Page 35 of These Divided Shores
But she shook her head as if to banish a bad thought. “First—the Tuncian steamboats are about three hours out. They’ll be here by dusk.”
Kari waved her thanks. “We will move as soon as they arrive.”
“We will?” Vex croaked.
Nate grinned. “Scared, Bell?”
But Kari didn’t let Vex respond. “Word of an influx of raiders and steamboats in the port will spread quickly.Likely Argrid has already heard of their approach, and may have prepared. Our best chance is to act as soon as we are able. What is the other news?”
Nayeli’s eyes touched Vex, then Kari. “Cansu’s raiders say there’ve been rumors of Elazar’s presence in villages around Port Camden, telling people that raiders are to blame for their suffering and Grace Loray has to unite against their evil. He arrests people like he snatched up the missing raiders, and hehealspeople, too—apparently it’s the Pious God’s power, but I believe that as much as I believe I’m a long-lost princess—”
She was rambling. A tremor shot to Vex’s toes.
Nayeli gathered herself. “And... he has Ben with him. Elazar drags him around as proof that he’ll make sacrifices to create a better world, too.”
Vex wheezed, the room going dark. “Ben’s still—” God, no, he didn’t want to ask that question. “Elazar hasn’t said when he’s going to—”
“He’s alive,” Nayeli confirmed. “If they’re so close, it means Ben’s probably in the Port Camden prison after all.”
“Elazar too,” Vex said. He shoved up from the chair to prove to himself that he still could, but his legs ached, that last tremor affecting his muscles longer than normal.
“Ben?”
Vex looked at Nate, who was glaring at him with a new toxicity.
“BenatGallego?” Nate continued. Vex cursed. “In the Port Camden prison? TheCrown Prince? What the hell, Andreu?” He spun on Kari, his face going purple-red.
Kari put her hand up. “The prince turned traitor to his father and has been working against Elazar. His imprisonment and this treatment”—Kari motioned to Nayeli—“is proof of that. We were not certain where he was being held, or if his rescue would be a factor in this prison break. He will be a valuable asset in the coming war—whether or not you choose to join our fight afterward, the prince will be my responsibility.”
Nate glowered, unconvinced. “Just get my people out and get these damn Argridian rats away from Port Camden,” he grumbled, and strode out the door.
Vex didn’t move until Nate’s footsteps receded. He slumped forward.
Nayeli winced. “Sorry,” she said.
Kari shook her head in dismissal. “Go prepare.”
Nayeli started to leave, but Vex hesitated. “You didn’t tell Nate that Ben’s my cousin.”
Kari’s eyes were shielded. “Neither did you” was all she said.
Vex swallowed. Dread tasted like acid and iron and the cedarwood his father used to burn in his study’s fireplace. Should he let everyone know his lineage? What good would it do?
“Tonight!” Nayeli bounced over to Vex, trying overlyhard to be cheerful. “Tonight, tonight! We’ll get Cansu and Ben back tonight!”
“Yeah. Let’s hope.”
“No hoping.” Nayeli poked him in the chest. “Certainty. We’ve lost too much already. We will get them back.”
Vex almost said,I hope you’re right, but he caught himself.
Nayeli hooked her arm through his and led him out of the room. Kari stayed at the table.
They hadalllost too much to this war. But what about the people who couldn’t get back what they’d lost? What would Kari gain from this? Not that saving Ben would fill Vex’s chasm of missing Lu, but it would ease a different pain.
Vex let Nayeli pull him down to the basement, where the Emerdians had weapons and various plants. He didn’t remind her, or anyone, that giving him a weapon was five kinds of stupid. As he walked down the stairs, he had to keep a death grip on the railing through a spasm. There was no way he could fight, but he’d be damned if he’d stay in this townhouse.
Dread could fill Vex up. Tremors could break his legs.
