Chapter 34
Farra and I are sitting at the same old bar we'd come to almost a month ago now; Leo sitting this one out.
We thought it would look less suspicious if the two of us were seen having a hushed chat with the twins, than if there was a large group.
Leo also claimed to not want to deal with Farra's "aggressive and obnoxious dancing".
"Stop fidgeting. It makes you look suspicious," Farra hisses.
I glare at her.
I can't help it. I fiddle with my hair, pick at the already cracked skin around my nails. I wish there was a way for me to be still, but it's impossible.
Farra orders us drinks, seeing my need for a distraction.
I don't know why I'm so nervous; I like the twins.
I'm fairly confident they will say yes. But then again, what if they don't? It's a big risk for them, with very little reward.
I'm mainly banking on their love of adventure and rule-breaking to entice them.
And the fact that I suspect they are both good humans— good enough that it might tip the scales to know the truth behind what they're doing.
The coin we can offer will not be as good as what they were getting from the council.
Gods, and what is the full story? I was still trying to process my conversation with Sibs. I had hoped for clarity and information from that conversation, and had left instead with more questions.
Life is great; I'm banking on two criminals I've met once to feel morally obligated to help us, knowing they will lose money in the process, and maybe even their jobs? While I try to decipher the mad ramblings of an old woman.
I roll my lips between my teeth.
Farra elbows me, and I let out an ooof.
"Get out of your head. Now," she demands.
I blink at her, and then laugh.
"I like drunk Farra better than bossy Farra. Bossy Farra is mean," I tease, and she smiles at me with a slight shake of her head.
It's not just this meeting that's got me on edge.
I haven't told Farra what Sibs said about her brother yet.
I tried, but I'm a coward and ended up changing the subject.
How am I supposed to tell her that there's a possibility her brother could get better.
.. but I'm leaving her to figure it out on her own?
Oh, and I'm taking everyone we love with me.
Gripping my lukewarm drink, I turn to her.
"Far, there's something we gotta talk about. I haven't told you everything from my visit with Sibs, yet..." I hesitate. "I wasn't sure how, honestly."
Her eyebrows raise. We'd already debated about her coming with us the other day. Leo and I are worried about what will happen to her if we disappear, and she's the only one left behind.
She is a proud brick wall with her responses.
Her argument that she's "already been tortured, and she's fine", didn't really sit well with us, though.
The other argument was that soldiers are disappearing or dying all the time.
They might not even bat an eye at us. This argument also didn't sit well.
Something tells me those in command will be suspicious about one crew member being left behind.
Not to mention the fact that we are beginning to suspect that the government knows how and why people are going missing.
I open my mouth to explain what Sibs had said about her brother, but we're interrupted.
"Well hello, ladies. Fancy meeting you here." Briggs plops down at our table, almost knocking over both our drinks in the process.
I give him a genuine grin.
"It's good to see you!" I say sincerely.
"Where's Mack?" Farra asks, peering around.
Briggs frowns.
"Very rude to ask a twin where the other twin is, without even properly greeting the obviously funnier, and considerably more handsome, first twin," he pretends to scold her, and she laughs.
"Sorry, hi Briggs, how are you?"
"I am great, dear Farra. Thanks for asking. And to answer your question, Mack is on his way." He motions for the bartender to pour him a drink before scooting over to grab it and lumbering back.
"So, what do we have on the agenda tonight?" he asks, mischief lighting up his grey-green eyes.
Farra and I glance at each other, a little unsure of how to begin.
"Uh oh. I know that look," Briggs says, taking a big slurp of his drink.
"What look?" Mack adds, popping in and sitting down much more gently than his brother did.
"That's the look we get before we're about to do something really stupid," Briggs says, with a grin.
"Oh, that's a great look. What are we about to do?" Mack responds, with the same mischief glinting in his eyes.
"Well, we have a proposition for you," I say hesitantly.
"And before you say anything gross, not that kind of proposition," Farra interrupts, pointing to Briggs and he gives her a crooked grin.
Macklin bends over the table slightly, eager to hear what I have to say.
"We want you to take us with you across the border," I get out, just above a whisper.
