Page 217 of Swords of Soul and Shadow
Something told her these thoughts bordered on dangerous. It felt too much like Soul Tech, toeing the line of ethics. Messing with that had led Ezekiel Fairchild and his sons to their deaths.
“Sorry to intrude, Miss Walker, but I have your satchel here.”
Hallie looked up to find Clara peeking in. She tried to give the woman a warm smile. She’d only seen her in passing during hospital shifts. Hallie waved her in.
Clara stepped fully into the cell, Samuel wrapped in a cloth and tied crossways across her chest. She set the satchel on the edge of her cot.
Hallie pulled it into her lap. She hadn’t even realized it was missing. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Samuel made a small noise of discontent. His mother shushed him and rocked a little. “If he wasn’t fighting a nap, I’d let him say hi. He seemed to like you last time.”
Hallie smiled, hoping it would hide the pain she couldn’t seem to avoid no matter which route she took. “I’d argue that he’s perfect and can do no wrong, so if he doesn’t want to nap, I wouldn’t make him.”
Clara laughed. “Except you will get to sleep somewhat soundly tonight regardless of whether he naps or not.”
Not so soundly.
Her emotions must have played out on her face, because Clara took the seat Kase had vacated earlier. “I was relieved to hear you’re going to be okay, but I can’t imagine what you’ve gone through today.”
Hallie shook her head. “Didn’t you survive the first dragon attack on the city?”
Clara shrugged. “It was a little different. I was already at the wall, and the soldiers ushered me right into the Catacombs. I didn’t experience much of the attack itself.”
“I’m glad.” Hallie brushed a stray hair behind her ear.
With the dragon fight earlier today, Hallie couldn’t imagine being in the city during the initial attack. According to reports, much of the lower city had been heavily damaged by dragon fire and Cerl bombs. Would Hallie have made it to the Catacombs in time? Or would she have been caught in the destruction?
It was chilling to think about. It was even more disturbing to think her time in Achilles might’ve saved her the fate she would’ve suffered had she been in Kyvena.
“That’s a pretty ring.” Clara smoothed a hand over her son’s fuzzy head.
Hallie hid her hand under her satchel, heart in her throat. “It’s nothing.”
Hallie had no mind to discuss all her problems with Kase’s sister-in-law. She’d probably break her resolve.
Clara held one hand to her sleeping baby, the other to the cot as she pushed herself to her feet. “I can imagine why Kase might’ve given it to you, but since he’s not here right now…well, just know that you won’t have any judgment from me no matter what you choose. I’m just happy he trusts someone enough…we’ve all been through a lot, and I respect you very much, Miss Walker.”
“Please, just Hallie is fine,” she said, her cheeks burning all the more.
“I know I haven’t known you long, Hallie, but…” Clara smiled and opened the curtain. “You deserve all the happiness in the world, as does Kase.”
And then Hallie was left with her heavy satchel and heavier thoughts.
Nowwhat was she going to do?
At least now, thanks to Clara, she had one distraction available: a journal to inspect for what felt like the hundredth time. If she distracted herself enough, her mind might stumble upon a solution. She didn’t know how to feel about Clara understanding the significance of the ring without Hallie having to tell her, but the woman was right about one thing.
Kasediddeserve happiness. And he would find that. She would make sure of it.
She pulled Navara’s worn leather journal and opened it to one of the last pages full of muddled Yalven. Without the proper lighting, she couldn’t tell if the sparkle of Zuprium was present, but she had to assume it was.
But which memory to try and enter?
If she chose one of these last pages, she might see how the story ended. Maybe Navara had found a way back to Myrrai, and maybe that way had been the Second Gate. It might’ve been a long shot, but it was the only option she had. But then again, the journal was here in Hallie’s hands, and Hallie’s grandfather had died before she was born. The likelihood of Navara’s success was slim, but she needed to explore that angle first before gathering her own data.
She needed her blood to make it work, but unless she fancied some splinters and a jagged scar from using the blunt side of the crate Kase and Clara had used as a seat, she needed to find something else. She would also rather not resort to papercutting herself repeatedly.
Granted, she was in the hospital ward. There had to be somethingsomewherethat wouldn’t be super painful.
