Page 202 of Swords of Soul and Shadow
He had just started back out of the meadow—feeling ridiculous, yet a little lighter at the same time—when she finally spoke. Her voice was small but clear.
“I’m glad you’re okay.”
He looked back and caught the tears in her eyes threatening to fall. She swiped at them before saying, “You savedus in the Gate chamber, and you saved me in the mine that day. Thank you.”
Niels just smiled and tipped his head. “My pleasure.”
Her words were the balm he needed, and his shoulders relaxed. Hallie packed away her sketchbook into her satchel and stood, gesturing for him to follow as she walked past. “What will you be doing in the city?”
He kept his gait slow so as not to outpace her. “Woodworking long as I’m able.” He held up his bracelet. He didn’t miss the shadow that crossed her face, but he forced himself not to reach out and smooth away the worry line in her brow. “Got an apprenticeship with a Woodwright soon as his shop is up and running again. Might’ve been a little desperate of him to hire me after helping him only for a few hours the other day, but I don’t care.”
Hallie tangled her hand in her satchel strap, a soft smile appearing. “I’m happy for you. I think you’ll love the city.”
They winded their way through the trees, chatting softly about nothing inconsequential before going their separate ways at the edge of the Yalven cavern. It burned him to say goodbye, but it was for the best. He had a mountain to climb…but with the whole world beyond it, he knew he could do it.
It was time he found that new dream.
Kase
CONSIDERING THE REVELATIONS ABOUT HIS uncle, Kase needed to think more than ever. He needed to fly, and he’d convinced Hallie to join him the next day. The easy patrol with Laurence Hixon had been nice, but the greenie was no Hallie. Kase did keep his new dagger attached to his belt, though.
Besides, he needed to convince her to try resetting the Gate instead. Her diabolical plan to put herself into that sword wasn’t going to work. He refused to allow her to do that. Not for him.
He’d meant it when he’d told her that he’d find her no matter where they ended up. They belonged together. It sounded insane, resetting time, but Kase would do anything to be with her. She was the only thing in his life that made sense.
Either way, he’d at least convinced her to study his hover. After the flight with the greenie the day prior, he wasn’t sure he could trust the machine. Sure, he’d wanted Laurence to fly it, but he hadn’t expected his idea to work. What if Kase had already given too much to it? What if he one day begged for death because too much of his soul had been taken or siphoned off or whatever the tech had done to his uncle?
But he wouldn’t panic just yet.
If he could figure out how it worked, he could then convince Harlan to use that knowledge against the Cerls. Maybe Kase could figure out a way to turn their other machines against them, to commandeer them for Jayde instead. He had no idea how he would accomplish that, but he knew for certain negotiating a peace deal wasn’t going to work. Correa wasn’t the sort of man to bargain. Kase had nearly died at his hands. He wouldn’t sit there and make peace with the man trying to kill Hallie.
Even if that’s what she’s trying to do.
Thankfully, Sergeant didn’t run off to tattle on him when Kase led Hallie into the underground hangar. The guard followed but hung back a ways, one hand on his sword, the other on his flashpistol.
The man was so dutiful that Kase almost felt bad for dragging him along on this unscheduled outing—he wasn’t due for patrol for at least three more hours. But he didn’t feel badenough to head back to his tent. Obviously. Kase wasn’t that nice.
He walked Hallie to the edge of the hangar and opened the doors. The morning air was crisp and ruffled his hair. The fresh breeze was a nice change from the stale stench of the Catacombs, which made the day much better already.
Kase returned to Hallie and laced his fingers with hers. It was the perfect day for a foray into the skies. She just didn’t know about that part yet.
“Are you sure it’s okay to be out here?” Hallie asked, the apprehension in her voice evident as Kase led her to the Cerl craft. “I mean, I know you said I could study your machine, but…” She looked around the space as if waiting for someone to tell them off, but their only witnesses were the silent hovers—and Sergeant, who stood at attention near the hangar entrance. “…I also don’t want to get thrown in the dungeons for breaking some sort of military protocol.”
“Well, our outing today has been approved by Sergeant, who is my keeper,” Kase said as he strode to the hover and placed a hand on the side. It hummed in response as Kase gave it a soft pat. “Granted, he thinks we’re going to play nicely on the ground, and as long as we return within the hour, he won’t go and tell the Stradat Lord Kapitan.”
“What do you mean, hethinks?” Hallie practically squeaked.
Kase chuckled. “I promised to be a good boy. Just didn’t elaborate on what ‘good’ meant.”
He glanced back at the soldier, who hadn’t moved from his post.
“No, no, not that part, though that brings up other concerns.”
“Then what?”
Hallie pointed at the sky outside the underground hangar, exasperation in her voice. “That!”
“Not following?”
