“We need you to give us access to your villages. Some are in a prime location. We'll also take anyone who can fight. My boss will deal with the rest.”
“Why should I trust you?”
“This is an invitation. Talk with him yourself.”
Bale slid his glasses off his thin nose and cleaned them with a cloth. “You've pleasantly surprised me. Lance will serve as my messenger.” He pushed his glasses back on. “Set up the meeting.”
That was easy. He lasted this long by being politically savvy. Like Miya, he recognized danger. Unlike her, he jumped to sacrifice the innocent for his gain.
Soon, he'd be where he belonged. Whenever he met with her boss, the United and Royal Guard would be there waiting.
She stomped out of Bale’s office, down the spiral staircase, and through the sanctuary of relics that failed to tell the true story of Bale and his villages. They would get what was coming. The captain, her father, Bale, every man drunk on the blood of the innocent.
CHAPTER 36
Kira
The Capital
Kallum, Ciondo
833 P.C. [Post-Collapse]
With each passing day, Kira feared more for the Followers. The communication channel to Mom opened this morning. While she hadn't sent any compromising information, Kira feared how the Phaedra would respond to her silence.
Anxiety rampaged through her while she helped Adelle prepare appetizers for the evening.
“I can handle this,” Adelle said to her, never one to miss how Kira felt.
“I'm okay. Just nervous.”
“Everything will be okay. The Phaedra is excited for tonight. He won't do anything to distract himself.”
This evening, there would be a huge, red moon and a meteor shower with countless shooting stars ripping through the night. Mellie planned a sky-watching party with Adelle and insisted on a nice dinner. Apparently, the Phaedra ordered the lights off in Kallum toimprove the view.
Adelle rubbed Kira's back. “I'm not supposed to say this,” she whispered in her ear. “I found a few safe people. It's coming together. We need a little more time to coordinate with everyone.”
Relief wilted her, and she leaned against the counter with a sigh. Did that mean they'd help her escape before the Phaedra lost patience with her mom?
“Thank you,” Kira said.
She wanted to ask more questions and make sure everyone was being safe. There was a reason they didn't share information, though. The message helped her calm herself enough to focus on the evening. It might be one of her last nights here. She should enjoy the time with Adelle and Zayne.
Kira loved stargazing with her mom when she was little. She really was excited for this, even if it felt strange to feel anything positive given the circumstances.
Evening fell, and Brock arrived with Zayne and Mellie. She wore a new black dress, and Brock looked handsome in his nice shirt. But Zayne walked in holding his uniform jacket with blood splattered on the collar of his undershirt.
“Hurry.” Mellie waved at him. “Shower and change so we can start.”
Was that his blood?
The worry crept back, but Mellie sighed. “We had to drag him away from work. He was supposed to come home early to get ready.”
“Is he hurt?”
“Him? No, no. That's someone else's.”
Brock removed his shoes. “We sparred today.”
