Page 145 of Swords of Soul and Shadow
Stowe layered some sort of goop onto Jove’s palm with the cloth, and the relief was almost instant. He sagged a little. The man gave a small chuckle despite the grim circumstances they’d found themselves in. “He’s the reason I’m here in Kyvena.” He paused for a second, as if deciding something. “Saved my life, actually. Glad I can repay the favor in a small way now.”
His mother swayed a little, and Jove caught her with his good hand as she asked, “Is he all right? Where is he? Do you know?”
“Right as rain, far’s I know.” The medic gave Les a once-over. “You have any injuries, Lady Shackley?”
She gestured back toward the crystal chamber. “No, the kind Yalven man took care of the worst of them. Just rather hungry and in desperate need of a change of clothes.” She grabbed Stowe’s arm. “Where is my Kase?”
“He’s here…well, above us, that is.” Stowe wound a bandage around Jove’s hand, tying it off with a quick knot. “He’s the one who singlehandedly saved the rest of the tunnels from the bombing a few days ago.”
Jove grabbed his mother to keep her from falling again. Kase was alive. Kase was here. Jove was unsure how he felt about it, but the good news was almost too much for his mother.
Jove cleared his throat. “Thank you. Stowe, was it?”
“Not sure I did all that much, but you’re welcome all the same.” He put away some of his tools and nodded to where Jove had pointed earlier. “There’s two more, you say?”
“Yes,” Jove answered, leading him toward where Kainadr and Anderson waited. “I know it’s a long shot, but would you happen to have run across a woman named Clara Shackley? She’s about this tall,” Jove pointed to his shoulder, “and usually wears her hair in braids. And she’d have a little boy with her. A baby. Newborn.”
Stowe stopped and smiled. “They’re fine. Made friends with my wife. Very cute baby, too.”
He caught Jove as he took his turn falling to his knees. They were okay. They were fine. Jove’s eyes filled with tears again. He couldn’t believe it.
He needed to get out of this stars-blasted hole. When he had his feet under him again, he hugged his mother and turned back to Stowe. “Thank you.”
Everything was going to be okay. Kase was here. Clara and Samuel were fine. They were being rescued.
Though the circumstances were still quite grim, for the first time in months, Jove could see the light. It was small and dim, but it was there. He just needed to keep trudging toward it.
Chapter 30
MELODRAMATIC DRIVEL
Kase
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER LETTER. MAYBE it was helping. Perhaps it wasn’t, but Kase persisted.
Hals,
I’ve written you a real letter and sent it off…though I’ll admit, it isn’t quite as entertaining as the ones I’m never going to show you written in this here journal. However, I did enjoy attempting a sketch of my newest hover. Hopefully you could tell what it was. I had enough time to sit and perfect it, but I don’t have that kind of patience.
But I digress. Today is the final day of my punishment. Seems like my stunt both annoyed and endeared me to the Stradat Lord Kapitan. Well, endeared is way too strong a word, but I only got moderately scolded for going off in the hover and taking out the Cerl bombers.
‘Moderately’ meaning I was called reckless yet again, though it didn’t sting quite as much as usual. He didn’t soundall that angry, anyway. It was more of a habit thing. Besides, reckless would mean my actions were irrational and unhelpful, and clearly, he’s wrong. Not to brag, but it was some of my best flying—especially being so new to the Cerl tech. And most people thanked me when I passed them in the corridor instead of spitting on me. A complete turnaround. Though I’ll admit, I’d rather be spit upon than sucker-punched. That happened upon my arrival to the city—not sure if your father shared that with you or not. My stomach is still sore.
So in conclusion, the Stradat Lord Kapitan is incorrect as usual, and I’ll be glad to get out of this tent. They brought me a chamber pot instead of allowing me to leave for the privy now, so all my lovely anecdotes from those invigorating outings won’t be appearing in any more letters, sadly. You’ll have to find out the latest gossip for yourself.
Guess that’s on me, since I did technically violate my house arrest, but I didn’t use my little break to find Jove like I’d planned. Got drunk and fought with another guy. Not my best moment. It did allow me to take out the Cerl hovers when they attacked, though, and that ended with you in my arms. So it was worth it.
My brain is entirely too tired to go into the ethics and logic of it all.
Come rescue me before I lose my mind or this letter devolves into senseless melodramatic drivel about how happy I am you’re back.
Always,
Kase
Despite the lighter tone in his letter to Hallie, the only reason Kase allowed himself to be escorted back to his tent was that if he retaliated, he might end up worse off than he currently was. While his father might have lessened his sentence slightly, he still wasn’t allowed full freedom after the final three dayswere done. After that, if he went anywhere, it needed to be a necessity and in the presence of a guard. “Necessity” really only referred to training the greenies.
Harlan said it was for his safety, but Kase wasn’t so sure.
