Page 96 of House of the Raven
“What the hell happened here?”
I set the rolled-up tapestry on the floor and shrug.
He shakes his head. “Such bastardos. I can’t believe they did this.” He gives Cuervo the last grape and turns, wiping his hands on his pants. “I’m sorry.”
“I’msorry,” I say at the same time.
“No, I was being an ass. Of course, I’ll help you.”
I shake my head. “It’s all right, Jago. I understand. I shouldn’t have assumed anything. I was out of line. I’ve been dragging you into all my troubles despite knowing how you feel about what duty has stolen from you already.”
“True, I don’t care about any duties as a Plumanegra, but you’re my friend, and my most beloved cousin, so…”
“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.”
“Oh, get off your high horse, and let me help.”
“A high horse has nothing to do with it. I found someone else to help.”
“Who’s the poor sucker?”
“Bastien.”
“Bastien?”
I nod. “If he’s going to be hanging around me, he can make himself useful.”
“Do you mean he’s still your guard?”
“Yes.”
“That makes no sense. You left him in the dust in Alsur. Well, actually, you were the one left in the dust while he chased me,” he says thoughtfully. “But you know what I mean.”
“Jago, I want to apolo—”
Jago turns to face the open sky. “You’re right about me. I have no purpose. My life—”
“You don’t have to—”
“Let me talk.”
I shut my mouth, stand next to him, and watch the sun play on the observatory’s broken walls in the distance.
“Uncle Simón was hard on me,” he begins, “but he was hard on Amira and you, too. I know he loved us and wanted the best for us. He did what he had to. He challenged us, never settled for less than our very best. And even if our best wasn’t good enough, he never gave up on us.” He pauses. “I thought we would have more time, Val. I thought he would be there for a long time.” He swallows thickly and blinks repeatedly up at the sky. “I miss him,” he says, blowing air through his nose.
“I miss him, too.”
He faces me, then wraps me in a hug. “I’m so confused. I thought I hated him.”
“He loved you, Jago. He may not have said it in so many words, but I saw the way he looked at you sometimes. He used to say that even though you look like your mother, you were just like his brother, stubborn and brave.”
“No brave,” Cuervocroaks. “Chicken.”
Jago and I pull apart, give Cuervo a sidelong glance, then burst out laughing.
We stand in silence for a few minutes, watching fluffy clouds float by.
At last, I sigh. “I should go see Maestro Elizondo.”
