Crusade Across Worlds (13 page)

“I know. I want to tell—”

“Don’t,” Sampson stops me with a shake of
his head. “You were shown what you were shown for a reason.
Whatever it is, it is for your knowledge alone. Take it and make
the best of it. It is not for us to know.”

“So,” Blovid laughs, “the Mother, the Lost
Princesses and the remaining piece of a sacred artifact?” He turns
to Clarence with a smile. “I do believe you were meant to fall in
love with Anne for a reason.”

Sadness creeps across my
great-great-grandfather’s face, but he dismisses it with a look at
me. “I suppose I was.”

“Glad you did,” Reid says.

The room grows quiet again and this time
it’s Ariana who restarts the conversation. “Well, Fallon, you
certainly never fail to surprise. I am sorry your absence was for
so long and so far from your friends and family, but I am happy you
learned a great deal.”

“Me too. I just wish it could’ve been more
beneficial for Reuzkimpart’s return. We have less than two weeks
now.”

“And you are positive on that?” Chancellor
Keller asks.

“The Lynzees told us themselves,” Sampson
nods. “Fallon would be away for three months and would come back
two weeks prior to Reuzkimpart’s return.”

Ariana nibbles on the green tube while
Chancellor Keller takes a drink.

“You will understand why we are hoping to
speak with her majesty? Time is of the essence—”

The chancellor puts down his cup. “I fear
the queen has not swayed her opinion on the matter. As stated, she
will offer any and all aide to Nerwolix for the anticipated
arrival—”

“Aide will be unnecessary if the Gifts are
not in position. Reuzkimpart will only—”

“She fears for the safety and security of
our Gift. It is not something—”

“I assure you, on my honor as a Fychu—”

“It is not something that can be assured,”
Chancellor Keller’s voice raises, “the Gift is, and will always be,
of the utmost importance. Even a Fychu cannot guarantee its
wellbeing, especially not one who hails from the World that nearly
destroyed theirs.”

Silence stretches again. Sampson’s face
hardens, but he keeps the anger contained. Taking a deep breath, he
lets it out slowly. “I will remind you I was not a Fychu at the
time the Glass Chamber was destroyed,” his voice is low and calm,
but dangerous. “And I have every intention of keeping the Gifts
safe before returning them to their rightful places once the Vermix
have been defeated.”

“Bad deeds have been done with good intent,”
Chancellor Keller matches his tone. “I am afraid the queen stands
by her decision. The Shadow Bag will not leave this World.”

“I see,” Sampson sits back. “I was hoping we
could come to a mutual understanding over what needs to be
done.”

“We understand it needs to be protected. How
so… well… that is where we see differently,” the chancellor frowns.
“I am sorry to disappoint you, old friend, but the answer is
no.”

“Then I guess there is nothing further to
discuss,” Sampson stands.

“Please,” Ariana’s frantic eyes flicker from
the Fychu to Tucker and back again, “do not leave. You are still
guests.”

“There is much to do, Princess. We cannot
waste a moment by not preparing for Reuzkimpart’s invasion.”

Ariana jets to a stand. “Please stay for the
feast, at least. You would do us great dishonor by leaving now,”
she glances to me, then back to Sampson. “Please.”

“I say we depart in the morning,” Blovid
suggests with a look at the Fychu. “Let us enjoy the rest of the
day, firm up the plans for the Mybyncian aide in two weeks and we
can leave tomorrow. It is best.”

It takes Sampson a moment but he finally
acquiesces. “Alright,” he nods. “We will leave tomorrow.”

Ariana lets out a breath. “Thank you.”

“Excuse me,” the Fychu heads out of the room
and Blovid stands, nearly ready to bolt after him. When he decides
not to, he scans the room with an apologetic frown.

“The Fychu is under much stress at the
moment.”

“I am aware he wants to keep Dellapalania
from being invaded,” Chancellor Keller nods, “but some things
cannot be avoided.”

“It would not be in the best interest of our
people,” Blovid sits. “We fear a possible genocide.”

“You cannot honestly believe the invasion
would wipe out every last Dofinike?”

“No. But the Arizal ones, yes.”

“We could put measures in place that—”

“Blovid is correct,” Ariana interrupts the
chancellor. “With an invasion, there is a very real possibility
that the Arizals could get lost among the enemy. How are we to know
whom we can trust? How are we to know who is on our side?”

