Page 106 of Swords of Soul and Shadow
He tossed Kase a gray cloak. “We’re friends again, remember?”
On paper, the words seemed good-natured. It was the smirk that accompanied them that told him otherwise.
“We have a truce, sure, but that doesn’t erase the fact you tried to blackmail me.”
Eravin shrugged. “Successfully, I might add.”
“You rigged the game.”
“I promise I won’t go back on my word.” Eravin inspected his nails and after a second, chewed at a hangnail. “I didn’t last time, either, even if it wasn’t in your favor.”
The cloak might’ve once been black, but it had since faded to a tired charcoal. Its frayed edges spoke of days and nights spent battling the weather. He had no reason to go with Eravin. He had every reason to stay. “I don’t think this will be enough to slip past the guards.”
But if it did, it might allow him to sneak about unrecognized.
Eravin shrugged again. “I have superior powers of persuasion.”
Persuasion. Right. “What did you do?”
Eravin rolled his eyes. “Put on the cloak and pull up the hood.”
“Why?”
Eravin opened the tent flap once more. “There’s a good card game going on, and in light of everything, it should be a nice diversion.”
Eravin looked little different than he had a few days prior. He still had that haunted look in his eyes, but Kase didn’t know if that was because of the last few days or the last few years. Both had been horrific, and in both cases, Kase had abandoned him.
It hadn’t been all his fault. He’d been so caught up in his own grief that when Eravin slammed the door physically and metaphorically in his face, he couldn’t find it in himself to try.
Now Kase knew why. It was Kase’s fault Eravin no longer had a mother, the only parent who had cared about him.
But could he trust Eravin now? The answer was probably no. Eravinhadpointed a pistol at his head a few days ago.
But if his old friend was up for helping him escape this stupid tent, he should take advantage of the time outside. He might be able to do something about Jove, or at least go check on Stowe.
It was a gamble for sure, but it might be the best one he could make.
His decision made, he threw the cloak around his shoulders and tied the stays at his neck. It sat oddly atop the collar of his pilot’s jacket underneath.
“Take off that blasted jacket.”
“Not a chance.”
Eravin sighed, and it was the first time Kase glimpsed his old friend hidden underneath the layer of metaphorical grime. Eravin jabbed his thumb at the front of the tent. “That jacket is like a beacon to the entire galaxy that you’re the only pilot we have left.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t go, then.”
Eravin stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Well, well, didn’t realize you’d become quite the straight-lacer.” Eravin halfturned and looked back at Kase with a dash of his old mischief in his eyes, but only for a moment. “Fine. Stay locked up. I’ll just have to blow my winnings on that sweetshop all by my lonesome.”
Kase stared at him hard. At fancy dinners, they used to play cards with the other unfortunate children forced to attend with their parents. After the dinner was over and the adults headed to the parlor for drinks, the children would lock themselves away in the front drawing room. They never played with real money, but the joke was that if they were playing with real tenners, they’d use it to buy the sweetshop on the corner. The real fun was when Kase, Ana, and Eravin found ways to hustle the others—Ana being a superb actress even at age eight.
He grumbled under his breath, but he loosened the cloak and shed his leather jacket. Eravin grinned as Kase put the cloak back on and pulled up the hood. “What if someone recognizes me out there?”
Eravin chuckled. “I mean, what else could they possibly do to you?”
Kase couldn’t help the snort that escaped. “I think that’s exactly what they’re trying to figure out.”
If the Cerls hadn’t invaded, he’d have been handed down a punishment harsher than house arrest, that was for sure. Funny that the Cerl attack might be the thing that saved Kase from corporal punishment. Not that he expected to survive the invasion. It was only a matter of time before the Cerls discovered their hiding place. In the stories of old, the royal family was the first to be executed, and while Kase didn’t have the title of prince, he was the son of the only surviving Jaydian leader and the supreme military commander. It was why he’d known using himself as a trade for Hallie would result in an invitation to Fort Achilles when Hallie had been kidnapped.
