Page 225 of Swords of Soul and Shadow
Les shook her head. “He’s…I’m afraid he…he was found deceased. As was another young man about Kase’s age. Neville Thatcher, Lady Idell’s son.”
“Has anyone informed her?” Clara asked.
“From what I’ve heard, she didn’t survive the initial attack on the city,” Les said softly.
At least one mother would not have to bear the news of her child’s death today.
The tent was silent after that.
Jove acted as if he was going to say something else, but he shut his mouth and pressed his thumb and forefinger to his eyes instead. “Father and I were afraid this would happen. We should have given him more guards…Ishould have stayed with him myself, I should have made sure he was safe. Stars-idiot.”
No one said a word as Jove knuckled Kase’s curls, a rough gesture she had to swallow a scolding for. He’d taken worse rough housing from his brothers over the years; it was how they’d always been, how they’d always bonded.
So Les bit her tongue as Jove rasped, voice coarse with unshed tears, “I should have…I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
The silence had begun to wax awkward, the Walkers inching toward the tent’s exit, when someone else entered the tent. Zelda and Stowe moved further inside instead, pressing Les closer to Clara, who rose.
In stepped her husband, the Stradat Lord Kapitan of Jayde, his fiery eyes taut at the corners. Ice-cold fury filled her veins. She pushed her way to him, standing between him and her children. Harlan surveyed the assembled group before laying eyes on his unconscious son. “He hasn’t woken yet?”
It wouldn’t do to reply snidely here, even if she wanted to. The others shouldn’t be privy to her marital problems.
“I’m awake,” Kase said weakly from the cot. Nearly everyone jumped; Jove snatched his hand back with a curse Clara smacked him on the arm for. Les tripped over someone’s foot as she turned. Harlan caught her. She tugged out from his grip and fell to her knees beside the cot.
Those blue eyes of his peeked out from beneath heavy lids. He grimaced when he moved to readjust his position, but grinned feebly in Jove’s direction. “Go on. You were saying something about being sorry?”
“I saidyou’re a stars-idiot,” Jove fumed. “Ablastedstars-idiot.”
“Forget it, then. I’m going back to sleep.” Kase’s eyes drifted shut again, his grin bending into a wince. “Maybe then you’ll be nicer.”
Jove growled—sniffled—then turned away, hand over his eyes. A gesture of exasperation, perhaps…or a sign he’d been overcome with emotion.
Had she been any kind of betting woman, she would have bet on the latter. Especially when Clara turned aside as well, rubbing her hand soothingly over his back and murmuring in his ear.
Les laid a hand on Kase’s brow. It felt normal. No fever. “Baby, why didn’t you say something sooner?”
“Hadn’t slept that well in a while,” he mumbled, fatigue slurring his words. His muscles quivered with each movement as he dragged himself up a bit on the pillow, groaning as he openedhis eyes again. They were glazed, a little confused. He might not even remember what happened to him.
Never one for subtlety, Harlan held up a notebook not unlike the one Kase had been using to write letters. “Do you know what this book is?”
“Father, give him a moment,” Jove snapped.
“If we’re to find whoever did this, we need answers—now.” Harlan’s icy stare didn’t crack. “Do you recognize it?”
Kase squinted up at his father. “I’m not sure what you…” He stared at it for a moment more before his eyes widened. “Is that Hallie’s? Where is she?”
Les detected a hint of desperation in his tone.
The Walkers pressed forward, but Harlan ignored them, flipping to a single page near the front and holding it up. “Do you recognize this?”
On the page was a rough sketch of a sword.
Les squeezed Kase’s wrist. Jove leaned forward, scowl traded for intrigue. “Isn’t that…”
“I don’t care what it is,” Kase choked. “I need to know where Hallie is. Now. Why isn’t she here?”
Blunt. To the point. It broke Les’ heart for the hundredth time.
“She left the ward,” Stowe said, answering the question. “We were hoping you had an answer for us.”
