Page 224 of Swords of Soul and Shadow
Les nodded. “Lord Saldr is the reason he’s even alive right now. Kase was going out to patrol, and someone tried to...” She took a moment to catch her breath, unable to speak past the terror gripping her throat. She couldn’t say it, not without losing her composure. “We’re uncertain as to who it was.”
Stowe knelt next to her son and checked his vitals. Zelda crossed her arms. “Hallie ended up in the ward afterrecklesslygoing on patrol with your son. Kase came to speak with her, and now she’s gone.”
The words themselves were simply a list of events, but the emotion behind the words belied her feelings. Anger, grief, fear. She could have been holding a mirror to Les’s heart.
“None of the medics saw where she went?”
“She wasn’t supposed to leave.” Zelda didn’t change her tone. “And the last person she talked to was your son.”
Uneasiness crept up Les’ spine. Something wasn’t right. She pulled out her locket, the one that her brother had saved her daughter with only for her to die seventeen years later. She fiddled with the chain. Kase would’ve never done anything to willingly put Miss Walker in danger. She’d seen how he looked at her, and her him. She’d seen the letters. What if something had happened to her when Kase was attacked? Perhaps they’d left together. Had he tried to stop something from happening to her and nearly paid the ultimate price for it?
“Zelda, leave it. You saw how bad off he looked when we came to see Hallie—girl scared the life out of him as much as us. He wouldn’t’ve taken her out of here before the medics cleared her, and even if he did, you think he’s got any answers to give us right now? He’s in a bad way, all right. Recovering and stable,” he added when Les’s hand flew to her chest, “but in no state for an interrogation.”
Zelda’s throat bobbed. Les understood; she couldn’t rid herself of the lump in her throat, herself.
“There’s plenty more caverns to check,” Stowe insisted, laying a hand on his wife’s shoulder. “’Sides, there’s a very real chance she wandered to the public bathing springs to get cleaned up. She may’ve even returned to the ward in the time we’ve been away.”
“And if she was with him?” If Les’s heart had turned to stone, Zelda’s voice shared the same fate.
“Then we’ll owe him a heap of gratitude when we see him next, make no mistake. He’d set the fire for his own Burning ‘fore he let anyone harm a hair on our girl’s head. I know it. You know it too, stubborn as you are.” There was no lack of affection in those words from Stowe. “If she was with him, I’d bet the clothes off my back he got himself in this state fighting to keep her safe.”
Even if the man was voicing fears that had already passed through her head, she hoped it wasn’t true. She couldn’t bear the thought of something akin to what happened to Kase befalling Miss Walker.
“I’m sure she’s all right,” Les said. “She’s a tough one, and I imagine that’s because you raised her to be so.”
Zelda uncrossed her arms. Stowe put one of his around her shoulders. “She’s got some spunk, for certain.”
Les smiled, and it lifted the sadness if only for a moment. “As much as I’ve failed as a mother, I am thankful my remaining sons have chosen women of outstanding character.” Jove’s was a betrothal at first, but in the end, he’d still had a final say. She looked at Kase for a moment before turning back to the Walkers. “Truly.”
Zelda narrowed her eyes. “Remaining sons?”
“Our middle son perished on the same mission Kase and Miss Walker went on.” Tears stung at the corners of Les’ eyes. “And my daughter, Ana, passed in the fires that tore through the city some years ago. Kase and my eldest, Jove, are the only children I have left.”
Zelda and Stowe looked at each other. Stowe said, “Kase mentioned something like that on our way to the capital. No details, but…”
The woman’s steely demeanor finally thawed. “My son, Hallie’s twin, passed three and a half years ago, so you canunderstand why I’m hesitant to let her out of my sight. It took me a while to find my way again.”
Stowe rubbed his wife’s shoulder, and Les held out her hand for the other woman to take. Hesitantly, she did. Les squeezed it. “I completely understand. More than most people.”
Zelda gave her a shaky laugh, and Stowe said, “Which is another reason why I know that no matter what happens, both Hallie and Kase will be all right. I have faith.”
Loud footsteps outside the tent interrupted the moment. “I have permission from the Stradat Lord Kapitan to enter this tent.” A pause; the visitor’s patience perished in that silence, and he barked, “Move aside!”
Jove. Les gave Zelda’s hand another squeeze, then opened the tent once more. Jove and Clara, panicked and searching, met the guards.
“Mother!” Jove’s eyes were wide with nearly boyish terror. “We’ve only just heard, is he—tell me he’s—”
“He’s resting now. Come in.” She gestured them in. With five grown adults—not including Kase outstretched on the cot—the tent was rather cramped. Jove nodded to Stowe, and Clara clasped Zelda’s hand with surprising familiarity.
“How is he?” Jove demanded, leading Clara to sit on the little rocky outcropping. “What happened? Father only said he was gravely injured and told us where to find him.”
Les would rather not delve into the fact that Harlan had yet to appear, so he’d likely shared the only information he had himself. She cleared her throat. “Lord Saldr took care of him best he could and believes he will recover, but he is uncertain of how long that will take.”
The tent was silent before Clara tearfully asked, “Do we know what happened?”
Les hesitated. She wasn’t sure if going into the few details she did know would be beneficial. She worried her lip for amoment before simply saying, “Kase was attacked in the hover hangar.”
“Where was hisguard? Sergeant Wiles was supposed to be with him at all times. Where is he now?” Jove settled Clara before lurching to Kase’s bedside, halting just short of the cot; he stared down at his youngest brother, going a bit pale himself as his gaze settled on the blood, the bandages. “If he left Kase alone, I’ll—”
