Page 111 of Cage of Starlight
Riese sits on the log across from Tory, the one Sena used earlier. “I tried not to make a big deal of it while he was here, but I didn’t trust him. I meant what I said before. Being under the thumb of the Westrian military rots the mind. Some dogs bark on command for so long they can’t forget their masters.” He peers into the dying fire. “I would see all Seeds free, but sometimes that’s not the merciful choice. Some Seeds don’t know what to do with freedom.”
Sena wasn’t given the chance to know what to do with it. Tory can’t help the ugly surge of hope. “Did Travin catch him?”
Riese shakes his head. “He got away. It’s for the best. I sent a couple of my people to look for him, but . . . if they didn’t find him immediately, I advised them to pull back for their own safety. They can’t use their abilities against him, and I won’t lose more people for that—” he closes his lips on whatever he was going to call Sena. “I don’t imagine he’ll get far.”
Tory steers his thoughts around the wrenching feeling those words bring.It’s for the best. It’s for the best.It becomes a mantra in Tory’s head. He doesn’t say,shouldn’t we go after him?Or, even worse,I’ll go after him.
He could, though. Tory promised—five days of looking for every answer at Sena’s side, not giving up. It wouldn’t be hard, with Sena like he was, to find him and drag him back.
Hecould.
“I’ll—” The words die on his tongue.It’s for the best.He still can’t help saying—hoping, “I could look. Don’t we need him? For your plan?”
“Not as such.”
Tory bristles. “What do you mean?”
“We’ll discuss any revisions to our plans later. It’s time for breakfast.”
Tory turns away. “I’m not hungry.”
“Understandable, but you should eat. Taking care of your health is important. This is a setback, but you’re like me. You’ll take it and use it to make yourself stronger. Come along.”
Tory’s following a few steps behind Riese before he realizes his legs are moving. A setback. It’s a nice word, packaged with the hope of moving forward. “Sorry,” he mutters.
“No need for apologies. It’s understandable to be upset, but itisbetter this way. This way, you’re focused.”
Tory grabs those words like a handhold in a flood. Maybe Riese is right. He has a job to do, a mission to fulfill.
They don’t need Sena for this.Hedoesn’t need Sena. It really is better this way. His mouth is dry when Riese leads him to where Judge, ever-present frown on his face, is distributing bowls of reheated stew to the assembled Seeds. Travin, sweat soaked and shaking, sits on the ground while someone wraps up his arm.
Sena.Senadid that. Did Sena do that? Confusion and frustration and all manner of unsettled feelings bubble up in Tory, shredding the cloak of fragile peace he’s pulled around himself.
Sena wouldn’t do that, would he?
Tory averts his eyes and speaks up again only when they’re in line. “Riese.”
Riese turns to face him, eyes shadowed, face dark with stubble.
“Tell me what I need to do,” Tory says before Riese can open his mouth. “I’ll do anything.”
He has a mission, and doing it will free Sena—even if it’s too late for it to matter.
Riese smiles. “I knew I could trust you. The effects of freeing Seeds from Westrice’s control will echo far beyond today. Westrice will no longer have captive Seeds to stock their hospitals, run their most sensitive mail, and fight their battles against others and againstus.With one move, we strike a killing blow against Michal Vantaras and his war effort. You havenoidea the kind of role you’ll be playing for us.”
At that, Tory can’t help a wan smile.
Sena was right.
There are things more important than survival. He can change the world. He’ll make all of them free.
*
Hands on his neck, his shoulder.
Sena shoves them away, scooting back until he runs into the solid trunk of a tree, hands scrabbling at its roots. His jacket, unbuttoned, hangs halfway off his shoulder. He tugs it up.
Fog and a tomb-like dome of leaves squelch the pale sunlight overhead. Two blurred blobs resolve into people-shapes as he blinks.