“They must make themselves known before
then.”

“It won’t be done,” Clarence shakes his
head. “Not all of them at least. Reuzkimpart has been terrorizing
them into submission for years. And these past few months… any who
show opposition are disappearing. It is impossible to remain
publically loyal to the Way and still be alive.”

“Can’t they just escape?” Jace asks.

“And go where?” Clarence asks. “No one knows
where Blovid and Sampson are. And even if they did, they have
families.
Lives
,” he exhales. “The Fychu is so adamant about
avoiding this invasion because he fears for the survival of his
race—Dofinikes who believe in the Way. There have always been a
limited number of believers and he fears they could disappear
altogether with what Reuzkimpart is doing. Add in the invasion and
it’s pretty much guaranteed.”

“Then what can we do?” Ariana asks. “How can
we protect them?”

Clarence lets out a sigh. With his head in
his hands, he glances at Blovid who remains tightlipped. After a
moment, my great-great-grandfather looks at the princess again.
“Right now, avoid this invasion.”

Ariana nods and turns to the chancellor who
has his sage fingers in a steeple against his chin. He’s focused on
the table and watches it studiously for a second. Finally, he meets
my great-great-grandfather’s eyes. “I hope Reuzkimpart will still
invade without having to see the Gifts.”

“So do I.”

“We have a common aspiration then,” he
stands abruptly and bows. “I look forward to seeing you all at the
feast later.”

Once Chancellor Keller has left the Dining
Hall, Ariana scans the room, pausing on Clarence. “I trust the
Fychu. If it were up to me, I would disclose the location. I would
help you…” she glances at Tucker, then at me, and then back to
Clarence and Blovid. “I’m—I’m sorry,” she turns and leaves.

After a moment, Werzo lets out a breath.
“Well that went well.”

“Better than I expected,” Blovid sighs.

“Better?”

“I expected a bit more of a fight… I think
the Fychu held back because there are so many of us present. I
would not be surprised if he tries to speak with the queen this
afternoon.”

“If he can even get near her,” Clarence
mumbles, eyes still focused on the exit. “The feast should prove
interesting indeed.”

“I forgot how great the food is,” Werzo
holds a slimy ball in his hand, eying it with caution. “Really.
Glad I brought my appetite.”

“If you’re not hungry, don’t eat it,” Tucker
huffs.

“But I am. That’s the problem.”

“I thought the queen knew we liked the
Jiji…” Mae glances around the buzzing Great Hall, as if hoping to
remind her.

“Don’t think she’s too concerned,” Able
laughs. “Pretty sure she’s busy avoiding Sampson and he’s busy
avoiding the chancellor.” Able sighs, focused on his own Glippis
eyeball. “I think we’re on our own for food.”

“At least there’s Hunnis,” Jace winks.

“Yeah, thank God for that. Hey,” Werzo turns
to Walker, “aren’t you supposed to be helping me here?”

The red-headed tribesman swallows his
mouthful of the Mybyncian alcohol. “You want to cruise for chicks
now?”

“Cruise for chicks?”

“Yeah,” the corner of his mouth spikes as he
looks at me. “Cruise for chicks.”

“How far can you ‘cruise’ in a limited
space?”

“You’d be surprised,” he glances over my
head and does a quick scan of the area. “Looks like a lot of
possibility tonight.” His eyes rest on me. “Lot of beautiful girls
here.”

“Alright,” Werzo downs the rest of his
Hunnis and wipes his mouth loudly. “Let’s do this. Jace—you coming
with?”

“Not right now. You two go.”

“Whoa,” Pratt laughs. “Things getting
serious with whatever her name is?”

“Zella? Yeah, Zella’s cool. We’re not
engaged or anything,” he shrugs. “I’m just taking it slow.”

I glance briefly at Reid, but he’s
whispering something into Tucker’s ear. The Rogue Leader nods and
the two excuse themselves before disappearing into the crowd.

“Okay,” Walker claps his hands with a final
look around our group. “Any last takers? Booker? Able?”

“No thanks,” Booker shakes his head. “I’m
good.”

“Able?”

“I…uh… I’m fine.”

Pratt smirks. “You mean you don’t want to go
cruising for chicks?”

“No,” Able scowls. “No chick-cruising for
me.”

“Why don’t you want to go—?”

“Enjoy picking up girls,” I nod at Walker
and Werzo. “Hope you find some fine mermaid tail.”

