Page 37 of Keeping Sarah

I laughed harder this time. “She doesn’t give a shit about any of that.”

“I’m aGorrk, Jac. I know how classed Ladrians look at us.”

That was a fear I could easily relate to. “Speaking as a Ladrian who has been looked down on my whole life, being unclassed, being a lowly scout, all that, their opinions are pure cina waste. The classed are just like everyone else, but with more money. It doesn’t make them better than you.”

“No shit. I’m not worried about that,” he said, surprising me. “I’m worried about how it could affect her future. If she decides she’s tired of living on this ship and wants to work at a hospital on Orhon…”

I sighed. I knew how that sentence would end. Slowly, I nodded my head, finally understanding his concern. Ode had the skills to work as a chief surgeon or head of any department, and doctors were not bound to lifetime employments like other people were. Doctors were too needed to be tied down like that,so she was free to go wherever she wanted. But not with a Gorrk companion. No hospital on Orhon would allow such a thing.

I tried to be logical, for his sake. “I think you should talk to her about what she wants in her future, before you ask her to unite. It would put your mind at ease, one way or the other.”

“I think I will,” he said, sounding somewhat relieved with my advice. “Thanks, Jac.”

“Anytime.”

I flew us back to Halla, trying not to imagine what a half-Ladrian, half-Gorrk child would look like. Or how it would be birthed. Half-Ladrian, half-human children looked like one or the other, usually taking after the mother. But I had never seen a Gorrk mate with anyone but other Gorrks.Are Gorrks born or do they hatch out of something?It was an amusing question I pondered on the rest of the ride home.

We landed next toAllegianton the west side of Valor’s property, near Sarah’s new cottage. I had never been happier to see that angry ghost as we landed. Valor used a bone to pound on the passenger door, so I opened it up.

A furious boom of, “Where is my son?” filled the ship.

Deacon appeared from my quarters, looking contrite. “Father, I am sorry. Things were…tense, and I had to get to Sarah. But I am completely healed, thanks to Rex’s personal doctor, so you need not worry yourself any longer about my health,” he assured his father.

Valor settled down some and looked Sarah over, concern flickering in his eyes. “How are you feeling after your ordeal?”

“Exhausted,” she admitted, and exhaled a weary breath. “More than I ever have been. If you don’t mind, I’d like to steal my companions away for a very long nap.”

He smiled and moved back, giving us room to disembark. “Of course. If there’s anything else you need, do not hesitate to ask.”

“Thank you,” she replied kindly.

But when we headed to her cottage, the other conduits came to her. It was strange…unlike when she had spoken to Omen and Abyss, Sarah seemed to withdraw between me and Deacon. Almost like she was scared of the other conduits, which didn’t make sense.

“…yes, that’s fine,” she assured them when they’d offered to help in any way they could to see to her comfort. “I just…I need rest. Please make yourselves useful to Valor or do whatever it is you need to do. I must sleep.”

They nodded and drifted away, so we went into the cottage, just the three of us. The parlor was much like Valor’s, with comfortable furniture and few decorations. It was open to the kitchen, and off the back, there were the bedrooms. Almost no halls—no wasted space.

Sarah sighed as she looked around.

Deacon stepped up beside her. “What is it?”

Her lips pursed. “It’s just so small compared to the manor.”

“If you would like some additions, I am sure they—"

“No, it’s fine,” she said sharply, then gave us a startled look, as if her own snappy tone surprised even her. “Sorry. I’m so tired.”

Deacon caught my eye. His brow furrowed slightly, as if asking my opinion on that mood swing. I didn’t like what I was seeing, and for now I kept things calm and said, “Why don’t we take that nap?”

Instead of heading for the bedroom, Sarah sat on one of the padded benches in the parlor. “Rex said something I can’t get out of my head. He said I cannot kill him in a way that matters. Does that mean anything to you two?”

I took a chair opposite from her, and Deacon joined her on the padded bench. He turned to her and said, “I heard him tell you that before you got onto his ship. It struck me oddly, as well. Jac?”

Deacon glanced at me for answers, and I considered what Rex might have meant. “Maybe because he’ll be sent to the ether to be reborn?” I offered. “But that doesn’t make any sense—that’s what happens to all of us.”

“So you can kill everyone else in ways that matter, but not Rex?” she asked, annoyance flashing in her eyes.

“You’re right,” I said, acknowledging her point. “It doesn’t make any sense.”

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