Page 29 of Choosing Jenny
Mal continued. “So then Deacon was betrothed to Silence for a time, as a reward for Valor’s work under Justice.”
Sam frowned, pointing at Valor and Silence. “But they came here in together, like a couple, and Deacon is with Sarah, right?”
“That is correct,” Valor said, nodding. “I had wanted to guarantee Silence would unite with Deacon of her own free will, and not because of Justice’s decision. When I got to knowher…” He sighed and smiled at Silence. “I fell madly in love with her. Mad enough to risk execution, as I was already united to Deacon’s mother.”
Sam blinked rapidly. “So you fell in love with your son’s fiancée?”
“In Earth terms, yes.” Silence smiled wistfully at Valor. “When I became pregnant, my father executed Valor and threw me into the royal prison. Months later, Deacon had Jac help me escape to here.”
Sam’s mouth gaped. “That is…a lot.”
“Breaking Silence out of the royal prison is also treason,” I told Sam. “So if you wouldn’t mind keeping all that to yourself—”
“Oh my god, of course,” she swore. “Honestly, I don’t even think I could retell that story without getting half of it backwards.”
Valor turned to us. “So, we’ve shared a treasonous secret. If you want my son to trust your friends, then your friends should share something of equal weight. Maybe then Deacon will stop acting as though you’re hiding daggers behind your backs.”
Surge, Discord and Longshot all looked at each other, exchanging silent glances. But before any of them could speak, Sam chimed in.
“These five helped Jenny cheat at Illiapol,” she said, indicating us as a group.
Surge gave her a shocked glance. “How do you know that?”
She rolled her eyes. “It’s a rumor floating around, but honestly, it wasn’t hard to figure out, Surge. Plus, they hired me to stay in Mal’s estate, so it would look like Jenny was around when she wasn’t. That’s like two big secrets that would probably get us all executed, right?” she asked, looking proud of herself.
But Deacon hesitated. He had been overly cautious since I’d known him, and after meeting his father, I realized it must have been his mother’s trait that made him that way.
“I don’t think—”
“Rex Terian is alive,” Mal said, cutting him off and dropping that shocking bombshell.
A collective gasp was followed by Jac shouting, “What the fuck!”
“How is that possible?” Deacon demanded to know.
“Oh, shit,” Sarah whispered, looking completely distraught.
After the chaos settled, Mal told the tale of what had happened with Rex, Credo, Illiapol, and all the other things we had gone through.
“That’s why Surge is here,” he concluded. “Surge, I need to out you. Is that okay?”
Surge gave him a nod, though he appeared a little nervous judging by his tight mouth . “It’s fine. I hope.”
Mal faced the others. “Surge is a magician. He’s here to find orbs we can use to possibly help Aphonic Bateen and the Illiapol ghosts.”
Silence gasped, the sound delicate and full of hope. “You can help my mother?”
“If I can, I will,” Surge promised.
Mal eyed Sarah cautiously. “Please tell me you won’t have Surge executed for being a magician.”
His request clearly startled her. “Why on Halla would I do that?”
“Because you’re the queen of conduits, and conduits hunted magicians.”
“Used to,” Sarah emphasized. “My conduits, the silverguard, they don’t hunt those who do not deserve it. Not under me.” She turned her focus to Surge. “Provided you bring no harm to anyone here, there is no reason for you to fear any of us. We do not hurt people for who they are. You are safe with us.”
Surge bowed his head toward her, relief written on his face. “Thank you, Queen.”
