He limped along a side path, trying to remember the way. When he reached the top of the hill, he could see most of the valley. The village, the sept. It wasn’t long before he had his bearings and was following the road down toward the row of crofts.
“Jesstin!” Elloven’s yell came from somewhere behind him. He’d secured a way out for both of them, and he didn’t want to see her, not then... maybe not ever again. “Jesstin, wait!”
Jesstin sped up to lose her, but she kept on, calling for him like he hadn’t heard her. He raised a hand so she knew he had, knew he wanted her to fall back. The next time she called his name, it was with less enthusiasm, and eventually her voice disappeared.
He was winded by the time he reached the croft, but the door was half open. He went to draw his sword, then remembered he wasn’t wearing it anymore. He’d left it, and the rest of his clothes, at the tent.
Sesto stepped forward and threw his arms around Jesstin’s neck. “You stupid, foolish boy.” Then he reared back and slapped him. Jesstin’s jaw slackened in amazement, and Sesto slapped him again. “You would have had me return to Rhiain and Asterin with news of their brother’s demise?” He squinted out tears. “You would leave me without good-bye?”
Jesstin clamped his hands over Sesto’s shoulders. “Forgive me. It was impulsive, even for me.”
Sesto scoffed and spun away, his arms crossed. “I’ll consider it.” He turned back. “But what were you thinking? You couldn’t possibly...” His eyes fluttered upward. “You’re far too rash, Jess, and that is not a trait that should be indulged in a place like this.”
Jesstin rubbed his face and hissed at the connection with so many tiny cuts.
“What did this to you?” Sesto’s hands floated in the air. “Dear goodness me, this is diabolical. Are you in pain?”
Jesstin shrugged. He watched the brief light of day fade in the window. He brushed off Sesto’s fussiness. “I need to be alone for a while. To think.”
“Think about what? Whether you’re going to throw yourself off a cliff next? Perhaps a walk through fire is more to your liking?”
“Don’t be an ass.” Jesstin pointed an arm toward the village. “Everyone here wants something from me. Well, I’m not fucking doing it, Ses. They can all sit on pikes.” Mon’s words about Acheron and Estelar plotting his death weren’t far from his thoughts when he said, “Something bigger is happening here, and I don’t know what it is. I don’t care either. I’m leaving, and Elloven needs to leave too, and I need you to take her.”
“Me? What do you... You’re not saying you aren’t coming?”
“Look.” Jesstin cupped Sesto’s cheek. “I may not know what they all want, but I know what most of them don’t want. Me near her.”
“But they put you in a croft together!”
“The bond forced their hand. It’s Taven they need. They’ll kill me and bond him to her, and...” He brought his hands to his temples, massaging them. “I need to think, Sesto. Can you please get her somewhere safe?”
“But... how? You’re bonded. You cannot be too far apart.”
The insight came together like the final wedges of a puzzle. He wasn’t worried about the bond because it wouldn’t matter where he was going. He needed to know what else the dead weren’t telling him, not because he trusted them but because he trusted the others even less. Estelar and the others couldn’t follow him to the netherworld, which would give him time to put an actual, workable plan together. If he stayed, he was dead anyway. “Don’t worry about the bond. I need you to get her out of here safely and then I need you to tell Rhiain and As?—”
“Oh, no. No, no, no, no, no.” Sesto’s finger wagged with each word. “Do not finish that thought, not even in your head. I will not send weepy final messages to your family so you can throw yourself in front of a sword. No. If you have something to say, tell them yourself.” He pulled back with a defiant huff.
“Will you take her then?”
“You’re not listening?—”
“I heard you. I’ll bring my own messages home. Will you take her?”
“You’re assuming she’d even leave with me!”
“Will you take her, Sesto?’”
“I... I’ll do what I can.” He sighed deeply. “You are so maddening, Jess, do you know that? You don’t know what you’re doing. What game you’re playing.”
Jesstin leaned down and kissed the top of Sesto’s head. “I love you. Please, go, so I can think. I won’t die here. It would kill me to give them the satisfaction.”
Sesto shook his head through more tears. “If you’re not behind me in a day...”
“Go.”
Jesstin closed the door and sank to the ground. His head was a pounding mess. Did he really intend to do this? Had Mon or Ari or one of the others planted the idea in his head? Had Lexsea?
“Jess.” Gennady sat beside him on the floor, staring ahead with mirrored exhaustion. “You weren’t always so daft.”
