Page 58 of The Garnet Daughter
His shoulders square with a large exhale. “Apologies.”
He is silent the entire way back through the town, traveling faster than before. August, in comparison, walks with a peppy stride, loving that I scolded someone he is not fond of.
We ascend the ramp of the ship. Being in a protected space and out of the harsh elements should be a relief, but instead the air is thick with hostility.
Commander Wesley slams open a locker and goes through some of the weapons already inside, the tension running through him turning into a full-on sulk.
August unloads the guns he has attached to his armor, placing them back in their designated spots inside the bright armory lockers, then removes his helmet with a breathy groan.
I pat some of the dirt from my clothes, determined to keep moving us forward. “I’m going to head up. I want to write down what Maestra said exactly before I forget.”
August’s serious eyes flick to Commander Wesley for a moment, but then he sends me an encouraging smile. “Meet you up there.”
I collect a protein square from the mess hall and the spell book from my room before heading to the cockpit, anxious to strap in and fly away from this unsettling place. I write down what Maestra said about the bird beak and where the oasis is past that.
By the time I’m finished, my two travel companions have still not joined me. I wonder if they are going over the plans to find the rock formation with whatever Viathan technology theymight have. Irritated, I descend back down into the cargo hull to see what is taking them so long.
August stands in the middle of it, his back to me.
“Everything ok?” I ask, and when he turns to me, his expression is a mix of anger and worry.
Confused, I glance around the hull for Commander Wesley, annoyed that his mood has now infected August too. We have information, a plan now, and we shouldn’t be wasting time. But August and I are the only people present.
“Where is Commander Wesley?” I give the room another quick inspection.
Did I pass him on my way here?
August steps toward me, his hand extended as if he’s preparing to comfort me. “Commander Wesley is gone.”
Chapter
Nineteen
“Gone?” I scan the cargo hull for a solid answer. “To where?”
“It doesn’t matter. He isn’t coming back.” His jaw is set harshly as he presses a combination on the exterior door to lock it again.
“He left?” I step in front of him as he tries to pass. “August, stop. What do you mean he is not coming back? What happened!”
His exhale is so powerful, I feel the air against my cheek. “He is staying behind, convinced he knows the prisoner the First Son soldiers brought through here. The Viathan woman abducted weeks ago.”
I shake my head in disbelief. It doesn’t make sense.
“We need to leave.” He walks toward the cockpit so fast I have to jog to keep pace.
“No, we can’t just leave him here.”
“We are not leaving him here. He took a hover bike and supplies. He is tracking the soldiers down,” he replies with anger I am not used to.
“August, wait!” I shout, following him into the cockpit and standing in front of his chair so he has to face me.
“We need to go, Callia.” He glances out the front windows.
“Are we . . . in trouble?” I look in the same direction.
“Not yet, but I would like to not raise any alarms to our somewhat hostile hosts when they notice a commander investigating the area when we gave our word we would leave.”
“How could he do this?” My head is spinning, a mix of disbelief and hurt slowing my processing of the situation.
