Page 135 of The Last One
I look at Jadon. “Is she your sister?”
Jadon shakes his head. “Olivia and I met the night she escaped. She was distressed and scared, and I… I understood. I couldn’t just leave her there, so I helped her escape. It took us months, but we finally found a town far away enough to settle down and live like normal people for a moment.”
“Maford,” I whisper, a sinking feeling in my stomach.
“We told everyone that we were brother and sister,” Jadon says. “Funnily enough, I started to believe it. I always watched over her. We’d bicker but knew we’d make up because we had only each other. Maford became a paradise for me. A new life. A new trade. Anonymity.”
“And I finally met my true love,” Philia whispers. “We wanted to be together even though we couldn’t marry. People in Maford were starting to suspect that…that Livvy and I loved each otherthatway. And so we came up with a plan. Relocate to Vinevridth. Jadon promised to take us there.”
“What stopped that move from happening?” My heart hurts for this couple.
“You,” Philia says. “Youstopped that move from happening.”
Jadon shakes his head. “We had to figure things out once circumstances changed. Yes, we thought we had more time. But then Olivia met you—”
“Met?”I say, eyebrows high. “You say that like we bumped into each other at the market.”
“She stole from the wrong person.” Jadon glares at Philia before turning back to me. “Still, though, we didn’t expect they’d find us. But I was wrong: they found us, and now…” He spreads his arms. “Here we are.”
A realization uncoils in my mind. “They.You mean the soldiers who invaded Maford? They weren’t there to conquer Maford? They were looking forOlivia? That’s why they were kicking down doors…?” I lean against the table, dumbfounded. “Why would Wake send—?”
“Kai,” Jadon says, bracing himself for what I can tell is the final and worst bit of it. “Olivia’s fiancé is Gileon Wake, the emperor’s son. And they won’t stop hunting for her until she’s back in Brithellum, either married to Gileon or placed in the dungeons for stealing from the emperor. And the emperor probably knows by now that we killed the men he sent, and he will send out more men to find us—better trackers, better fighters, others—and maybe theywillfind us soon, and if they do, they’ll kill us on the spot for treason.” He swallows, then adds, “That includes you, too.”
“What?”My head swims—I don’t evenknowthese people. All I wanted to do that day was protect the village from violent men with swords, figure out who I was and why Elyn was searching for me, but now I’m running from herandtheemperor?I’mthe one who’s aided and abetted a fugitive and a thief, and…Treason?I cover my head with my arms. “So.” I straighten, inhale and exhale. “We head for Weeton, and we find Olivia before she tries to trade my amulet for freedom. If only she’d been honest—”
Jadon starts to noisily roll up the map. “Don’t start.”
The power burns in my hands, and I slam my fist against the table. “And who areyouto tell me what to do? I haven’t told a lie yet, nor have I maligned her already twisted character.” A ticking warmth spreads up my arms. “If you wanna grapple with me today, Ealdrehrt, I’ll gladly introduce you to the ground.”
“Enough of this,” Veril interrupts. “We’ll rescue Olivia, and Kai can reclaim her pendant from that silly thief—they can’t be too far away. And then, Kai, you and I can continue to Caburh and then Mount Devour.”
I take calming breaths, and the heat in my palms cools.Fine.But I won’t be duped again.
Veril wraps his vials in cotton and cloth and fills his satchel with food, including dried lentils, cured meats, those cocoa-apricot cookies, and of course, honeycakes. He grabs Warruin from the corner and says, “Ready?”
“I can carry some of that,” I say, reaching for his bag. Once he dismisses my offer, I slip my satchel onto my shoulder and gaze at the warm room that helped me heal. Will we ever return to this place?
Jadon plants himself in the middle of the sitting room, Fury and Little Lava in hand. “Take your weapons, at least? I’m not being entirely altruistic.”
I throw up my hands. “What do youwantfrom me? Is it because your odds of surviving this improve when I have a sword in my hand?”
He cocks his head. “Yes, my odds improve when you’re armed.”
I grab the weapons and stow each in their sheaths.
“Great.” Jadon grabs his bag and heads out the front door.
I glare at Philia. “What are you waiting for?”
The young woman startles, blushes, and hugs herself. “You’ll let me join you?”
I say nothing and continue glaring at her, the muscles above my eyes twitching.
Near tears, Philia hurries over to the door. She looks back over her shoulder and says, “You look lovely, Kai, wearing all your stuff. You really do.”
The twitching muscles above my eyes are now joined by the strained cords in my neck.
Veril says, “Miss Philia, I’d advise you to quickly gather those items you’ll need before they join the others in that campfire.”
