Page 155 of Swords of Soul and Shadow
Les then said, “And Jove will be all right when someone is able to put more salve on his hand. Not that you asked, but your eldest son was down there with me.”
Harlan glanced at Jove. “Good to see you’re well.”
His tone wasn’t cold, but it wasn’t exactly the tearful relief of a father reunited with his son, either. Harlan’s eyes then landed on Kase. “I suppose their return is considered a necessity.”
Tame, again. It wasn’t warm, but it wasn’t a reprimand. It was more than Kase could’ve anticipated. He hid his sock-bandaged hand behind his back.
Then Harlan turned back to his wife. “Make sure they run every test they can. I’ll be back to check on you both soon.”
Jove caught his father by the uniform sleeve. Harlan turned, his face a mask of calm Kase knew he didn’t feel. Jove didn’t seem to care whether or not he angered their father. He let go of Harlan. “Clara and Samuel.”
The Stradat Lord Kapitan straightened his jacket and nodded. “They’ve been sent for.”
Then he left, three soldiers following behind him.
Once he was out of sight, the ward released a collective breath. The noise started out small and inconsequential, but soon it was back to its chaotic mess. Hallie stepped past him and greeted the Yalven man who his mother had introduced to the Stradat Lord Kapitan. “May the stars shine upon you, Lord Kainadr.”
Kainadr smiled in greeting, “And may they not fall when morning breaks. It is good to see you once more, Miss Walker.”
Kase didn’t like the way the Yalv was looking at Hallie. Sure, she’d probably met him while she’d helped the Yalvs get acclimated a month or two ago, but still. He stepped up and held out his hand. “Kase Shackley. I understand you helped my mother and brother?”
He just caught Hallie’s annoyed look, but his forthrightness also caught Kainadr off guard and broke his connection with Hallie, which Kase counted as a success.
Kainadr took Kase’s hand and shook it tentatively. “I am Kainadr.”
Les stepped up and put a hand on both their shoulders. “While I would never wish ill on anyone, it was quite fortunate for us that Lord Kainadr fell with us. His healing abilities saved your brother’s life.”
“You flatter me, Lady Shackley.”
Kase was about to thank him when a haggard Saldr arrived. The woman, Fely, was nowhere to be seen. He tried not to worry too much about it. Surely she wouldn’t go through all the trouble of passing information to his father and keeping Hallie safe to only betray them now, but as Kase had discovered with both Eravin and Ben, he wasn’t the best judge of character.
Saldr ran to Hallie. “I’ve been told the man named Anderson Enright has been rescued?”
Kase furrowed his brow and looked around. He didn’t see Anderson anywhere, and he was unsure why Saldr would care. Anderson was nice enough, but he wasn’t anyone special.
After shooing off another medic who wanted to look at his hand, Jove said, “They took him back to one of the partitioned areas. They were worried he might make some uncomfortable.”
Saldr bowed to Jove. “The stars definitely shine upon you, Master Shackley. Very good to know you are alive and mostly well.” He nodded to Jove’s hand. “Will you point me in his direction?”
Jove gestured for him to follow. Saldr turned to Hallie. “Miss Walker, please come with me as well. It is of great importance.” He paused. “We might also need…” He looked to Kainadr. “Please send for Lady Fely Bessette. She should be with Jera, collecting more holy metal.” Then he pointed to the pouch hanging from Kainadr’s belt. “May I?”
Kainadr sighed, but he unattached the pouch. Kase wasn’t sure why the pouch was important, but if the situation hadn’t been so tense, he might’ve been amused by the exchange. Most of the time, the Yalvs were very respectful toward everyone, barely allowing any of their emotions to show on their face.
Kainadr coated his fingers with a little bit of dust before he handed the pouch over to Saldr. Saldr took it and said, “Please don’t do—”
But it seemed Kainadr didn’t care. With a snap of his dust-covered fingers and a murmur under his breath, the dust on his fingers congealed and rose into the air like a living flame. Those nearby gasped in varying shades of shock and terror. Kase might’ve been in their camp if he hadn’t known what the Yalvs were capable of. Disappearing with a pop would’ve been worse.
And then Kainadr left, his glowing ball following him.
Saldr pinched the bridge of his nose. “Of course he would.” He then looked to Jove. “Lead us to Master Anderson, please?”
A few of the people moved out of Jove’s way as he led them through the ward. Kase didn’t know if he was supposed to join their little band, but Saldr didn’t say anything one way or the other. Hallie followed closely behind, as did Jove and his mother, who still had yet to be checked by a medic.
The Stradat Lord Kapitan wouldn’t be happy about that, but then, he was never happy.
When they reached a more private part of the ward with little cells partitioned off with bedlinens and blankets rigged to hang from the rocky ceiling, a medic met them. She was the same one his mother had been arguing with earlier—the woman with the white hair.
“He hasn’t been fully examined yet. We cannot allow any visitors at this time,” the medic said when Saldr tried to move past her.
