Chapter 23 #2
He felt a pang in his chest, beneath the scar that covered his heart. A longing for the sister he’d lost too young.
Georgie set his face into a pout but didn’t say anything else.
“Shouldn’t you be in school?” Manny asked. It was only lunch time, and school wasn’t out for a few more hours. “You’re not skipping class, are you?”
“No,” Georgie said defensively. “We’ve got the day off. It’s a holiday.”
Killian tilted his head. “What holiday?”
“Banner day,” Georgie said, like it was the most obvious thing. “It’s the day the Vandever family was crowned.”
“Gods, they deem everything a holiday now,” Manny lamented. “I swear, these kids never go to school.”
Killian huffed an incredulous laugh as he raised his eyebrows at his friend. “You literally never went to school.”
“I went to school,” Manny protested. “The streets were my school. I learned a lot of hard lessons.”
Killian rolled his eyes, but Georgie continued excitedly.
“We’re off for the whole week during the Sammerhan Games!”
Manny seemed personally offended by that. “What? Why? The games aren’t even here this year.”
“No, but a lot of my classmates’ families are going. Some of them work as vendors, and my teacher says that it’s important for their businesses.” He turned and looked at Killian with wide eyes. “Mum said you competed before. Are you going again this year?”
Killian bit the inside of his cheek. He tried not to squirm under the weight of Georgie’s gaze. The young boy was looking at him like he was a legend to be ogled at instead of a normal human man.
“No, only members of the Royal Guard are invited to compete,” Killian said, fighting the bitterness in his throat.
“Oh,” Georgie said awkwardly. He knew Killian had been fired from the Guard a few months earlier. He faced Manny. “What about you?”
“I wasn’t invited to compete,” Manny said with a shrug.
“Why not?” Georgie asked, a hint of judgment in his voice.
“I just wasn’t,” Manny replied.
“Hm,” Georgie said. His face morphed with disapproval. “Don’t you want to go?”
“Not really,” Manny answered.
“Why not?” Georgie asked, his voice rising. “It’s the most amazing thing ever! Sword fights and jousting and archery! And everyone will be there.”
“Not everyone,” Killian corrected. “We won’t be there.”
“But ten thousand people will! All the kings and queens and all the best fighters.” Georgie looked between Manny and Killian, truly stunned by their apathy. “I’m calling it the grand show!”
The hair on Killian’s arms prickled. The beginnings of a realization slinked beneath his skin. “What did you say?”
“The grand show!” Georgie repeated proudly. Then his expression abruptly fell. “Okay, I didn’t come up with it myself. I heard the Bulletin Boy call it that.”
An echo hummed its way from the back of Killian’s mind until its song was too loud for him to ignore.
It’ll be a grand show.
“Manny, can I talk to you over there?” he asked, gesturing with his chin toward the front door.
Manny gave him a wary look but followed Killian to the opposite side of the room.
“Am I in trouble?” Georgie pondered aloud.
“No, Georgie,” Killian called. “Help yourself to some cookies in the cabinet.
Georgie scurried from the chair and busied himself with scavenging for treats.
“What’s going on?” Manny asked in a hushed voice.
“That’s where Lazarus is making his move,” Killian said. He glanced at Georgie to make sure he was properly occupied, then whispered, “He’s going to attack at the Sammerhan Games.”
Manny’s eyes doubled as horror spread across his face. “Devil’s rosy dick!” he shouted. “It was so obvious this whole time!”
“Manny!” Killian chastened him, then shot a pointed look at Georgie, who was smiling impishly back at him.
“That’s a bad word,” Georgie said, giggling to himself.
“Don’t ever repeat that,” Killian told him sternly, then turned his attention back to Manny. “Shit, this is bad.”
“It is bad,” Manny agreed. “But also good. Now we know where to find him.”
Killian pressed his lips into a firm line. His head was swimming. What did Lazarus plan to do at the Games? And how would they keep him from hurting anyone? His stomach twisted with the thought of all the civilians.
“We need to form a plan,” he said. “Now.”
“I’ll get Sera,” Manny said, and he turned and bounded for the stairs.
That left Killian alone with Georgie, who had a mouthful of cookies. He plastered on a fake smile and strode toward the boy.
“It was great catching up with you, but Manny and I have some important work to do for the Guard,” he said. He gave Georgie a pat on the back as he herded him toward the door.
“I thought you weren’t in the Guard anymore,” Georgie said, and stuffed another cookie in his mouth.
“It’s complicated,” Killian dismissed.
“It’s always complicated with you,” Georgie grumbled.
Killian pulled Georgie to a stop and spun the boy to face him. He stooped down so they were eye level, and forced warmth into his expression.
“I’m sorry I’m so busy all the time,” Killian said, hoping the truth of his words would be received.
“In a few weeks, how about you and I hang out? Just the two of us. We can go fishing or, I don’t know…
” He trailed off, unsure what brothers so far apart in age were supposed to do together. “What would you want to do?”
“Teach me how to use a sword!” Georgie pleaded.
Killian laughed through his nose. “I can do that,” he agreed. “A wooden sword, though. For now.”
Georgie nodded, his excitement shaking his whole body. “I’ll see you then!” he squealed, and hurried for the door.
As he reached for the handle, the door swung open to admit Elyse.
“Bye, Ms. Elyse!” Georgie hollered as he scurried past her.
Elyse frowned as she watched him dart away. “Don’t you want your cream puff?”
Georgie must have been too engulfed in fantasies of swordplay, because he didn’t stop or turn around. Elyse pivoted back to Killian, confusion plain on her face.
“He had plenty of cookies,” Killian assured her as he moved to close the door. “Come to the table. I have to tell you something.”
He ushered Elyse into the kitchen as Manny and Sera came down the stairs. They joined them at the table, and Killian tried hard not to stare at Sera. She looked like she hadn’t gotten any sleep the night before.
“What did I miss?” Elyse asked, glancing between the two men. Sera looked equally perplexed.
Killian quickly explained their conversation with Georgie and the resulting revelation.
“Devil’s rosy dick,” Elyse murmured. Her face had gone pale, and she was agitated, tapping her fingers on the table. “Are we idiots for not realizing it sooner?”
“Probably,” Killian sighed. “But what are we going to do? We need to start forming a plan.”
Everyone was quiet for a moment. Sera fidgeted with the tablecloth, not meeting anyone’s eyes. Manny looked as though he might vomit. Elyse stared straight ahead until she looked up at Killian and broke the silence.
“We’ll need help,” she stated. “I know who to ask.”