“Me too,” Werzo rubs his hands, smiling with
determination. “Me too.”

Walker and the Rogue meander through the
packed room, instantly swallowed by passing Mybyncian bodies. When
he thinks no one is watching, Able tosses a quick glance at Mae but
she’s focused on the floor, red staining her face. Trying to
deflect the attention from them, I turn to Jace.

“So… taking things slow, huh? Maybe this is
it? The special someone?”

He shrugs. “Maybe.”

“I don’t like Zella,” Pratt shakes her head.
“She gave it up on the first night.”

“Kind of what I like about her.”

“No,” she rolls her eyes, “you need someone
more substantial. Someone who will make you stay.”

“I’m still here aren’t I?” he glances
around, eyeing the scantily dressed mayans.

Walker and Werzo appear nearby, already
striking up a conversation with some pretty natives. I do a
double-take when I realize Mallup is among them, pushing up chest
and biting her lip. She made the same move on Reid last time,
hoping to draw his attention downward. Walker falls for it, getting
lost in her ample cleavage while Werzo tries working himself into
their conversation.

“Maybe Zella is the one for you. Maybe not.
You don’t have to decide tonight.”

Jace nods, focused on the other boys, more
lost in thought than I’ve ever seen him. It’s like he’s not even
here, like he’s not even hearing us. The blonde Rogue has
disappeared completely, working through some internal struggle that
plays behind his eyes.

After a minute, I ask. “What is it?”

“I’ve got to settle down at some point.”

“Not necessarily,” I counter. “But if you
want to, there’s no deadline. It doesn’t have to be tonight.”

Another silent moment passes with Jace
starring off at Walker and Werzo. Booker bumps him in the shoulder.
“You alright?”

He doesn’t comment. We all wait and just as
Able is about to ask the same question, Jace opens his mouth. “It’s
why I’m here.”

“What is?”

“The reason. Why I’m here.” He runs a hand
through his blonde hair and then exhales heavily, the weight of his
next words in the sigh. “I couldn’t keep it in my pants.”

No one says anything.

Not for a long, quiet moment.

“She was married,” he finally breaks the
silence. “I
knew
she was married. It didn’t matter. Hottest
MILF I’d ever seen and holy hell did she want me,” he grins as if
picturing it. But then the smugness dies from his face. A lump
rolls down his throat. “We were going at it when her husband came
home. Must’ve known what we were up to because the fucker walked in
with a pistol.” Jace shakes his head.

“Jesus,” Able whispers.

“She was dead. He shot her right in the
temple. Right in the fucking temple—his own wife,” Jace looks up.
“He shot me in the stomach and then put the pistol in his
mouth.”

“Christ,” someone mutters.

A long silent moment passes before Jace
speaks again. “I didn’t care that she was married,” he shakes his
head. “Didn’t care that she belonged to someone else. I wanted her
so I fucked her.”

“Jace…” I start but he cuts me off.

“It didn’t matter that someone else loved
her. That she might’ve loved someone else. It was offered to me and
I took it. Because I’m greedy. Because I want what I want.”

“You shouldn’t beat—”

“Beat myself up? Of course I should. They’re
both dead and if it wasn’t for Clarence, I’d be dead too. All
because I didn’t give a fuck,” he glances around the crowded room
again, the same heavy weight building behind his eyes. “I need to
try harder. Even if Zella and I aren’t…” he rolls his head into a
shrug. “I need to make an effort.”

Silence stretches between us until Mae’s
gentle voice breaks the tension. “You can’t undo the past,” she
touches his arm, “but you can learn from it. Clarence gave you a
second chance. I think it’s great you don’t want to squander
it.”

Jace looks at her with a smile.
“Thanks.”

“Besides,” Able shrugs, “it’s not like
dating around is a bad thing. You’re just finding out what you
like.”

“I like it all. That’s the problem.”

“You know what I mean.”

The blonde Rogue nods.

“Ah, don’t worry about it, Commander,” Able
throws his arm around his neck. “You’ll figure it out. When it’s
right, you’ll know.”

“What are we talking about?” Werzo returns.
His arms are folded, a permanent scowl in place.

I glance behind him, confused. “What
happened to cruising for chicks?”

“Walker’s still cruising. Making out pretty
well, actually.” Werzo motions to Jace’s half-empty cup. “Is that
Hunnis?”