Page 29 of Swords of Soul and Shadow
“It’s not, and for that, I owe you a mighty debt.” Stowe handed Kase his pack. It was rather dusty and ripped in a few places, but it was mostly intact. Gingerly, he tugged it onto his shoulder. He took the electropistol from Stowe as well. The lantern wasn’t anywhere in sight. Lovely.
Kase shook his head. “You don’t owe me anything.”
Stowe gave him a look that said differently, but he dusted off his trousers and looked back at the rock fall. “Rather get away from here fast like. Sometimes one cave-in’ll cause others. Miracle I didn’t lose Hallie in that one back when Jack…” He coughed. “Sorry. Bein’ in the mines just…reminds me of…things.”
Kase eyed the wall of debris. He didn’t know what exactly happened back there, but he hoped they didn’t stumble across another one. He didn’t think he would get lucky a second time.
He ignored the slight tilt as he stepped forward and put a hesitant hand on Stowe’s shoulder. “I’m sorry for your loss, Mr. Walker.”
“It just hits me sometimes outta nowhere.” Stowe put his own hand on Kase’s shoulder. “That concoction will take a few minutes to work, but we need to get on now.”
He looked into Kase’s eyes for so long that Kase almost felt uncomfortable. After a moment, Stowe looked away. “Mighthave a concussion, but without a good light, I can’t tell if your pupils are dilatin’ proper or not.”
The pounding in Kase’s head eased a little. It still hurt, but it no longer felt as if a knife stabbed him in the temple repeatedly. “I’ll be fine.”
“Sure you will,” Stowe chuckled, patting Kase’s arm as he walked off.
Kase let him get a few paces ahead before muttering to himself, “I’m notarrogant.”
Several hours, three twists, eight forks, and ten collapsed side tunnels later, the midday sunshine made Kase’s eyes burn. But the pain in his head stayed under control thanks to continued shots of Stowe’s numbing concoction, and they were now in the Jaydian foothills, blessedly out of the tunnels. He’d nearly lost count of the collapsed ones.
The hike down the mountain would still be quite the beast to slay, with its uneven pathways through the thick trees, but at least they weren’t in the dark.
Part of him hoped to stop in Nar and steal any hover that had survived Hallie’s sabotage—shocks, he was still proud of her for that—or one that had been called to the town once they’d realized they couldn’t catch the criminals in their own ships.
Hard to believe he and Hallie were the criminals in question. Harder to believe Hallie had gone from grumpy bookshop attendant to one of Jayde’s most wanted in a matter of months. Quite impressive. He wondered if she also had a terribly drawn wanted poster outside the tavern. The artist probably wouldn’t mess uphernose.
If he had, blast the consequences. Kase would track the bloke down himself and clock him.
“There should be a carriage for hire in Nar, which’ll be comin up soon,” Stowe huffed from beside him. He paused and put his hand on a nearby tree to catch his breath. Kase stoppedand looked back, fighting the urge to run a hand through his hair. “Good thing too, cause I ain’t gettin’ in a hover.”
“Can we reconsider that stance? A hover would be quickest, and I’m…well…” He shifted his weight to his other foot. “I used to be a pilot.”
Stowe cast a doubtful look over him. “You got that kind of money?”
“Well, no.” He hadn’t thought he’d have to spell this out. “We’ll probably have to steal one.”
Stowe furrowed his brow. “Son, I’m a good, law-abiding citizen.”
“Well, your daughter blew up the hangar, so even if we had the money, the only hovers available will be the ones used to ferry military personnel. Law-abiding citizens won’t be getting any rides.”
Stowe’s mouth dropped open. He shook his head and blinked. “You must be talkin’ bout a different Hallie Walker.”
“You raised quite a woman, let me tell you,” Kase said with a small smile. “If we can’t find a carriage or a hover to steal, we may be able to use my…reputation to secure one. But that’s a last resort.”
The absolute last resort, because it would mean getting arrested and sent to Kyvena in chains. It wasn’t ideal, but it would work.
“I don’t like the sound of your reputation…especially if you’ve turned my daughter into some criminal.”
Kase shrugged. “Just get her to tell you the story once she joins us in Kyvena.”
Stowe only stared at him for a moment more before trudging past him, shaking his head.
It took about twenty minutes to weave through the trees…twenty minutes too long, if one were to ask Kase. Mostly because of the birdsong ringing through the branches, so joyful it gratedon Kase’s ears. Even worse, one of the calls sounded too much like a human voice, and he kept almost snapping his neck checking over his shoulder for someone in pursuit.
He didn’t fancy a fight amongst the trees. It would be easier to hide, but harder to get a clear shot.
At the edge of the woods, across a field of freshly turned dirt ready for planting, Nar finally came into view. Kase scanned the city outskirts for any lonesome hovers. When he’d left Nar in the middle of a rainstorm, he’d thought he’d never see it again.
