I give him a flat look. “I see no emergency.”
“You saw how Kol came back.”
“There’s more to that story.” I hadn’t shared this openly, but it had been brewing in my mind for days. What about Kol had made him a target? Had this been done to Nyx, no one would have questions, but Kol didn’t add up.
“What do you mean?”
Did Jaxus really not see it?“Kol, why would they take him prisoner? Does it make sense to you? Why not just kill him?”
“To use him against Nyx,” Jaxus said, like it was the obvious answer.
“Did they, though? No. In the last year and a half, you didn’t hear a peep out of whoever was holding him.”
“They obviously had a plan.” Jaxus seemed annoyed, so I’d clearly hit a nerve.
“You’re not even considering that you might be missing something, are you? It makes no sense to take Kol and hold him for that long. He wasn’t the one who stood to become general, and they didn’t do anything with him but abuse him. What was the point?”
Jaxus scowled, but at least the seed was planted.“Obviously, he has some significance.”
“That’s my entire point. You don’t have all the information, and it’s noble what you’re doing for this kingdom, but there ismore going on in this entire situation than any of you think. You’re just too close to see it.”
Jaxus waved me off. “Whatever use they saw in Kol is irrelevant. We have him back now, and there are other issues to deal with. The undead are out there in undetermined numbers, we are still under threat, and if we don’t want the entire continent to turn, we must be prepared to fight.”
“Well, you will have to do it without me. This is not my war.”
Jaxus shook his head. “If we don’t have a strong enough force, it will soon be everyone’s war.”
His words stayed with me as I rode to the port. A part of me felt like I was abandoning him specifically, but after being trapped in Kerani for so long, I had to fight for my freedom here. It wasn’t Jaxus I was abandoning. I just couldn’t allow myself to acquire another ball and chain.
And more than anything else, I’d had enough trouble avoiding other dragons while in the capital, and the longer I stayed, the more I risked discovery by a dragon who would report me. I didn’t need the King up my arse, nor did I want to be hunted. I’d have to exile myself to the fringes if the military got wind of what I am.
I’d overstayed my welcome, and I needed to make sure Captain Veles was okay.I planned to get on any ship heading east and track Veles’ ship to wherever she sailed to rejoin his crew. I arrived at the port ready to talk my way onto a crew but stopped in my tracks.There she was. Veles’ ship docked right in front of me in all her glory.
The Goddess had always smiled down on me.
TWO
FAOLAN
Crew scurried around, some furiously swabbing the deck and others carrying rich furnishings aboard. I frowned at the luxuries being hauled on, while looking around for the captain. It was most unusual to have such things aboard since every available space was always given to cargo that paid. Luxuries such as beds and armoires took up earning potential, and crews usually roughed it in hammocks in favor of revenue.
But this charter seemed different. I caught sight of the captain on the bow, barking at the crew and scowling. His usual demeanor and no cause for concern…or at least that was what I told myself as I walked towards him. I’d known I would have some explaining to do, but now that I was here, I realized I may be out of luck getting back on his crew. Why would he take back a thieving deserter? I was out of my mind for thinking he might.
I was about to turn around and find some other boat to work on when he looked my way, and I froze.
His face hardened.
Shit.
But then he raised a hand and beckoned me over, I approached, prepared for the worst.
“Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?” Veles said in an unreadable tone.
“Captain,” I said in greeting.
“Didn’t think I’d ever lay eyes on you again.”
“I—” I started, willing the Goddess to provide me with the right words to say, an excuse, a lie, the truth…anything.
