“Right now.” Roran offered his hand. “We need to start figuring out what is missing in your magic, and we need to start now.”
Rilen folded his arms. “Especially if you want to go on the raid.”
“I’m allowed?”
Roran looked at his brother. “Mmm. I wouldn’t say allowed, but…”
“…if you show up ready to go, I don’t think they’re going to say no to another sword.” Rilen shrugged.
The smirk slipped onto my lips. These two men were so bad for me.
I loved it.
* * *
Stepping off the train, the three of us walked down the platform to murmurs, gasps, hasty bows, and curtsies. It was strange to experience people who had been my neighbors decades ago bowing to me.
If they didn’t know I was the Breaker, they knew we were temple masters by our dress.
Rilen waved up a carriage, and we climbed in. I gave the address to the driver, and he turned to look at me.
Everett Thomson.
Elex’s father.
“Mistress Kimber?”
I came close to leaning out of the carriage and heaving my guts down the side.
“Mister Everettson,” I managed, choking on my bile.
“My dear,” he held his hand out to me, “it is so good to see you. My wife and I have been reluctant to come to you since your elevation. Would you join us for dinner? We just wish to hear of our son from you…”
Sweet Savior. Was this my punishment for his death?
“Mister Everettson,” Rilen said, “we’d be pleased to join you for the evening meal. However, we must get to Mistress Kimber’s old home as soon as possible. May we call on you after?”
“Of course, Master.” He nodded and turned back to face the front.
“Deep breath,ilati,” Roran whispered in my ear. “What do you fear from him?”
“That he is the one who brought his son into the rebels,” I hissed. “I misjudged Elex, who is to say I didn’t misjudge his father, as well.”
“Do you sense any duplicity?”
I let the magic whirl around him and felt…nothing but the sadness of a man who had lost his son. There was no malice, no duplicity, no dishonesty.
“No, nothing. He just wants to hear about his son.”
Taking my hand in his, Roran smiled. “There you go. Well done. Now calm down. You’ve had many dinners at his parents’ house, from what I understand. We will tell them what they need to hear. His death was unavoidable. He did so to save S’Kir.”
There really wasn’tmuchof a lie in that. He did die to save S’Kir, just not the way most people would assume.
I sat back and watched the hills roll by, remembering the landscape, flora, and fauna. There were gorgeous vistas here, open spaces, farms, and livestock.
Everett’s voice floated back to us. “It hasn’t changed much since you left, Kimber—I mean, Mistress.”
“Please, call me Kimber,” I said.
