Chapter 35
“ S ara?” Roe cried, scrambling to climb in my lap, wrapping his thin arms around my neck. His entire body shook as he sobbed into my shoulder.
It hadn’t been that long since Trey and I stayed at the Outpost and met Zeke and his little boy Roe. I’d healed Roe from a terminal illness, and I remembered their beaming faces as they waved goodbye to me and Trey.
I strained against the metal cuffs keeping my hands behind my back, desperate to wrap my arms around him. “Roe, what are you doing here? Where’s your dad?” I asked, frantic.
“They killed him,” he sobbed.
Fuck . Zeke had been so kind to me and Trey, and he’d loved his son more than anything. I glared up at the two Voiceless, full of fury. They stared back at me, their expressions blank.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I snarled.
“Providing incentive,” Talmar answered, and my stomach dropped.
“You’re threatening a child?”
“What happens to this child falls on you, Goddess. Submit, and he won’t be harmed.”
Tears of helpless fury filled my eyes. I’d been so relieved it was just me. I could fight if they were threatening me, but not if they were threatening Roe. I couldn’t sacrifice him to save myself.
“Fine,” I seethed.
Talmar smiled, and the satisfied victory on his face made me want to scream.
“Uncuff me,” I demanded.
I didn’t think they would, but Talmar shocked me by pulling a key from his pocket and crouching to unlock the manacles. As soon as they fell away, I wrapped both arms around Roe and held him tightly.
“Do not try to run,” Talmar warned. “There are guards at the door. We leave at first light.”
I didn’t respond, and after a brief pause, they both left.
“Did he call… call you ‘Goddess?’” Roe asked in a shaky whisper.
I winced. “Yes, but my real name is actually Ember. You can call me Em.”
“Where’s Flint?”
Pain lanced through me, and for a second, I considered lying, but I knew trying to shield Roe from the truth would do little to protect him.
“His real name was… was Trey, and he’s dead,” I whispered, my voice cracking with emotion.
Roe wrapped his arms tighter around my neck, and when his shoulders shook, I realized he was crying again.
I smoothed back his unruly curls, tears brimming in my own eyes.
I felt the urge to promise him I would keep him safe, that I wouldn’t let the Voiceless hurt him, but I kept my lips pressed tightly together.
I couldn’t truthfully promise him that. I had very little control over anything, right now.
Roe cried himself to sleep. I had so many questions, but I didn’t wake him up.
He looked exhausted, with dark circles under his eyes.
I tentatively let my powers flow into him, but besides some bruises and scrapes, he was unharmed, and there was no sign of the illness I’d healed months ago.
I healed the few minor injuries he had, remembering the joy on Zeke’s face when I healed Roe and the tenderness as he held his son, and grief overwhelmed me. He was dead—most likely because of me.
How did the Voiceless find them? Had they followed us there?
I swiped my wet face on my shoulder. Little did Talmar know that dragging Roe into this just made me more determined to get us both out. There was no way in hell I was going to submit to the God of Death and have his children.
I’ll always come for you, Em.
Mac’s voice ran through my mind, and my eyes overflowed again. I knew he would come for me. I had no doubts about that, but would he find me in time?
I struggled to my feet and gently maneuvered Roe to the bed of furs in the corner.
He let out a little whimper but didn’t wake up.
I crept over to the tent flap, carefully peering through the crack.
I could see at least one guard standing outside—another of the Voiceless.
How many were here? I thought there were only seven of them.
I tiptoed back, examining the inside of the tent.
It was large but only contained one bed made up of furs.
I searched for anything that could be used as a weapon but found nothing.
They’d even taken the handcuffs with them.
I returned to Roe and tried to think. The Voiceless had freed me, so either they believed I wouldn’t try anything now that Roe was here, or they were setting a trap.
They said we were leaving at daybreak. Was right now the best time to take them by surprise, or were they out there just waiting for me to try to escape?
I took a deep breath. I didn’t have enough information. I didn’t know how many Voiceless there were or if others traveled with them. I needed to wait. I would risk it if it were just me, but I needed to be smarter. I had to protect Roe.
I climbed into the furs next to Roe, and he startled awake. “It’s ok, Roe, it’s Em,” I whispered.
It was getting cold. I lay beside Roe, giving him plenty of space and ensuring he had most of the furs, but he immediately shifted closer and curled into me. I could feel him trembling. I tentatively wrapped my arms around him.
