Page 107 of The Garnet Daughter
Ferren laughs nervously, looking around the room like we are closing in on her.
“If you stayed on Viathan, he would be taking his fleet there. Omnesis was clear that he knew you were in the Estate. She said his fleet comes for the stones, butheis coming for . . . his daughters,” I add.
“I did not see First Mother when I received more gifts, but many don’t. That doesn’t mean they are from First Son. Selene said Frith gave me gifts like it did her the moment she touched the ground.” Ferren grasps for anything.
99 stands closer to her, touching her arm. “Your light manifested in the cargo hull before we descended the ramp.”
Ferren exhales sharply because he is right, and then examines her hands like the answers are written on her palms.
“If it is true, you are safest behind the ward, behind the Viathan line,” August says for her benefit as much as 99’s.
“How do we know this . . . Omnesis is not lying? The last old god I spoke to wasn’t exactly honest.”
A hush falls over us, Ferren’s point sticking enough to make us all pause.
“It doesn’t change anything. You are still you either way, but we should take extra precautions,” 99 states.
“If Ferren isn’t one of the women, we still need to make sure that the fleet does not breach our line. Because what we know for sure is they are coming here, and they will do anything to get inside, whether it be for the stones or something else.” August sounds so sure.
They have doubts, but I am certain Omnesis was speaking the truth.
Ferren is one of the women, I know she is down to my marrow, but convincing her that much on top of every other reality seems unnecessarily cruel. So, I let her cling to her doubt. 99 will secure the perimeter and protect her either way. He says nothing has changed in their defenses, but the moment I spoke of even the possibility of someone coming to harm his wife, I knew he would do everything in his power to make sure it doesn’t happen.
First Son has one of the women, that we cannot change, but we can prepare if Ferren is the second, even if there is no indication of who the third is.
Chapter
Thirty-Two
We stay on the Viathan ship until all the possible doubts are brought to the surface and every precaution and defense August and 99 can summon up is sent to Lord General. We collectively decided not to share the information about First Son’s daughters, as the details on his larger than expected fleet are enough to convey the importance. 99 ran through a scenario of word getting out of what First Son is after and that some may suggest sacrificing Ferren in order to save the city and stones. None of us are willing to let that be a possibility.
There is only so much comfort August and I can bring her, so when 99 gives us the first indication we should let her rest, we say our goodbyes.
We fold back to the ship, so August can get the weapons log sent over to 99, leaving me to eat and take a warm shower on my own. I allow myself every emotion that comes up, processing them in the privacy of the comforting cocoon of the pilot suite washroom and letting them flow down the drain.
My nerves are still raw and my mind hangs in a dazed state by our sudden reentry into our lives. The confessions I thought would break the ties I’ve formed with my new family only frayed them, leaving knots that will need to be tied in the future. The news I shared with Ferren about the source of her gifts was difficult, but it’s better to give her space to process. 99 can give her comfort in ways that I can’t. He is the rock she needs, and I was confident enough to leave for the night knowing he was staying with her.
I change into clean clothing, taking my time to detangle my curls and oil the ends. When I finally emerge out of my room, I promise myself to stay focused on staying present and not dwelling on things I cannot change like I normally do.
August is already there to greet me, freshly showered, his striking grin making the vows I focused upon a little easier to keep.
“You get something to eat?” he asks, plopping down in the pilot chair and swiveling it toward me.
I nod and sit in the one just behind it. “Do you think . . .”
His brows lift in inquiry. “You’re worried about Ferren?”
“Of course.”
“There is nothing more we can do. 99 will take care of her.”
“I know.” I smile, thinking of how he was the first to jump into action.
“You said this is the only time First Son has found all three daughters? So, he has clearly failed every conjunction. I like those odds. Ferren will be ok. I know it. I’m more worried about you.”
I smile flatly at his sweet words. “I don’t even know how to feel about any of it. I wanted to go to Omnesis to keep Ferren safe, and it had no intention of hurting her. It was pointless.”
“But if you didn’t insist on going to the birthlands, we would have no idea that First Son was looking for three women or evenhow large his army is now. You may have saved the city with your stubbornness.”
