Page 40 of Choosing Jenny
“Me in particular?” I asked, surprised. “Why?”
“You were on the mission to free my brother from the royal prisons, remember?”
I thought back, recalling the memory. “Oh right. I forgot all about that. Feels like a lifetime ago.”
“Well, he has not forgotten it. And neither have I,” she said gratefully.
Sarah walked up to the two of us. “I know better than to tell you to be careful, Omen—”
“You can tell me anything and I’ll do it.”
Sarah smiled at the captain of the silverguard. “Take care of them.”
Omen nodded once. “I swear it.”
We loaded ontoCheesecakeand left the manor behind. I entered the coordinates for Gram Skir’s hidden house. Like so many outside of Sorellamore, the residents of Halla often chose to live in the woods and far away from anyone else. My passengers hung out in the lounge, but I could hear their conversation through the comms.
“Why doesn’t your brother live in Sorellamore?” Sam asked.
“Gram came to Halla as a political refugee. Staying hidden keeps him safe.” Omen paused for a moment before adding, “He also sells bone knives, so staying hidden is good business, as well.”
“Yeah, so what’s the deal with all that?” Sam went on. “Bones are the only thing that can kill a ghost, right?”
“Bone is the only thing all ghosts can touch, and all ghosts can be touched by,” Omen explained. “That is why on Halla most door knobs, chairs, and so on are bone or have a bone inlay. I would think my baby brother’s business in that market has gone down, considering the silverguard has put an end to the killings that had been so prevalent here.”
“And you think he knows where the Halla Pearls are?” Sam persisted.
“Yes.”
“Whatare they, exactly?”
“Some say they are the tears of Shorlun, from when he split our world into Orhon and Halla. Others believe they are nothing more than geodes. I couldn’t say either way. I’ve never seen one.”
I turned off the comm to have some time to think for myself. Whatever the pearls were, I didn’t really care. I had bigger things on my mind. How did I fix things with Jenny and Mal? How did I keep Longshot from telling me tojust dealwith Rex? I sighed and suddenly soft, peaceful flumer music filled the cockpit.
I frowned. “Cheesecake, what’s going on?” I asked.
“Your biomarkers indicate a negative shift in your mood,” the ship’s smooth, female voice said. “Flumer music has been shown to improve these biomarkers. Did I make an error?”
I laughed beneath my breath. “No, you didn’t. Carry on.”
Flumer notes hummed through the cockpit as I swayed to the melody and we soared over the treetops. Halla was a truly beautiful microplanet. The abundance of trees and water had made her a retirement destination for the classed a generation ago. Orhon had been clear-cut across most of the land, and artificial islands now dotted the waters, so Halla had an appeal, before the conduits had come and slaughtered the unfaithful.
But all that was over now. Which meant those who had made their living off of selling bone weapons were out of luck. However, when we landed in the clearing next to Gram’s house, no proof of his hardship was to be found. In fact, his house, which Jac had said was a shack, had what appeared to be a new addition to it. The construction didn’t match the rest of the house, but it was nice, all the same.What is he doing to afford a luxury like that?
We landed in a clearing beside his home, and when we disembarked Gram came out to greet us. Not the skittish recluse Jac had described. He was only a foot taller than Surge, which made me wonder if there were any half-sizes in his family. His skin was taupe with a blue sheen, like Jac, but his eyes were a gray that I’d rarely seen on any Ladrian.
He grinned as soon as he saw me. “My savior!”
I laughed. “Hey, Gram. You knew we were coming?”
“Jac sent word a few minutes ago.” He looked to his sister. “Omen, I hear you made captain.” He sounded proud of her.
She nodded. “And you’re making bone weapons. How’s business?”
He gave her a pointed look. “Not so good, since you decided to stop all the local violence. Thanks for that.”
She inclined her head. “As you said, Iamcaptain.”
