened, the more she began to understand.
Finally, she deciphered it.
Drake had been right. It was about Hermione Dane and it did involve the Tavali.
She felt the color drain from her face as she met his concerned gaze. “They’re planning to bomb Hermione and kill your brother Ryn.”
CHAPTER 13
Drake went ramrod stiff at Ember’s declaration that the message he’d stumbled on was the plot for Hermione Dane’s murder. “What?”
She nodded. “Sounds like they’re going to try for it in two days.”
“You’re sure?”
She squinted as she continued to listen. “The accents are thick, but yeah, I’ll stand by that. It sounds like a major strike they’re planning against all of The Sentella.”
Drake cursed. “I have to find my brother and warn him.”
“And Darling,” Bastien reminded him.
“Yeah. And Darling,” he agreed. “Definitely Darling.” He bit his lip. “You’re one hundred percent sure about this?”
“Absolutely.”
“Then may the gods be with us.”
But as the days went by, it began to feel like they weren’t. While they were able to save Hermione’s life, The League made a devastating run against the Porturnum Tavali StarStation, they hijacked a Caronese freighter that had been carrying medical supplies to orphans, hit the Wasturnum West Fleet that was being led by Drake’s sister-in-law, and bombed the Andarion palace to the ground.
Their casualties included Drake’s sister-in-law, Mack Hinto-Dane. Nykyrian’s family—wife, children, and parents. Drake’s older brother Darling and his wife and son. Syn Wade’s wife and son, along with his sister-in-law, and basically the families of the entire Sentella High Command.
Even Saf’s nephew and brother-in-law went down with the palace.
And Jullien and Thrāix.
None of them had been left unscarred by the waves of attacks against them.
Bastien reeled from the pain. It was too much to contemplate. He couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t function or plot.
Neither could Drake. Their anguished grief rendered them useless.
Ember had never seen Bastien like this as they sat in the living room of Kindel’s small cottage. It was as if he were reliving the death of his parents and siblings, only worse. He had latched on to Rian and wouldn’t let him go.
“Should we call someone?” Cin whispered as she watched him with a worried frown.
“Yeah, like a priest?” Ash wasn’t joking.
Chewing her nail, Ember debated what she could do to help him. “I don’t know.”
Bastien finally wiped at his eyes and shook his head. “This is bullshit!” He met Drake’s gaze. “Jullien isn’t dead. Not with Thrāix by his side. I know better.”
Drake scowled. “What are you saying?”
“I know my cousin. He’s a gutter rat, like me. You don’t go through what we’ve been through and die like this. You just don’t.” He kissed Rian’s head and stood. “Where’s a link?”
Kindel handed him hers.
Bastien tried Nykyrian and couldn’t get through. So next he called Ushara. She picked up immediately. Silent tears fell down his cheeks. “Shara, I just heard.”
“Shh, Bas. It’s not what you think.”
His heartbeat sped up as he felt some hope. “The Dagger still flies?”
“Yes. Until I lay hands on its hilt. But yes, the Dagger has sworn to return to its sheath where it belongs, along with the rest of the forks and spoons. They’re a little bent, but whole.”
He let out a half laugh as she threatened to kill Jullien when he got home with the others. “And Kere?” he asked, using Darling’s Sentella call sign.
“You can’t stop the god of death. You know that.”
His breath left him in a loud rush at the confirmation that everyone had survived. And that he had understood her code for what it was. Thank the gods that for once, they were merciful. “Tell Nyk that we’re coming in, to watch for us. We’ll be loaded for League.”
“Be safe and careful. I don’t need another scare like the one I just had or else I’ll be in early labor.”
“No worries.” He cut the transmission and returned the link to Kindel. “Darling’s alive and so’s Jullien.”
Drake shot to his feet. “What the minsid hell! I’m going to gut him!”
Bastien snorted at his fury. “And this after you were crying over losing him three seconds ago?”