Page 100 of These Divided Shores
Before Ben could shout any of the blame he wanted to, Jakes pressed against the bars.
But he faced Gunnar. “Keep him here,” he said. “If Ben shows himself out there, whoever is leading this attack will kill him. Elazar knows he doesn’t need him anymore—he needs Adeluna. Ben is too much a figurehead. His very existence is a threat to Elazar now. Keep himhere.”
Ben balked. “Like hell! Jakes—”
“I’m not the monster you think I am, Ben.” Jakes gave a sad smile. “I’m sorry I couldn’t prove that to you. But when you are king, I hope you can forgive me for everything I did to get you the throne.”
Jakes sprinted away.
“Jakes!” Ben rattled the bars. “JAKES!”
His voice broke in the lack of response. Gunshots came from the sanctuary, screaming and desperate pleading for help.
Ben spun on Gunnar. “Get us out.”
Gunnar didn’t move.
Ben wavered. “Gunnar. Please—”
“He’s right.” It came from Vex, who stood in the hallnow, facing the open door and the escalating fight beyond.
“Vex, don’t go out there.” Ben’s words came too fast, high-pitched and terrified. “Wait for me—Gunnar, get me out of here!”
Gunnar stared at the floor, his eyes closing.
“I’ll come get you when it’s over,” Vex told Ben. There was something absent in his eye, a vacancy that terrified Ben to his soul.
Over the years, Ben had captured so many heretics who had looked at him like that. Like they were reconciled to their death.
“Paxben.” Ben’s voice cracked. “Irmán.”
Vex half ran, half tripped up the hall, his body shaking so hard Ben wondered if he wouldn’t collapse. But he vanished from sight.
“Paxben!” Ben screamed. “Gunnar—you can’t listen to them. You’re helpingme, aren’t you?”
Gunnar shot a glare at him, his blue eyes piercing through bloodshot veins. “If you go out there, they will kill you.”
Gunshots intensified, defensors hooted victory, people screamed and hurt because of Ben’s countrymen.
“You wanted to break me out earlier, to go with Lu and fight Elazar,” Ben said. “How is this different?”
“Jakes—coward that he is, he is also right. Whoever is leading this attack is not Elazar. Whoever it is, they will see you, and they will kill you. Your role will be in facing your father, if it comes to that.”
Reality settled the more Gunnar spoke, warm like his fire, searing with each word.
He wouldn’t break the door open for Ben. Vex was gone, the rest of the sanctuary was under attack—and Ben would be trapped in this cell.
“Too many times in my life, I’ve been unable to stop people I loved from dying,” Ben said, one breath away from disintegrating. “Don’t do this to me again.”
“I left the Mechtlands because I was tired of peopleIcared about getting hurt,” Gunnar snapped. “Don’t do this tome. I won’t watch your own people kill you.”
“If you care about me”—Ben’s body lightened, dizzying, and he fought past it with a shake of his head—“you will see that thisismy life. Danger. War. Leading.”
“Yes.Leading.Argrid needs you to lead. You are too important to lose on a suicide mission.” Gunnar leaned against the wall, arms folded.
Ben bit the inside of his cheek, his heart rupturing in a flurry of shards. “This oath between us—Visjorn lofta blo—I thought it made us equals. I didn’t think it would let you make decisions for me.”
Gunnar wouldn’t look at him.
