Page 12 of Light Up the Night

“Mmhm,” he confirmed. “King Ryver and King Kais were an item before Azaria of the Savagelands arrived. Quite the story, that one. Quite the beauty as well.”

I winced at his sudden interest in the Savage Queen and turned back toward Chalice and the others.

“The Iron Inlet connects to this land somewhere,” I said before casting him a look. “That’s our out.”

“Our out?” He laughed and started back toward me. “The Iron Inlet is on the other side of The Great Abyss. A mountain range in Northern Tauran.”

When I remained unimpressed, he emphasized, “On the other side of the country.”

“He is our leverage,” I told him. “If we return this way, he will be Nemmy’s revenge. That doesn’t serve us.”

“Serve us…” He smirked and nodded while surveying my face. “I think you served those wealthy fuckers on your mountain for far too long, brother.”

“I didn’t come all this way for the benefit of a fake sorceress,” I assured him. “Can you do it or not?”

“Of course I can get to him, but, pray tell, how do you intend to travel across country undetected with an army of freed slaves?”

“They are Lost People. Stop identifying them by their misfortunes.” He tore his gaze away from me and nodded. “They can come forward for the capture, we will send Niles’ men back the moment it is secured. Send them with orders to tell Nemmy we were ambushed.”

“What of the men? What of Fish?” Pariah pressed.

“Nap time’s over.” I snorted without waiting for his input and made my way back to the group.

Night was our only ally. We could rest when we were back at the Inlet.

I found Chalice napping on Keif’s chest and awoke them both with a quick kiss.

“We’re going to proceed, while the moon is favorable,” Pariah told them. “We won’t make it out of Tauran before daylight, but we will hopefully make it out of the capital.” Pariah explained it all in a way that made it seem much less risky than it actually was.

I filled Chalice in about the situation with Niles’ men and those we had freed on the way over.

“Have you named your ships yet?” I asked while we marched back toward the exit. The men moved in packs of ten, staggered by ten-minute intervals. It was the best we could do with the time we had.

“I think I have. The one we found Fish on is The Nora.”

“The Nora. I like it.” It wasn’t often women of her status ever found themselves before royalty, let alone being given the recognition of a queen. “It will honor young Fish.”

“He is my son now. My ward in her absence. He will be treated as such,” she vowed.

“Even if Lazarus proves to be the asshole you pegged him to be?” I asked, somewhat impressed by her compassion.

“Especially if he is. The boy’s mother may never be found. I would die before I abandoned a child with a Krypt monster…” she pointed out.

I didn’t bother telling her that slaves didn’t have such luxuries. Objecting to orders could very well have gotten both Nora and Fish killed. The boy’s mother had seemed a smart enough woman to know that from what I could tell from our brief encounter at the Inlet.

“Encourage his hope,” I implored. “Even if she isn’t found. Sometimes believing in pretty tales keeps us from becoming the monsters we fear.”

“Does it not elongate the inevitable?”

“He is a child. He will believe and learn to live with whatever explanation you give him. Let it be a gentle one.” I winked and directed her attention with a nod to the exit before us.

“This is it,” she whispered.

Chalice

I gave Messiah’s hand a final squeeze and fell back while twenty warriors pushed past. Another dozen were dispatched into the night with Fish and a map. We would meet them in a place called The Dells, if all went right.

The men positioned themselves in units spanned for miles and we slowly approached the manor in the distance.

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