Regret came in a wave. If he’d paid more attention. If he’dtried, at all, instead of—
Vex caught himself when his plea to Lu slammed into his mind.
“Can we stop apologizing to each other?”
Regret wouldn’t bring Rodrigu back. But Vex could stop Jakes. He could save Teo.
The New Deza castle shot into view on a plateau that overlooked Lake Regolith. If Elazar was in this city, if Tom had Teo with him, the castle was the likeliest—most fortified—place they’d be.
Hands in fists, Vex dredged up every bit of resolve he could find. He could get into the New Deza castle. He’d done it with Nayeli, Cansu, and Edda only a few weeks ago. He’d listen for any news, sneak down to the cells. Step by step.
The main gate was shut and soldiers paced on the top of the wall. The smaller side gate on the east of the yard was Vex’s best chance of getting in unnoticed. It was how he and Lu had escaped with Teo in the first place, but its road had no cover all the way up to the gate itself.
Vex started walking up the road. It was what Lu’d done to get out of the castle’s stable yard—she’d just strolled right up, like she belonged there.
He reached the gate. One door was closed; the other sat open enough to allow servants and other employees to slip through.
Vex held his breath and wiggled into the opening. The stable yard looked the same as last he’d been here. Three barns defined the area, while off to the right, the castle gardens could be seen, and to the left, the front gate. The castle itself towered beyond, and—
Vex’s eye snapped back to the castle yard. People crowded there, shoulder to shoulder, not making a sound, not moving. Barely even breathing.
The gate behind him banged shut on the system of gears that commanded it. Vex whipped his head up, seeing defensors in the guardhouse now, their scowls deep and taunting.
Vex turned, slowly, facing the group of people again. He recognized them. Those, Emerdian raiders—those, Tuncian—Grozdan—
One stepped out of the group, her short, jagged hair wafting around her face.
Cansu. She aimed a pistol at Vex. “In the name of the Pious God, surrender. Heretic.”
28
THE TONE OFthe war had changed.
Refugees remained in the sanctuary by their own choice. No families were forced to stay. No raiders were required to prepare for the journey to New Deza. The prevailing attitude was one of tired acceptance, a resignation as thick as smoke.
The raiders would fight for the Grace Loray they wanted. If people disagreed with their leadership, let them leave to join Elazar, or run off to initiate their own plans. They would fight this war on a foundation of unity, and willingness was essential.
So Lu knew, as she watched Rosalia hand out small weapons to her raiders, that every Grozdan herewanteda new future. As Nate and Pierce’s raiders brought Lu baskets of plants to prepare for the coming fight, she knew each of them had changed, linked to the Grozdan raiders and theTuncian raiders and even Kari and Ben, through the tightening bond of kinship. To feel the delicate beginnings of true peace was staggering.
All it had taken was another war with Argrid.
Kari’s messenger sent word to Elazar, telling him of Ben and Lu’s intended surrender. She chose the place and time: the docks in New Deza, facing an easy escape onto the lake; five days from the sanctuary attack, at dusk. Only three steamboats would approach the port, twenty raiders total. Kari doubted Elazar would truly stage Ben and Lu’s surrender on the docks—it was far more likely that defensors would escort them somewhere undisclosed. For that reason, Kari would reserve the bulk of their forces to deploy around New Deza—Rosalia would come in from the north, Nate from the south; Nayeli the west. Pierce’s men would be on steamboats in the middle of the lake, four raiders and himself all with Budwigs, waiting to swoop in if—when—things turned to a fight.
Lu kept herself busy those final days. She tied Aerated Blossom pods to strings that could loop around fighters’ wrists. She captured Drooping Fern smoke in reeds, sealed until the user blew hard on one end and released the knockout gas. Hemlight went into pouches with other explosives to create crude grenades; healing plants nestled inside vials to be tucked into boots; Powersage’s orange leaves became a paste to be used just before the battle, for added strength.
Most importantly: Bright Mint leaves went into snugjars, as many as she could find. Everyone approaching New Deza would need this counter plant, should Elazar’s final plan somehow involve widely spread Menesia.
Lu filled Fatemah’s hut with Grace Loray’s magic, transforming it in the simple, common ways she had learned over her years of study. Were Fatemah here, Lu thought she might be content to know what her former laboratory was now being used for. Not permanent magic—just magic, this island in its purest form. It felt like a fitting tribute to her.
Nayeli spoke to Vex with the Budwig once, when he was still hours out from New Deza. Otherwise, either she kept missing him or something horrible had happened. Lu counted and recounted how many vials of healing plants they had and used the monotony to sear her mind. He would be fine. He was smart. Likely he had to stay silent while searching for Teo—but he was fine.
Two days after they sent the message to Elazar, Ben came to see Lu. The messenger had returned. Elazar’s reply was simple.“Praise the Pious God. I look forward to our reunion.”
Ben held out his hand to Lu, and she took it, fingers tight around his.
“Together,” she told him.
Ben squeezed her hand. His eyes glistened. “Together.”
