Page 59 of Abducting Sarah

“Did Silence survive the birth?”

Wave nodded. “She’s fine. Strong, actually. It is rare for a birth to be this fast.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. Maternal deaths weren’t common, but not unheard-of, either. “Glad to hear it.”

“Want to come in and see them?” Camp asked.

“Uh—I’m good. Feel free to go in without me.”

She practically skipped into Valor’s house. Once over banwine, Camp had confessed she hated that she would never get to have her own babies. She adored them. But being an android made that impossible. I had pointed out that she could assemble one, but according to her, it wasn’t the same thing.

I asked the historian, “Why aren’t you in there, cooing over the babies?”

Wave raised an eyebrow at me, like she had smelled something unpleasant. “I recorded their birth data. That is the end of my responsibilities with them. Why aren’tyouin there?”

“I’m not a baby person, either. Wanna go for a ride on the onworlder instead? I could use the respectability of a historian with me when I talk to some people.” I used my gauntlet driver to contact Kapok and Tiger for them to join us.

She sighed as she looked at my ride. “Sure. Why not? I wouldn’t mind a distraction.”

CHAPTER 17

Deacon

Father’s bedroom on Halla was sparse compared to what he had on Orhon. Just a bed, some lamps, and a window, all in blues and grays to match the rest of his home. No décor. No style to speak of. The setting suns had dimmed the light coming through his window. Father had pulled me into his bedroom to speak privately.

“Take a seat,” he gestured to his bed.

“What is it, Father?”

“Where do I begin?” He started to pace. “I have not seen you in over a month. You return, united to ahuman, and with my pregnant mistress. Jac, a man who is like a son to me, almost dies protecting your consort, and I had to kill a conduit who I have known her entire life to save him. Today has been long and draining, so tell me truth. What is happening?”

I flopped backward across his bed. It felt wonderful to lay flat and relax for a moment. I didn’t want to move. I was sodamned tired after everything. “It’s all a part of my plan. With the exception of Predict—I hadn’t seen that coming. Apparently, the conduits have grown paranoid after their murders, and in addition to building their authority here on Halla, they are afraid of some special conduit.”

“They have been particularly on edge, as of late,” father agreed. “Predict assured me we were not under any suspicions with them. She knew the Ladrangs are true to the faith. That is why she had been around so much lately. To make sure none of the other conduits bothered me.”

“Was she going around to homes of other faithful ghosts?”

He thought for a moment, then nodded. “I believe so.”

Good. That means she most likely did not know about Sarah, and her being a conduit, before we arrived. “I don’t—”

“No. No more of your questions,” father interrupted impatiently. “Tell me why Predict is dead. What is this about a special conduit? What does your consort have to do with that?”

“Her name is Sarah—”

“Yes, I know that—”

“Hollinger,” I finished for him.

My father’s eyes widened in shock. “ThatSarah? The conduit?”

I nodded solemnly. “I found your notes on her and her family. I brought her here to help Silence and you raise your child—children, now—and help to manage the other ghosts. A living conduit can do what no dead conduit can.”

“You think she is the special conduit, don’t you?” he asked quietly.

“Thatwouldexplain why Predict attacked her, would it not?” I replied in a wry tone. “Predict was smart, measured. Careful. She was not the sort of person to make rash decisions.”

Father agreed. “It is the only thing that makes sense. But how would Predict have known?”

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