Page 27 of These Divided Shores
“Fine. Shit.Fine.” Nate waved his hands. “We’ll help you break into the prison. But that doesn’t mean I agree to ally with the Tuncians or go to war. This is a prison break. Getting my people out. Showing Argrid what happens when they mess with the Emerdian syndicate. Hell, might be enough to scare Elazar back across the ocean.”
Doubtful. Vex bit his lips together—tighter when he saw Nate glaring at him.
“I’m not one of those Argridians,” Vex said again, but itlost his earlier fire. He wasone of those Argridians, more than Nate knew.
Maybe Nate was right, in a messed-up way, and Vex shouldn’t be involved. Maybe everything would be better if all Argridians backed off and hid away somewhere.
“After we free the prisoners,” Kari started again (Vex noted how she hadn’t mentioned that Ben would be one of the prisoners they’d rescue), “we will not be able to stay in Port Camden. The success of the attack will rattle Elazar and we do not have the numbers to retake this city. If you choose not to join our war efforts, you will be staying in Port Camden without aid. Your people may well end up back in prison.”
Nate frowned. “Are you threatening me?”
“Of course not—I want you to be aware of the facts. If this is only a prison break to you, not the first step in a larger war, we will part ways after the prisoners are free. Our people will need to convene in the southeast—with the Tuncians in Port Mesi-Teab. Our ultimate goal to save Grace Loray from Argrid will, eventually, free Port Camden.”
Nate sucked in a breath to counter, but Kari kept talking.
“Or,” she said, “you and your people may join us in Port Mesi-Teab to regroup and press on in other attacks against Argrid. But you will be joining the war, and have to leave your city behind. Notforever, I promise you that.”
Nate’s lip curled. He held for a moment, another, before he snapped at his raiders.
“You—unlock their manacles. We’re gonna plan the prison break,” Nate said to Kari. “I haven’t decided about any war yet. Don’t get confident.”
Kari stood, stepping away with Nate to discuss their attack.
“Damn,” Nayeli said, rubbing her wrists where the irons had been. “One conversation, and she convinced Nate to listen.”
“We might actually do this,” Edda whispered on Vex’s other side. “The prison, the war.”
Vex started to agree but choked. He’d been in the Port Camden prison to break Edda out two years back after a misunderstanding with Council soldiers—but she hadn’t been processed yet, and he’d snatched her from the atrium. He’d heard rumors about the bowels of the prison, how some of the halls moved on the guards’ whims, and other levels made people go mad.
An image hit Vex, of him and his group searching the cells as Argridians streamed in. What if they missed Ben’s cell? What if Elazar had already decided his son was expendable?
Rodrigu had made Ben play the strategy game when they were younger too—and, once, Ben had beaten him. Rodrigu’s eyes had gone from the board to Ben’s face in startled shock.
Rodrigu had never looked at Paxben like that. Like he was proud.
At the time, Vex hadn’t cared. The game was stupid, and he could make his father laugh in a way no one else could—that was important too, right? That other stuff, a distant revolution and the succession of the Argridian royal family, would work itself out. Rodrigu had planned it. Paxben didn’t need to worry.
Kari and Nate neared a table covered with papers and maps.
Did Vex want to play that role again? The role of errant child, letting older and more experienced people make decisions that would shape his life? When he’d done that, his father had burned to death. The girl he might’ve loved had gotten stabbed on the deck of a ship. He’d left his cousin to god-knew-what fate.
Vex fought a shudder and looked at Nate and Kari with renewed purpose.
Whatever his role in this war, he sure as hell wouldn’t let things happentohim anymore.
8
THE DEFENSORS DRAGGEDBen and Gunnar to three more villages before the day was done.
In each one, Elazar gave the same speech about raiders being the true enemy; a coming light that would purify the evil and bless the obedient; unity with the Council; and the reveal of his wicked son. Ingvar and Tom gave the same supplication, and Elazar revealed sick villagers made well bythe Pious God’s mighty powers.
Each time, the crowd hesitated until the healed villagers appeared. Children, adults, elderly—the ages varied, but the results were the same: all sicknesses gone. Old wounds, bones that hadn’t healed right. The potion made these people anew, and no one on Grace Loray—or anywhere—had ever seen such results. The strongest healing plant on this island cured current wounds and sicknesses, nothing from the past.
In village after village, people surrendered their magic, vowing devotion to the Pious God. Elazar’s claims that raiders were servants of the Devil made sense. To most citizens, they were criminals, thieving beasts who stole livelihoods and property. The revolution against Argrid five years ago—that conflict had been the reason no one had seen the full strength of the Pious God’s power before now.
When Elazar’s defensors became invincible with permanent magic—unstoppable strength and lasting speed and constant healing—it would only confirm his claims. Of courseArgridhad the strongest military—the Pious God had ordained them!
What would be next? The Mechtlands, divided and warring, primed to be overtaken? Emerdon, which already worshipped the Pious God? Grozda, small and treacherous?
