Page 23 of The Night Prince 2

How many Kindreth are in this city?!

“I’m sure you will, Commander,” he lied and patted Sevren’s arm before he turned and hobbled back to Finley and Gemma.

“Well? Who was it?” Gemma asked.

“Definite strangers. Looks like some Leviathan got them,” he lied.

Gemma’s forehead screwed up. “But that Commander said murdered. When someone dies because of a Leviathan, they normally just say killed. Not murdered.”

“You’re just as smart as your brother here, aren’t you?” he remarked, impressed with her picking up on that linguistic trick.

“I try,” she said and leaned companionably against Finley.

Finley curled a protective arm around her. “She’s smarter than me actually.”

“I believe it,” Rhalyf said. “But the Commander is not. Which is why he likely used the word ‘murdered’. The Leviathan got them. Regardless, there’s no reason to be afraid. After all, it is daylight and I am with you. We can go to Hope safely,” he accompanied that last bit with a bow. Again, it did not quite have the same effect it would have if he looked mostly like himself.

He truly didn’t think that the Kindreth would operate in daylight. Besides, if this Kindreth was protecting Declan then surely they wouldn’t have any reason to kill Finley or Gemma.

Although they might think they have a reason to kill me. We shall see.

“If you’re sure it’s safe,” Gemma said uncertainly.

“If you would like to go home, Gemma, you can,” Finley assured her. “I can pick up all I need–”

“No, Finley, I want to go. Besides if it is just a Leviathan,” she swallowed, “I won’t let that stop me from living my life.”

Just a Leviathan! But yes, I get her reasoning. She does not want to be damaged or her life curtailed by them any more than it already has been.

The three of them continued on with their progress towards Hope. As if to prove that she was not afraid–or would not be made afraid–by the Leviathan, Gemma insisted on walking a bit ahead of them. She would run out a little ways into the fields to grab wildflowers and then return with them in triumph. She had braided a few in her hair and had added a summery yellow one to “Gran’s” bun.

It was when she was on one of those trips that Finley grabbed his arm and hissed, “Who was murdered? And don’t say a Leviathan did it! I know you’re lying.”

Of course, he knows. He really would be quite a good Mage. Sad really that he was born the wrong species.

“Do you really wish to know, Finley?”

“Of course, I do! I asked–”

“Don’t be so quick,” he cautioned and, for a moment, he felt like he was talking to his younger self. “There is a cost to knowledge.”

Finley blinked. “I can’t see how this knowledge could hurt me.”

He gave the young man a sad smile. “Exactly.”

Finley regarded him for long, silent moments. “I still wish to know.”

He sighed, but the young man had made a choice. He would honor it. Maybe it was best that Finley learned about this.

“Remember those two Aravae who thought to attack Declan last night outside the inn?” he asked, keeping his voice low and closely watching Gemma. He waved back at her when she waved at him.

“Y-yes. Was it them? They’re dead?” Finley’s eyebrows rose into his hairline.

“Yes,” Rhalyf answered simply.

“Do you think they were killed because of… of something to do with Declan?” Finley asked, clearly having a hard time believing such a thing, but realizing that there very well might be a connection. “Because Declan would never–I mean he’s tough. He can fight. But he would never hurt people… unnecessarily.”

Unnecessarily? So even you know that Declan is capable of killing, but murder? It is so different and this is different still.

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