Page 117 of The Sovereign: Part One
“Thank you for coming,” I blurted out, unsure of what else to say.
“You knew I would,” Joss said.
Maxim’s jaw muscles flitted beneath the skin.
I fidgeted.“You can probably guess what this is about.”
“Enlighten me,” Joss said, taking a seat too close to me for Maxim’s comfort.
My accordant sat behind me, and I could feel him watching Joss over my shoulder, analyzing his vitals, posture, every nuance that might warn him, hopefully, a few moments before instinct turned into action.His systems were likely screaming that it wasn’t a matter ofif, butwhen.
“Uh…” I looked to Roan.“Would you…?”
“We need safe passage into The Vale,” Roan said.
Joss’s expression didn’t change.
“For Bellam and me.Not now, but soon.We know the risks.I understand what I’m asking.A Vanguard in The Vale without approval could result in a tribunal.But I give you my word, whatever the Veyr requires, whatever he demands, I will find a way to provide.All I ask is that he allow us to stay under his protection in The Vale.It’s impossible for us to remain in Hyperion.”
“What makes you think I can help with that?”Joss asked.I half expected him to, even for a millisecond, shoot an accusatory or disappointed glance in my direction, but he didn’t.He was more disciplined than I expected, even after learning the truth from Lev.Joss’s expression revealed nothing.Not a crack.Not a clue.
“Joss,” I said gently.“You were Auren.You have to know the safest way, the dangers, or someone who could help if you can’t?Roan is Vanguard.He wants to be with Bellam, but they’ve run out of time.This isn’t something they can solve with a Petition for Departure and proper channels.”
Joss’s shoulders relaxed and he exhaled slowly, his gaze cutting to Maxim for a beat, then back to me, then Roan.“I’m sorry, but it’s impossible.”
Joss stood and turned to leave, but not before Roan reached for him.
“W-w-wait!”he begged.Once he got Joss to pause, he shot his most charming, wide smile.“Nothing’s impossible.What… what will it take?Money?Trade?Subservience?Whatever it is…”
Joss was unfazed.“You must know that if The Citadel learns The Vale is sheltering a Vanguard defector, it won’t end with a simple tribunal.It’ll be seen as provocation.Possibly even war.I’m sorry, Roan, but your… indulgence… isn’t worth that.Not to me.And definitely not to the Veyr.”
Roan’s brows pulled together.Not many people spoke to him that way.“Did you just call my betrothed an indulgence?”
“Whatever she is, it doesn’t—” Joss began.
“It wouldn’t be the first time,” Maxim interjected.
Joss paused, then turned to Maxim.“What?”
“Croix Ashroth,” Maxim said without hesitation.
For the first time, I saw a fracture in Joss’s carefully constructed calm, barely a flicker, just the slightest twitch at the corner of his eye.
“Is that supposed to mean something to me?”Joss asked.
“Ashroth would be fifty-one now,” Maxim said, “but he wasn’t much younger than Roan when he arrived at The Vale.His parents persuaded The Citadel to send six Regs with him.Ashroth spent the first night in The Vale.The official story is that only four Regs left with him in the morning, heading north.The second night, all four remaining Regs went offline.Croix never came home.”
Joss was indignant.“That’s an entirely different scenario, Maxim.”
“Is it?”Maxim asked.
I turned to my accordant, warning him with my expression.We needed Joss.Provoking him wasn’t going to work, an uncharacteristically bad call on Maxim’s part.
Maxim’s eyes met mine, then they trailed away, back to Joss.“Like Roan, The Vale couldn’t risk allowing a Vanguard to hide among them, chancing war.Why would they chance it for the Ashroth boy, Joss?”
Joss made a face, glanced at me then back to Maxim.“Do you have a wire loose?”
“Joss!”I seethed.
