Ember had never seen Bastien like this as they sat in the living room of Kindel’s small cottage. It was as if he were reliving the death of his parents and siblings, only worse. He had latched on to Rian and wouldn’t let him go.
“Should we call someone?” Cin whispered as she watched him with a worried frown.
“Yeah, like a priest?” Ash wasn’t joking.
Chewing her nail, Ember debated what she could do to help him. “I don’t know.”
Bastien finally wiped at his eyes and shook his head. “This is bullshit!” He met Drake’s gaze. “Jullien isn’t dead. Not with Thraix by his side. I know better.”
Drake scowled. “What are you saying?”
“I know my cousin. He’s a gutter rat, like me. You don’t go through what we’ve been through and die like this. You just don’t.” He kissed Rian’s head and stood. “Where’s a link?”
Kindel handed him hers.
Bastien tried Nykyrian and couldn’t get through. So next he called Ushara. She picked up immediately. Silent tears fell down his cheeks. “Shara, I just heard.”
“Shh, Bas. It’s not what you think.”
His heartbeat sped up as he felt some hope. “The Dagger still flies?”
“Yes. Until I lay hands on its hilt. But yes, the Dagger has sworn to return to its sheath where it belongs, along with the rest of the forks and spoons. They’re a little bent, but whole.”
He let out a half laugh as she threatened to kill Jullien when he got home with the others. “And Kere?” he asked, using Darling’s Sentella call sign.
“You can’t stop the god of death. You know that.”
His breath left him in a loud rush at the confirmation that everyone had survived. And that he had understood her code for what it was. Thank the gods that for once, they were merciful. “Tell Nyk that we’re coming in, to watch for us. We’ll be loaded for League.”
“Be safe and careful. I don’t need another scare like the one I just had or else I’ll be in early labor.”
“No worries.” He cut the transmission and returned the link to Kindel. “Darling’s alive and so’s Jullien.”
Drake shot to his feet. “What the minsid hell! I’m going to gut him!”
Bastien snorted at his fury. “And this after you were crying over losing him three seconds ago?”
“Yeah, ’cause they’d crowned me emperor. I don’t want that shit! You know how much responsibility comes with a throne? No, thank you!” He shuddered. “I can barely tolerate being prince.”
But Ember saw through his bluster. Drake adored his older brother and the relief in his eyes was tangible. “So what’s the plan, Captain?” she asked Bastien.
“I’m planning to lend a hand with their rescue efforts.”
“Count me in.”
“And us,” her sisters each agreed.
Bastien nodded. “They’ll need every hand for a few days.”
Drake let out a ragged breath. “Just when we were about to strike at your uncle. I swear that bastard has nine lives.”
“A temporary reprieve. We secure our families and then in a week, we go for him. His defenses’ll be down. With all this, they’ll think The League is in a position of strength and that The Sentella is weak. It actually works in our favor. He won’t be expecting anything right now.”
Drake nodded.
Bastien and Ember said a reluctant good-bye to Florian before they and Drake rallied Kimmerian and Dread Reckoning forces to lead them toward the Porturnum Station and join The Sentella forces there.
Whatever Nyk and his crew needed, they’d do.
