SHEY THRUDESH-VO #2
Jules nodded a bit stiffly, as if something about Tyche continued to make him nervous, but he persevered.
“It’s so great to have you here to help our cause.
I’m part of an underground resistance group called The Citizens Restoration Group, and we’ve been fighting for years to get our voices heard.
Our goal is to kick New Rosanthe out of Uris-Oladul so that we can return to being our own country, listening to the will of the citizens rather than our puppet masters back in Aswa.
We have a sister organization in Damardor called the Golden Resistance, who are devoted to returning to their Golden Age before New Rosanthe conquered them. ”
Tyche’s shoulders shook, and Shey squeezed, trying to shush the devilish creature. The names were a bit over the top, and Jule’s attitude seemed a touch na?ve, but Shey respected their determination.
“Before we get into all your long-term plans, do you have any short-term ones, like where we are going to stay for the night?” Adrian shifted from his left foot to his right.
He flicked his wrist, and a silver throwing knife appeared between his fingers.
Shey couldn’t decide if Adrian was trying to intimidate Jules or was anxious about standing in the open.
“Oh, yes, of course. We have a safe house all lined up.” He stopped, and his nose wrinkled.
“Well, I mean, it’s not really a safe house since no one is technically hunting you in Uris-Oladul.
It’s just a house that the organization rented for the week.
It’s secluded so no one should notice you coming and going. ”
“Excellent!” Tyche clapped his hands together and rubbed them. “How about we get started? I could use a bath and a meal. Along the way, you could tell us more about The Citizens Restoration Group.”
Jules lit up, and he began talking faster than he could walk. Apparently, the vice president of the organization was waiting at the house to greet them. The president of their group was still in the capital of Olan, working with government representatives.
The walk to the house at the edge of Three Hills took an hour, and Jules talked the entire time without stopping. Adrian looked as if he were about to strangle the young man while Haru hung on his every word.
For the most part, Jules spoke of big ideas and dreams of what Uris-Oladul could one day become if they broke free of New Rosanthe.
What Shey didn’t hear a lot of were concrete plans for how they were going to accomplish all of this.
It was as if Jules believed that kicking New Rosanthe out would clear all their roadblocks.
Shey didn’t have the heart to break it to him that New Rosanthe was only one of many problems in their path.
There would always be opposition. People with different ideas of what the country should be.
The path forward was always about collaboration so that everyone felt invested in the future of their home.
As they reached the house, Adrian, Haru, and Shey darted off to check out the woods that surrounded the structure.
“Don’t worry,” Tyche reassured Jules as Shey moved toward the rear of the house. “They’re just checking to make sure no one has been here while you were fetching us.”
Shey didn’t hear Jules’s response as he concentrated on conducting the security sweep.
From the exterior, he could spot no cameras or other security features, which he took as a plus.
There were no signs that anyone was there other than the car resting in the driveway.
He pressed his hand to the hood and found that it was still warm.
Whoever had arrived, they’d done it recently.
The backyard was empty. There was a wooden swing painted white that was big enough to seat two adults, and it faced the woods, creating a romantic spot to spend an evening. If only there was time…
The immediate area behind the house was cleared, offering about a dozen yards of space before the woods started.
They’d be able to see anyone who approached from the rear.
He continued to circle the house and peeked in the windows to find a man and a woman seated in the living room talking.
The woman appeared to be middle-aged, with gray threaded through her dark-brown hair.
She wore a pastel pantsuit and was neatly put together.
The man was younger and wore a polo shirt and slacks.
Shey had seen their type all his life—career politicians.
Dangerous, but not the type to usually carry weapons.
When he returned to the front of the house, Jules was listing all the food they’d stocked the house with. By the tone of his voice, it sounded as if it were not the first time that Jules had reassured Tyche that there was coffee and a working coffeemaker.
“Woods are good on my side,” Adrian announced as he rejoined Shey.
“Same for my side,” Haru agreed, walking over a couple of seconds later. “It doesn’t seem as if anyone has traveled through them in a long time.”
Wrinkles formed on Jules’s brow as he looked at each of them. “Are…are you afraid that this is a trap?”
Tyche placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. “It’s not that we don’t trust you, but rather, there are a lot of people who want us dead. And even more people who want to make a fast buck on helping those people make us dead. You live longer by being cautious.”
Jules nodded jerkily, somewhat shaken by this revelation. This young man was too sweet to be in the middle of this. The quicker they could shed Jules, the longer he was going to live.
“I saw two people in the house,” Shey said, snagging Jules’s attention. “Why don’t you introduce us?”
Jules flinched as if waking from his swirling thoughts and pasted a smile on his lips, still looking nervous. He led the way up to the front door, but he now glanced at the nearby woods as if only now realizing the potential danger they could be hiding.
The people turned out to be Nancy Witt, the vice president of The Citizens Restoration Group, while Peter Harper was the head of the local chapter in Three Hills.
“It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness,” Nancy greeted after shaking his hand, and they’d taken a seat.
Adrian and Haru were once again searching the place for threats, while Tyche had perched himself on the arm of Shey’s chair as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
There was something in his pose that was protective, or maybe possessive. Regardless, Shey was enjoying it.
“I’m sure you’re exhausted from your travels, so we’ll keep this visit short,” Peter stated.
“It would be appreciated. Our primary concerns are plans for entering Damardor and where we are to stay until it is time to strike.”
“Of course.” Nancy reached into a leather bag at her feet and pulled out a dark yellow envelope.
“Inside are directions, addresses of safe houses, and a list of contacts. Jules will accompany you to Bellcairn and assist with your efforts. There is a rough plan for the day of the ceremony. Once you’re in Bellcairn, you’ll meet up with our sister organization.
They have someone in the government who has access to the final timeline for the chancellor’s visit. ”
Shey frowned as he accepted the envelope. He didn’t open it but looked over at Jules, who sat on the sofa beside Peter. “Are you sure you want to accompany us? This is going to be dangerous. People are going to die, and I don’t want you to be among them.”
There was a fierce light in Jules’s gaze as he nodded.
“There’s nowhere else I want to be. I know I talk big about the future, but it’s important to me that I’m also right in the middle of these events, making things happen for our people.
I don’t want anyone to be hurt—particularly me—but I recognize that sometimes it can’t be helped. ”
Shey grunted. It wasn’t his job to choose what people were going to risk. If Jules was aware of the danger and still made this choice, Shey had to let it go.
“We have some good news,” Peter announced, breaking the tense silence that had gripped the room.