Page 40 of A Blade of Lies and Spirits

“Thank you for taking care of the nose.” I tried to smile at Joan, but grimaced at the pull on my face. “Is William alive?” I doubted it, but this was the Guild.

“No,” Chance answered. “I’m not used to guns.”

Such a liar he was.

“We’ll wait for Walker, but they’re likely to arrest us on general principle,” I said.

“Oh, no,” said Joan. The light shimmered on the transparent gem between her brows. “The Dumonts are important enough. I think they’ll just talk to us. You’re going to want to call someone’s office, right?”

The Dumonts should show up at Silver’s office in a little under an hour—I had no idea how much time had passed during the fight, or if the elf had only suspended time here and not in other places. My eyes wanted to close; my joints felt like they were weighed down with sandbags.

I declined help, gripping the bannister as I picked my way down the stairs. Even curled over protectively, each step jolted pain from either my nose or ribs. To lessen the pain, I walked with exquisite care, since asking for more healing was out of the question. Joan wasn’t family or lover; I didn’t like owing her.

Walker met us outside. His shirt hung in pieces from his shoulders, and a long cut ran across his chest. His hands and pants were bloodied as well.

“Where’s the mage?” asked Chance.

“Suicided running.”

The lines around his mouth and eyes showed deep. Walker offered me his arm, but I shook my head. I would not show more weakness in front of Chance.

“I need to sit for a minute. Alys, do you?” asked Joan. Her voice was faint, her eyes sharp.

Her kindness was unobtrusive, something I could accept. She answered the faint smile I gave her and we settled on the lawn furniture as a security official bustled up. Joan was a kind woman, too kind for the people around us. I’d have to thank her. When I had the strength to do so.

“IDs, please,” the Warden official said by rote to Walker and Joan. The ingratiating smile annoyed me. Wardens never treated me like that.

Strength dribbled with the speed of cold honey back into my limbs as I rested. Simply breathing jabbed pain through my chest, despite Joan’s working.

The officer came back with an offer of transport to the Warden’s headquarters. Walker supported me into the grav, Chance and Joan following us. Even the shift in position from the seat settling under their weight brought spasms.

At least gravs rode smoothly.

Minutes out from the building, the wail of Fire and Disaster sirens greeted us. From the upper levels of the building, smoke plumed gently, drifting toward the sky.

I hadn’t thought what Silver’s reaction might be to an elf appearing in his office without warning.

NINE

Alys

Only a few minutespassed before we reached the administration building. Every inch of me just wanted to rest, but I knew this was the necessary next step. I sighed, looking up at the hole in the side of the building. I foresaw slides, Silver’s answer to everything. Another presentation on workplace safety awaited me.

Since it had only been minutes to get to the building, the outdoor courtyard was a chaos of evacuated people. Men and women spoke in varying volumes, some of them waving their arms, some pacing in the courtyard. Complaints that coms weren’t working competed with excited gossip, all at top volume. Walker and I stood at the edges until an elbow from a curiosity seeker nearly sent me to my knees. He escorted me to a wide stone flowerpot, and I sat on its edge while Joan and Chance threaded through the crowd, searching for Dmitri and the Dumonts.

Joan reappeared behind me. I jumped. “I’ve found your son; he’s inside. Let’s go.”

Walker took my arm, even though I tugged on it, and matched his pace to mine as we headed into the building. Each step sent jolts through my chest. Although I was healing, William had done enough damage for the process to hurt. Enough, I was willing to consider visiting a healing center when this was done.

Within the building, the people were no less chaotic, just better dressed. More shouting, more movement, more in power, angry at the loss of control.

Silver stood by Robert, who was gesturing at a Warden lieutenant. I caught the tail end of his speech as we drew near. “… daughter is missing and I want her found! Immediately!”

Elise, white as bone, held Dmitri balanced on her hip. Her thin arm trembled under the weight, but she didn’t put him down among all the adults. One of the problems with being thin enough to suit fashion was that it didn’t allow for any muscle.

Soot streaks painted Silver’s face. His suit jacket was ripped at the shoulder, and his shirt had lost several buttons. Dishevelment suited him, made him look more human.

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from smirking. It wouldn’t help my case to seem amused by all of this. Robert’s eyes fell on me and hardened.

---