Chapter Forty-Five
“You want to do what?” I looked up from the Spider's desk.
Yes, we were still at the House of Silk.
I wanted to be there in case the Spider scuttled back to her web or in case any of her bone-cleaning murderers came looking for her.
We also had a basement full of men, although we'd removed the ribbons from them.
None of us wanted to continue to wear the master ribbons that controlled them.
Vas wanted to hand them over to the Talons, and I might agree to that, but not until we found the Spider.
As I mentioned before, I had sent Drellan with the Argaiv boy to the Reprisal.
I hadn't gotten around to finding a home for the boy.
Frankly, he was low on my list. I figured Drellan could watch over him until the mission was over, and I could devote more time to locating a good family. Except now, Drellan was back.
“I'm going to adopt him,” Drellan said again.
I sighed and sat back. “That's admirable. And he's a darling child. But—”
“His name is Renree, and he's my son. If you don't want him around, I'll quit.”
“Drellan, I want Renree to be protected, happy, and loved.”
“I can protect and love him. I can give him happiness.”
“I'm sure you can. If you gave up hunting people like the ones who hurt him.
This isn't the life for a child. It's bad enough that he's gone through something so traumatic at his age. But to keep exposing him to more horror would steal what little childhood he has left.” I paused.
“Drellan, do you want to raise an Argaiv boy and be a father to him, or do you want to save more children?”
“I can do both!”
“And who will look after Renree when you're working?”
“You left Netrax and Tanseir back in Sunsho. Can't I be the one left behind? I can work there and raise him. He doesn't have to be exposed to anything terrible. I can protect him.”
“Why not?” Vasren came into the room behind Drellan.
“Vas, this isn't the life for a child.” I motioned at us. “Do either of you even know what an Argaiv child needs?”
“I'll tell you what he needs.” Drellan slammed his palm down on the desk.
“He needs someone who will kill anyone who tries to hurt him. He needs a safe home. To be fed and nurtured. He needs love. He needs people who will show him that monsters can be killed and the world has good people in it too. Renree needs me!”
I looked down at the Spider's ledger. In it were what appeared to be normal notations—dates, amounts, and initials.
Except that the amounts indicated how many people of which race and what sex were brought to the Spider.
The initials were either A or D. I assumed they indicated whether the people were taken alive or dead.
But the most important notes were next to those—they were names.
First names only, but in my world, that was enough.
My world wasn't a place for children. But the Spider had caught them and put them there.
Not just children. Children with their parents.
It must have been easier to take a parent while they were out with their child rather than snatch one of them and leave the other behind to shout for the Talons.
Great Gods, the kind of cold calculation that would take astounded me.
So, no, I didn't want that beautiful little boy anywhere near my work. But he'd been tossed into these, and he had learned to swim. Who was I to say that Drellan wouldn't be a good father to him? Why not indeed.
“Damn it, boss!” Drellan pushed off the desk. “The Gods gave him to me. I won't give him away. He's mine. He's my son! I feel it in my bones. We're meant to be together.”
“All right.” I lifted my head. “You may adopt him and he will live with us.”
Drellan swayed on his feet. “Truly?”
“It's your decision, Drellan. Yours and his.
If Renree wants to be your son, he can stay.
But you must promise me that you will keep him unaware of what we do.
He is only to know that we help people. I don't want a single drop of evil to touch that child from this day forward. Do you understand? You will be responsible for keeping him away from all of this while you are in the center of it. Can you do that?”
“I will do that. I don't want Renree to know about these things either. He thinks we're monster hunters, and that's the story I will foster.”
“You realize he will need schooling and socializing? A boy needs friends. Then he'll need to decide on a trade. There is a lot to parenting, Drellan.”
“I'll figure it out, just as every parent does.”
“Very well. Where is he?”
“I left him on the ship. Tesal is watching over him until I return.”
“Go back and ask Renree if he wants to be your son. Explain to him that he will be living with all of us. And tell him that I will find an Argaiv family to adopt him if he wants that instead. He must be given a choice, Drellan.”
“Yes, boss. I want him to have a choice too. Renree deserves that.” With that, Drellan strode out—shoulders straight and chin lifted.
Vas leaned a hip against the desk as we watched Drellan leave. “He's in for a lot of work and a lot of anxiety.”
“Yes,” I agreed. “And a lot of love.” I shook my head. “A child in the house will be good for us, but he will also make things harder.”
“Some things are worth the effort.” He gave me a pointed look and then glanced at the ledger. Did a double-take. Shot upright. “Are those names?”
I grinned at him. “Yes, and I can do a lot with a name.”