Page 35 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
7
EVIANA
“No,” Lange said, shaking his head adamantly. “We are not stealing a boat.”
Eviana said nothing from the front seat of the vehicle. Her hands folded in her lap, she sat perfectly still and stared straight ahead, watching the small marina.
Corbin’s hands flexed on the steering wheel he was gripping tightly. “He’s right,” he said. “We already stole a Lord’s vehicle, disobeyed direct orders from a Legacy, essentially stole a Lord’s Source, and?—”
“You are detailing quite a list,” Eviana interrupted. “What difference will it make to add one more transgression at this point?”
“Because it is never just one more with you,” Lange griped from the back seat.
She supposed he had a point, but she was tired of doing nothing. Not that they’d been doingnothingexactly. They’d taken a day to pack supplies— food, clothing, and the like. She’d pilfered several rooms of the Raven Harbor manor knowing they’d need to sell items for coin and bribe others for theirsilence. But they’d also needed to travel light. Eventually, they’d have to leave the vehicle behind and that day had come.
They’d driven west for a few days, staying south of the Night Waters, but for the last week, they’d been stuck here, on the outskirts of a small marina town on the edge of the River of Endings. The border between the Serafina Kingdom and Arius Kingdom was only a few miles to the south of them, and for the last several days, she’d been trying to figure out how to cross the border. Fae couldn’t cross kingdoms without proper documentation. Corbin could forge it, of course, but everyone knew who she was. More than that, everyone knew Valter was looking for her. Her Master being inadvertently set free had definitely added another layer of difficulty to this.
“I still think it’s best to call Luka or Theon,” Corbin said carefully.
He paused, waiting for her to dismiss the idea—and she would—but she’d let him speak. She wasn’t really listening anyway, too focused on the plan forming in her mind.
“They will help us,” Corbin rushed on when she didn’t reply. “We’ve heard the rumors, Eviana. The Pantheon has fallen. We felt the echoes of that. We need their protection.”
She nearly scoffed. Their protection? The Legacy only cared about protecting the powerful Fae to use them. The only protection they would receive would be punishment for trying to run, followed by being locked away to make sure they never did so again.
“We’re going to steal a boat,” she finally said.
“By the gods,” Lange muttered, throwing himself against the back of the seat in exasperation. “And do what, Eviana? Sail our way into the Serafina Kingdom?”
“Yes,” she replied, studying the few sentinels patrolling the docks. “There are no guards in the middle of the river.”
“I’d say you can’t be serious, but I know you are,” he replied, sitting up now to lean between the seats. “The sentinels will still spot us in the middle of the river. They’ll sound an alarm, and whenever we come to shore, they’ll be waiting. Or they’ll send boats out to us and detain us there.Orwe’ll never be able to get to shore, and we’ll wind up in the Dreamlock Woods.”
“Correct,” Eviana replied.
For the last two days she’d been debating which boat they were going to steal. There were only three large ships owned by elite Legacy. The other vessels were not nearly as grand, but they’d be comfortable. She didn’t know how to steer a boat, and she was certain Corbin and Lange had never even been on one. But she was also certain they’d adapt quickly. Neither of them had known how to drive either, but Corbin had picked it up with little effort. Adept with technology, he quickly figured out the screens and various components of the vehicle. They were survivors that had been adapting to change their entire lives. That was the life of Fae in Devram. They’d figure it out.
“Just for shits,” Lange continued, “let’s say we were fine with that. We still have to get the boat. What’s your plan there?”
“A distraction,” she answered.
“I’m afraid to ask what the distraction will be,” Corbin said.
“Me,” she said simply. “I’ll be the distraction while you two get the boat. I’ll meet you there.”
“We can’t— That’s not— No,” Lange sputtered. “That will never work.”
“No?” Eviana countered. “Did the winds tell you that?”
“You keep saying that shit, and I still don’t know what you’re talking about,” he retorted.
She finally turned to look at him. His sky-blue eyes were bright with fury as he glared at her. Pale blond hair fell into his face, features twisted into a determination that would eventuallybreak and become resignation. She was the one in control here, and everyone in the vehicle knew it.
“If you are the distraction, we may as well just turn ourselves in,” Corbin cut in. “The minute you are recognized, every kingdom will be notified. There is no doubt we will be followed to detain you, and Lange and I will be immediately killed for kidnapping a Source, despite that not being the case.”
She had considered that, but she was banking more on a sentinel wanting something of a Lord’s. It was definitely a risk. Corbin wasn’t entirely wrong. If they were detained before they were killed, their lineage would be discovered. They certainly wouldn’t be killed then, but punishments and imprisonment would still ensue. Despite that, she hadn’t been able to think of any other options. She’d debated going east and stealing a boat to use the sea to enter the Serafina Kingdom, but unbeknownst to her travel companions, the plan was indeed to enter the Dreamlock Woods.
“There is a much simpler solution,” she offered, not looking at either of them.
