47. FORTY-SEVEN #5
Niklaus tumbled over the knee wall and onto the roof, breathing like he had a sucking wound in his lung.
When he saw them alive and well, though enfolded in a moment alone, he stopped at the ledge, hands to his knees as he caught his breath.
“Glad I rallied resources—to save you from—blistering one another.”
Leave it to Niklaus to ruin a perfect moment.
The shimmering shield of air around them dissipated.
The stares and mutters compounded. Raimee’s features gleamed in the twilight.
She sheepishly unwound herself from Calver.
Niklaus dusted off his hands and looked out at the blue tinge of light being swallowed by the sea. Calver stood and moved to his side.
Niklaus offered a strained smile and patted him on the back. “Are you hungry?”
Calver flinched. With the myriad of things he was feeling and suppressing, he couldn’t imagine hunger finding space among them.
“I’m hungry,” Raimee admitted from behind them.
“One should never underestimate the amount of toe-curling pleasure, of chest-fluttering joy, of Creation-given goodness that can be found in eating a freshly fried haloucha while watching the sun set—not that I have one.” Said with all the tone that implied a ‘but’ would come next.
“But, also, I’m nearly positive we’re all about to be arrested.
It might be a good time to scrounge, in case we’re locked behind bars without sustenance.
In an attempt to get information, I may have told Thyatira you were hunting the Shadewalker and using the Azadonian as bait.
Which means he’ll be asking himself a number of questions very soon. ”
“I don’t know. Because I’m an idiot. And because Chevek suggested it.”
Calver’s stomach curdled. If one of Chira’na’s gate guards had built an association between him and the Shadewalker… what did they know about Fankalo?
Having heard his name, Chevek moved to their side.
“He’s right. You’re the natural scapegoat for this.
I can get you all behind Red Wing lines again.
I’ll stand with you. And we’ll get whispers started, however we can, but I don’t know if they’ll spread fast enough to prevent imminent repercussions. ”
“What do you think will happen?” Niklaus asked.
Chevek’s jaw firmed. “I’m not sure. If I were Thyatira, I wouldn’t want to grant any of you the opportunity to answer questions.”
Calver looked at Raimee.
She looked back. “We could run.”
He weighed the options. There was no telling what Raimee was capable of.
They might be able to outrun the Red Wing, the Nelfinden government, and any Tera’thian spies or Ruxian slayers that might tail them.
But she needed a medic. She needed weeks, if not months, of nourishment and time spent not having the life sucked out of her.
And who knew what control he’d have over the Survivor while she slept?
She needed somewhere safe. Somewhere from which she didn’t have to uproot at a moment’s notice.
Raimee lay on the ground, chest rising and falling with shallow breaths, too weak to rise. Her silver brows furrowed as she watched his expression.
Niklaus’s hand found the back of his head. “Cal, I agree that running might be your best option. At least for now. We’ll fight in your defense, but the General Prime will get the first word. And the first word may also be the last.”
“I won’t let them have him,” Raimee said. “Let them try to stop me.”
“You’re set to replace the regent Oligarchal Prime.
If you refuse compliance with the existing power structures to claim sanctuary for him under the potential backlash of violence, you create an immediate political standoff.
The threats against you are enough as it is.
They will increase tenfold if you show up to the capital bearing metaphysical arms. Take my counsel: the best option is for Calver to disappear for a while so we can focus on a peaceful transition.
Get Thyatira out of the way. Then give Calver pardon. ”
Raimee’s head swiveled between them. Her lip trembled. “But if he runs, I can’t protect him.”
“No. No, you can’t.”
“What about you?” Chevek asked Niklaus.
Niklaus scoffed. “Someone has to air the truth. People have been trying to get me to stop talking for thirty years. It’s not going to happen now.” He stared at the darkening horizon. “You should go now. While they’re still piecing together what happened and the night falls.”
Calver couldn’t tear his eyes from Raimee’s, dread and betrayal written in them as she waited for him to run away again.
And if he stood his ground? If they faced whatever trials came at them?
Unified, they might be able to stand against Thyatira until his opportunity to speak against them was past. He considered Fankalo. How this would affect the promises he made to her. The promises she had decided not to let him fulfil…
“You’re leaving, aren't you?” Raimee’s voice quavered.
Calver was done running. He shook his head. Tears knocked free from the corners of her eyes.
The stars would crash into the sea before he ever, ever left her.