“I’m so sorry, Roe,” I murmured, guilt running through my veins like poison.
“I want my dad,” he whimpered, and then he started sobbing again.
“I know,” I choked past the lump in my throat. “I know, but you’re not alone, ok? I’m here, and I’m gonna…” I hesitated, trying to figure out how to reassure him without lying. “I’m not gonna leave you, and we’re gonna try to get away.”
Maybe wishful thinking, but I was going to try to believe it. You’re only stuck if you believe you’re stuck. A bittersweet ache went through me at the memory of Trey’s words. I still thought that was the stupidest thing I’d ever heard, but here I was trying it.
“Ok,” he sobbed.
I gently ran my fingers through his curls, and without thinking, I started humming Wolf’s song. It took a long time, but eventually, his sobs died. Even after I knew he’d fallen asleep, I kept humming, hoping Wolf’s song would also soothe me.
“Wake up.”
I jolted awake to see a Voiceless leaning over me and barely resisted the urge to scream. It was still dark but with a rosy hue that meant the sun was beginning to rise. Roe’s fingers dug into my skin as he clung to me.
“We’re leaving soon,” the Voiceless added.
This wasn’t Talmar, but this Voiceless had also removed the black thread from his lips.
I sat up, pulling Roe with me, and climbed out of the bed.
The Voiceless beckoned to us, and I reluctantly followed him out of the tent.
Outside, I had to work to keep my expression blank.
There were so many Voiceless—at least a dozen of them.
They were packing up the camp, but everyone who noticed me immediately sank to one knee and pressed their fist against their chest. The hair on the back of my neck prickled.
“Why are they doin’ that?” Roe whispered.
“Ember is the Goddess of Life,” the Voiceless leading us turned to say. “To disrespect her is to disrespect the God of Death himself.”
Roe looked up at me, eyes wide, but after the Voiceless turned back around, I rolled my eyes and shook my head slightly. Roe’s nose wrinkled in confusion.
The Voiceless led us to the dying fire. Roe and I huddled together, trying to keep warm.
He wore a jacket, but I was still in my tattered T-shirt.
My burned hand and my wrists ached, but Talmar’s bandaging looked neat and clean, so I didn’t unwrap them.
Roe suddenly tensed, and I peered up to see Sax striding toward us.
I pulled Roe behind me, but Sax offered a jacket to me.
I didn’t move for several breaths, glaring at him, but he waited, no expression on his face.
Finally, I reached out and took it, noting that it looked like his jacket.
He turned and left, and I pulled it on. I didn’t want his jacket, but it was warm.
It was also large enough to wrap around Roe and me.
I glanced up and saw Zana standing across the campsite, her arms crossed, and eyes narrowed at me; I looked away.
Another one of the Voiceless brought us some food—a chunk of bread and cheese.
Roe and I ate together, watching as the rest packed up camp.
I tried to count how many Voiceless I could see, but it was hard to keep track of them, much less tell them apart.
I assumed they were all men, partially because they looked like men but more so because I doubted the Voiceless would ever let a woman be a prophet.
They reminded me of ants, scurrying around and packing up, all identical and working in tandem without saying a word.
I didn’t see anyone besides Sax and Zana who weren’t wearing the tattered white robes.
Another Voiceless approached, leading a horse. This one still had his lips stitched shut, but he gestured toward the horse, and I stood, pulling Roe with me. He frowned and made a gesture like he didn’t want Roe on the horse with me.
“He’s riding with me,” I said, trying to channel the authoritative way Mac spoke.
His eyes flicked to me, and he continued to frown, but finally, he nodded.
I helped Roe on first and then climbed on behind him.
This saddle was smaller than the one Trey and I had used, but Roe and I fit easily, and I wrapped Sax’s jacket around us.
The Voiceless broke down the tents and loaded everything into packs carried by a team of mules.
There were six other horses, all ridden by Voiceless.
Everyone else traveled on foot. I counted at least fifteen Voiceless, and my heart sank. How the fuck were we going to get away?
We set out going roughly south, a long train of horses and people walking. One of the Voiceless walked in front of our horse, holding the reins.
“How did they find you?” I asked Roe, pitching my voice low enough that the Voiceless couldn’t hear.
“I don’t know, but I heard them talking about a trail,” Roe whispered back.
My heart sank. Did they follow a trail left by me and Trey? “Did any of them hurt you?”