Briggs lets out a low whistle, slumping back in his chair.
"I'm going to need alcohol for this chat, I think," Mack answers, excusing himself and coming back with four overflowing drinks that spill over his hands.
"Ok, start from the beginning," Mack utters after a healthy gulp.
My eyes dart around the room. There doesn't seem to be anyone from base here. We're in a booth to the side, and luckily, the band is playing loudly enough to cover our voices. It's almost hard to hear someone right beside you; regardless, I'm still nervous to talk so openly.
But time is no longer our friend, and I remind myself of my mother's mantra; now's the time to be brave. So I relay as many details as I can. Praying to every god—real or not— that these two won't take this information straight to the Council.
When I'm done, Mack shakes his head and runs a hand through his shaggy hair, leaning back, deep in thought.
"Well now, I feel kinda bad," Briggs says with a bit of a pout. "How was I supposed to know we were poisoning everyone?!"
I can't help but laugh, shaking my head at his earnest reaction.
"None of this is on you guys. Everyone here is just trying to make the best out of a bad situation," I respond.
"That's the thing, though, isn't it? If everyone's going to just look out for themselves..." Mack cuts himself off, glancing at his brother. "I mean, this is a crazy story, and I'm really sorry about your sister, but what does this have to do with us?"
Farra and I look at each other again. She nods, encouraging me to keep going.
"Well, like we said before. We'd like you to get us out.
We'd like to get to Zaphira, preferably, but even if it’s just to Soland, we'll take what we can get.
.." I fold my hands up tightly on top of the table.
My eyes well with tears. "I need to get them somewhere safe.
Then maybe I can come back and figure out how to help. "
I look over at Farra. I hadn't told her this part yet. That I'd been feeling guilty for just leaving our country in shambles. She blinks, a grateful look washing over her face.
The twins glance at each other, one shrugging while the other runs a hand down his face. If I didn't know better, I'd say they were arguing telepathically.
I remember a story my mom used to tell us, about old magic.
When a soul was strong enough, it could split when passing through Aethur—or The Beyond, I guess, since it turns out Aethur is a god, not place.
When the souls found each other again in our world, the two people could become counterparts; able to use each others magic and walk into each others dreams. Perfect reflections of one another.
I used to think that that was just a nice bed-time story, but after my conversation with Sibs maybe some of it rings true.
Either way, I bet these two come close to it.
"We'll do it!" Briggs says, wholeheartedly.
At the same Mack says, "I'm sorry, we can't help you."
The boys scowl at each other.
"Don't be such a fuckin' baby, Mack. I'm bored, anyway. And how can we keep slinging this root, knowing it's muckin' up a whole country of people's brains?" Briggs looks utterly offended by his brother's lack of empathy.
"Obviously, I want to…" he looks at us sympathetically, "I swear, I do. But it's a bit of a death sentence for us. We can sneak through with one, maybe two others, but a whole crew like that? We'll draw attention. Not to mention I'm pretty sure we'll be shot if we get too close to Zaph borders."
"You are such a bloody wuss. I'll do it myself, then. I'm not letting these poor girls traipse across the country with no help." He gives Farra a wink, and she gives him a dry look back, that makes him grin.
I ignore them and put my hand on Mack's arm.
"Would you do it for him? If you needed to get him somewhere safe? Willow is my Briggs," I stare at him, willing him to see things from my perspective, and it only takes a moment before his eyes soften.
"Son of a…" He picks up his drink angrily, slamming the remaining contents.
I smirk.
"Fine, I hate you all. If we die, I'm holding you personally responsible." He points to Briggs, and Briggs bats away his finger, playfully throwing his arm around his brother.
My lungs deflate with relief, and we spend the rest of the evening coming up with a plan. The brothers surprise me with their ability to strategize. And once Mack was in, he was all in.
We bid them goodnight, despite Mack's protests that the night had only just begun, and walk back to base.
"That went really well, hey?" Farra offers.
"Yeah…" I answer absently.
"So what were you saying earlier... before they came in?" she asks, frowning. I'd hoped she'd forgotten, and I could tell her in the morning. So much for our peaceful walk home.