Chapter 45
FORTY-FIVE
Abigail
“I’m not leaving, Mom.” Abigail walked alongside her newly showered sister as they heard the first rings of the alarm bells echo through Azra. “I don’t think you want to, either.”
“Oh, really?” Elizabeth said, looking at her with a mischievous grin. “And how do you know what I want and I don’t want? I’m the one who can read minds, remember?”
Abigail laughed out loud for the first time in a very long time.
She could see the subtle changes in her sister—the way she smiled, the dark lines under her eyes that were slowly fading, even the way she smiled and looked.
After her shower she had been willing to wear a white dress with a gold cloak.
Despite their being the colors of Azra, Elizabeth had put them on without a second thought.
“You’re not supposed to read my mind, though.” Abigail stifled another laugh. Somehow it didn’t seem right to laugh while the alarm bells were going off around them. Men and women were running to get to their battle stations, preparing to put their lives on the line. “You remember the rules.”
“Yeah, yeah, I remember.” Elizabeth waved away the warning. “So Jack, huh?”
“You said you wouldn’t!” Abigail smiled in mock shock.
“I don’t have to read your mind to tell there’s something different about you.” Elizabeth strolled along the training area at the rear of the capitol building. They had the place to themselves; every able warrior was manning the gates.
“Yeah, me and Jack.” Abigail nodded along with her own words.
She said a silent prayer for him now. She hoped he was safe somewhere far away from the bloody conflict at their doorstep.
With any luck, he was days away and had found his father.
“Wait a minute, were you lying about Marcus being alive?”
“I wish I was.” Elizabeth frowned, choosing a stone bench that looked out toward the ocean and the setting sun behind the waters. “Leah brought him back from the dead. She took his mage power and made him into a monster instead.”
“He was one of the first, then.” Abigail thought to Burrow Den when the creature created there had bitten Aareth and killed Marcus. “Tell me you didn’t help her do it.”
“What, help Leah raise Marcus from the dead?” Elizabeth shook her head violently. “No way. Leah manipulated me, but she wasn’t controlling me. I would never be able to do that.”
“Good.” Abigail took a seat next to her sister to look out past the ocean. “So, what are we going to do now?”
“Not much I can do with this bracelet on, but I don’t want to run, either.”
“No, I don’t think running is an option.”
Before Abigail could say more, a figure exited the back of the capitol building. Whoever it was was tall with broad shoulders, and carried a package in the crook of their arm.
As the outline came closer, Abigail recognized Saber’s familiar face with the eye patch. He was wearing battle armor made of dull black steel and chain mail.
Elizabeth tensed at Abigail’s side.
“He’s a friend,” Abigail said, remembering how angry she had been at her mentor for taking her from New Hope against her will. “Well … ‘friend’ is a strong word at the moment.”
“I brought a make up gift.” Saber presented the brown wrapped parcel he carried in his arms. “I fashioned them myself so they can fit in your sheaths.”
Abigail looked sideways at Saber. She was giving him a hard time more than anything else now. She’d already forgiven the shifter in her heart. She just wanted to make him sweat it out a little longer.
“If you take off this bracelet, I can throw him past the Azra walls and into the ocean.” Elizabeth blinked innocent eyes. “I mean, it’s just a thought.”
Saber looked at Elizabeth with alarm. “It’s as though she was on our side now.”
“Who really knows.” Elizabeth shrugged. “I haven’t decided myself.”
“No, it’s fine.” Abigail waved down her sister. “Saber’s heart is in the right place. Plus, had I been faster, I would have been able to block the blow that knocked me out to begin with. Just promise me no more kidnapping.”
“Scout’s honor.” Saber handed Abigail the package. “For you.”
Abigail accepted the present wrapped in simple brown paper with a rough cord instead of a bow.
Feeling the gift was enough for Abigail to already know what was inside. The weight was perfect for two katanas. With eager fingers, Abigail unwrapped the present.
She was correct in her guess—two katanas perfectly mirrored one another.
But these weren’t just any katanas, these were mage katanas.
Abigail’s mind was already at work as she figured out how Saber had fashioned them.
They had started off as mage swords, and Saber had ground down the blade to form the slightly curved weapons he had trained her with.
The handles had also been refitted. They were narrow, wrapped in white cloth with perfect precision and care. It was clear from the craftsmanship that Saber knew what he was doing.
Abigail let the brown paper packaging drift to the ground. Her thumbs hit the buttons on the hilts of the weapons that brought the dull white glow to the blades. She swung them around, testing their weight.
In the light of the dying sun, the swords left a faint trace of light behind as she arced them through the air.
“They’re perfect.” Abigail turned off the blades and smiled at Saber. “Your apology is accepted. Next time, bring swords and chocolate.”
“Mmm…” Elizabeth smiled mischievously. “I love chocolate.”
The shifter, witch, and warrior shared a chuckle before more shouting from the Azra guards killed their short-lived mirth.
“Are you two going to join the fight?” Saber asked the girls, looking from sister to sister with his one good eye. “I’m sure they can use the help.”
Abigail took a moment to study her sister. “I think we’re still deciding that right now.”
Saber nodded as if he understood the situation.
“As a child, I would judge my parents unfairly, and they ended up dying for me without a second’s hesitation.
We’re all capable of making mistakes. If the two of you are lucky enough to have children, you’ll make mistakes with them, as well.
But love brings grace, and grace is capable of forgiving broken people for making broken decisions. ”
The three sat for a moment in the white noise of shouts and alarm bells still going off in the distance.
“Well”—Saber nodded toward the katanas in Abigail’s hands—“I have vampires to slaughter. Whether I see you two out there or not I’ll respect your decision. Be well.”
Saber turned and left without another word.
“What are we going to do?” Abigail said, barely loud enough for her sister to hear.
“Yes,” Elizabeth said just as quietly. “What are we going to do?”