Page 64 of Rising

The time spent around the city would allow me to identify their weak points and determine the condition of their troops. After a few weeks, my request, that would actually be sent by Riley, would have arrived announcing my ‘diplomatic arrival.’ I had a somewhat positive relationship with their leadership after the war. We still exchanged letters through emissaries and such now and then and their General had played nice enough on the battlefield.

My inquiries would appear innocent, ignorant even, but well aimed for the recon that had already taken place. Things could go either way from there. We’d either realize our accusations were ill placed, or we’d get confirmation that our suspicions were right, and possibly identify who they’re working with.

The journey back would be the most dangerous if that were true. It’d be a mad dash to Boise, the closest settlement in our territory. We’d sound the alarms for the other settlements and receive transport back to Monterey to prepare The Compound for the worst that was sure to come.

“Riley has it all under control,” I tried to reassure him. “He’s been instructed to debrief you should it all go to shit, but I can’t risk losing any more of our troops. I won’t risk it. We go there guns and magic blazing, and I guarantee you no one’s coming back.”

He grew increasingly hesitant, worried. “How will he know?”

“He just will.” My gaze begged him to leave it at that.

“And Reina? Tomoe? All of you”—he was sad now, a worried father—”to put all of you at risk at once …”

“I won’t leave my sister, and my sister won’t leave me,” Seth said firmly. Prescott’s eyes locked on mine, brows scrunched.Guess I’m not the only one caught off guard.

I rubbed behind Seth’s shoulder. “Of course not, I understand. I should have never mentioned it in the first place.” Looking back to Prescott, I added, “Reina was right, with this new development it’s better to be out there with a healer, plus Moe. That way we won’t have to bop around into Moe’s minds for her visions, she can just tell us along the way. No need to play telephone.”

“With Alexiares … you trust him?”

The question was directed at me, but Seth answered in my stead, “He saved my ass, and Moe’s. Not to mention he’s pretty damn good with a knife”—he shuddered—”can do some weird … sick serial killer shit with ‘em. Solid in a hand-to-hand fight too.”

“You’re the one that dropped him at my doorstep like a stray dog.” I tossed my hands up. “He also left The Expanse on his own free will, so he’s in good standing.”

I recalled what he had told me as he pulled me aside before entering the room. “He’s from a settlement not too far from Duluth. They know him and can help take us in should we run into trouble. He knows the land enough to keep us out of any sticky situations, and if we do end up caught, they may be able to be persuaded into believing we’re there in good faith.”

Seth’s eyes burned into the side of my head, wondering why I’d held back that piece of information, but I refused to turn to him, wanting to remain someone united in front of Prescott. Willing him to say yes.

Prescott slumped into his chair, a groan escaping his lips as he glared at us. “Don’t. Fucking. Die.”

Amaia

The morning after, the sky was grim, mirroring our spirits at breakfast. I hurried towards The Kitchens, picking up the pace as rain drizzled down, not wanting the maps in my bag to get wet.

Elie’s face lit up, a broad smile spreading across her lips as I walked in. Her warm greeting easing my nerves. “Good morning, Amaia! I was just ending my shift and was heading out to ya.” She pointed to the items she had set aside in the corner as she removed her apron.

“Morning, Elie, thanks.” My heart pounded against my ribcage, threatening to burst through my chest. The realization dawned on me that this might be the last time I see her for a while, maybe ever. “Hey, El?”

Her curls bounced in the scrunchie atop her head. She must’ve had a few cups of coffee herself for her overnight shift. Energy radiated off her feeding to my own.

“Yeah?” She looked to me hopeful, like this would be the moment I invited her to train with my troops.

“I’ll be headed out for a while, secret mission and all.” I tried to make it lighter than it was, but her body stiffened in response.Nothing gets past this kid. “I know things have probably been a bit … scary around here lately, and between you and me, they may get a bit scarier.”

Her eyes widened, but I continued, “But it’ll be okay, because Riley will still be here and if you can trust me, then you know you can trust Riley too. So if Riley tells you to do something, you listen. Okay, you hear me? If Riley says hide, then you take your parents and your brother and you go to that spot I told you about. You remember where that is?”

She nods, yes.

“Good. And what do you do when you get there?”

She stared back at me with the poise of a seasoned warrior, though the tremble in her small voice betrayed her. “Rex is to check the bug out bags for inventory, Mom and Dad check our weapons, make sure they’re working and ready to use.”

“And you?”

“I stand guard and fight, and if I can’t fight, then I give the signal to run.”

“Quickly. Run through the checklist.”

She was confident in her answer. In a way that told me she recited it each morning as she brushed her teeth. “Assess the situation. Identify a route of escape. If I can’t escape, stay behind cover and fortify my position. Find any weakness I can exploit. And use them.”

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