Page 114 of Swords of Soul and Shadow
Kase moved aside so that she could enter the tent. Another woman followed. She was nearly Clara’s twin, though her forehead was lined with age. Her dark eyes were just as bright. She held the bundle Kase recognized as Samuel.
The tent was hardly large enough for four adults and a baby. Kase quickly picked up his discarded breakfast and hid his bandaged hand behind his back. “I was just visiting.”
Clara stared hard at him, but she didn’t say anything. Kase wondered if anyone had realized he was no longer in his tent. Surely, someone had. Maybe Harlan thought it would be better if a refugee finished him off, after all. Then he wouldn’t have to deal with the antics of his youngest son any longer.
Whether she accepted Kase’s poor excuse or not, Clara still gave him a smile and turned to the unknown woman. “Kase, you may or may not remember, but this is my mother, Lady Miravel Davey. Mother, this is my brother-in-law, Master Kase Shackley.”
“Call me Kase, Lady Davey, please.” Kase took her proffered hand and gave it a quick peck. Lady Davey gave Kase the once-over he was used to receiving by now, probably taking note of the bruises on his face and the hand still hidden behind his back.
“Yes, I remember you from the wedding. You look different.”
Clara put a hand on her mother’s shoulder. “It’s been a few years, of course.”
Lady Davey held herself like a queen, but when Samuel made a fussing noise from his bundle, she dropped her steely demeanor and shushed him while bouncing him in her arms. When he didn’t calm down, she handed him to Clara. Once he recognized his mother, Samuel cooed in response. Lady Davey chuckled and smoothed the baby’s hair. Clara smiled before turning back to Kase. “Now, what happened to your hand? The one you’re trying to hide?”
“How do you know Mrs. Walker?” Kase countered.
Zelda fished out a few pastries and handed them to both Lady Davey and Clara. Clara shook her head, but Lady Davey took one with a murmured thanks.
Kase didn’t get a pastry. His confidence fell a little.
Clara turned back to Kase. She swayed a little bit, keeping Samuel calm. “Zelda took pity on a new mother lost in the tunnels, and I’ll be forever grateful for her help.” She shot a smile to Zelda and said, “Mother didn’t want to stay in her tent by herself with Samuel, and I’m going to help the men construct the ropes before they scale down into the hole. Could they stay with you, Zelda?”
Kase’s ears perked up. “What?”
Clara chewed her lip and pulled Samuel closer to her chest. “They retrieved what they needed to go down into the hole where…where Jove supposedly fell. I…I want to help, but I don’t…”
She faltered a little. Lady Davey clasped her daughter’s shoulder, and Zelda found Clara’s free hand. Kase stuffed his own into his pockets.
I cannot control other’s actions, Kase thought hard to himself. Jove made a choice whether he meant to or not.
The silence waxed awkward, and Kase didn’t quite know how to fix it. He wasn’t sure he wanted to. Zelda might scold him for it.
Unfortunately, the universe had something else in mind.
Screams erupted from outside the tent, and the ground shook. Kase caught Lady Davey before she fell. Samuel cried. Clara and Zelda held onto each other. Shouts echoed down the tunnel. More screams.
His mind raced. Were they after him? Had his father sent soldiers to look for him? Was this the end? Could he throw the blame on Eravin?
Kase felt dirty just thinking about that possibility. Eravin had helped him last night, and not even twelve hours later, Kase plotted to repay him with accusations meant to save his own skin.
After making sure they weren’t injured, Kase stepped up to the tent flap. Soldiers and civilians alike ran past. He caught a few words. Another collapse. The largest one yet. Cerl hovers were already in the area.
An attack. Had the Cerls caused the collapse? What reason could there be, except to look for survivors and finish them off?
Unless…unless they were looking for someone specific. Someone they needed. Like an Essence wielder. Like Loffler.
His chest squeezed.
If that was true, Kase had revealed that Loffler was the Essence wielder in the game last night. He hadn’t meant to. It’d just come out. Someone had told. Was it Eravin? Neville and Waylan could have, too, he guessed. It had to have been Eravin.
Blast it. Kase knew he was part of One World, and he just—ugh, why did Kase keep screwing things up?
Maybe he did indeed deserve the metaphorical chains his father had placed around his wrists. Panic bloomed in his chest as more soldiers thundered by, not paying him any mind. He gripped the tent flap in his hand. He could barely hear Clara asking him what was happening.
A roaring boom shook the tunnel next. This time Kase fell over, but he launched himself to his feet quickly.
The tunnels were too exposed. The recent gaping holes had caused too much disruption, and now the Cerls knew where they’d been hiding. Without the Crews and hovers, the Jaydians were more akin to sitting ducks.
