AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No. Those like Hargrove destroyed its light. It’ll never shine again. Now, it’s a prison. We’ll secure it, hold it, but there’s no center here.”
“I agree.”
“The issue will be feeding, housing, securing, treating medical needs for the prisoners. My last report numbered them at four thousand. We can’t hold that many here, not humanely.”
“I have a thought on that. I should say Duncan and I had a mutual thought.”
“I’d like to hear it. Not here.” She looked around at the remnants of torture. “I want air and movement. Let’s go out to the base. I’m more comfortable with a military base, even if it was the enemy’s.”
As they walked upstairs, through the building, she watched her people securing areas, transferring supplies, taking more up to what would serve as a temporary infirmary for those not seriously wounded.
“I’m told you’ve ordered anything of real historical value to be preserved and secured.”
“We have some with knowledge helping categorize,” she confirmed. “This house, this city, the country, the world? It won’t ever be what it was. Still, we need to value history, and art, and remember.”
“You learned well.”
“You taught well.”
She walked outside with him into the cold, breezy night. Much of the base had joined the rubble—she’d destroyed some of it herself. But it could and would be rebuilt, as needed.
“You’ll station some here.”
“Yeah. Straight shot to New York. Soon, Mallick. We have the momentum. And we’ll have more weapons, more troops. I only heard part of Arlys’s broadcast earlier, but that will bring more to us.”
“And more against you.”
“It’s time to dig them out.”
“You hope for one in particular.”
She looked out into the night. “Two. Not just Petra. Her mother along with her. In my heart, in my belly, I yearn for it.”
He let out a sigh that had his breath expelling in a cloud. “Such yearnings dim the light.”
“Do they?” Didn’t her shield hang on her back to defend, her sword wait at her side to strike? “Inside me I feel they’re the way through to the black, the very absence of light that crouches and watches. Is it because I want it to be, or because it is? I don’t know.”
“Nor do I.”
“They bring death, madness, pain, grief. While they exist, that won’t stop. Petra and Allegra won’t stop until I stop them.” She shook it off. “But it won’t be today. What we stopped today is part of them, but only part. Your idea?”
“Duncan and I discussed the problem of prisoners. The numbers—and how those numbers will increase. How much of our troops, resources are involved in keeping them.”
“We can hardly eliminate them.”
“There are places, islands. Remote, all but inaccessible to nonmagickals. Places with natural resources. Food, materials to build shelters. Land that could be farmed and grazed.”
“Island prisons.”
“Ones more easily supervised, again remotely. Provide them with basic tools, materials. Their life would be what they make of it.”
“Saving us from using troops and medicals to guard and treat, resources to feed and clothe. Do you have locations in mind?”
“I do.”
“I’d like to see them. If we do this, we should start with prisoners we feel are capable of living without locks and walls to hold them. Travis and other empaths could help select the first we placed. Some will have families, Mallick.”
“Yes.”
“Then they and their families can be given the choice.” She shoved a hand through her hair. “God, if we can relocate even a few hundred for now, it would relieve some of the strain.”
“Some will swear allegiance to you.”
“And some will mean it. Those who do increase our number. How many were forced to fight? How many didn’t know what they did in there? How many pretended not to know? And how many knew and deemed it good? We’ll find out.”
She studied him then, realized he looked tired, a little worn around the eyes. “I need to go to Arlington, see the rescues, the troops, then home. New Hope. Eighty-two I led from New Hope this morning won’t go home again. Some of them had families.”
“They’ll be mourned and honored.”
“They will. Does Duncan know the islands you have in mind?”
“I showed him.”
“All right, he can show me. You go back to the cottage.”
Surprise crossed his face, followed quickly by annoyance. “I don’t believe my usefulness ends this day.”
“No, and because it doesn’t, because I need you, go home, Mallick. One week. It’s what my father calls R and R. Take a week, tend the bees, drink wine by the fire. Then come back to me.”
“And you, girl, do you take a week for bees and wine?”
“I’m damn well going to take a day or two. A week for you, old man.” Before he could evade it, she wrapped her arms around him. “I’ll need your guidance, your strength. Please, take a week.”
He touched a hand to her hair. “Then take the two days.”
“Deal. Starting tomorrow. Now I need to find Colin, take him back to Arlington. Should I have someone bring your horse?”
“I can get my own horse. Bright blessings on you, Fallon Swift.”
“And on you, Mallick of Wales.”
He flashed away, and she went inside.
She found not only Colin but Flynn and Starr in the Residence, divvying up cups and plates. And with Flynn, standing close to his side, a wolf.
Not yet full grown, she noted, a smoky gray with gold eyes that shifted to her, watched.
“Flynn.”
He turned, teacups in his hands, bruises on his left cheek, dried blood on his right.
“He came to me only yesterday,” he told her. “He walked out of the wood, and waited for me.” Flynn set the cups down, laid a hand on the wolf’s head. “He’s from Lupa. I can feel it. One of the sons of his sons, blood of his blood.”
“Yes, and he’s yours. His name?”
“He’s Blaidd.”
“Wolf in Welsh.”
Beside Flynn, Starr, who rarely smiled at all, grinned. “Mallic
k sent him. Flynn felt it. Mallick sent him on the path to Flynn.”
“I want to tell him I’m grateful. There wasn’t time in the battle.”
“I’ve sent him to his cottage for a week. I wanted him to rest a few days.”
Satisfied, Flynn reached for more plates. “I’ll detour there on my way back to base.”
“I need you in New Hope now. Who can take your command?”
Flynn looked at Starr.
“Do you want it?” Fallon asked her, and at Starr’s nod, said, “The command’s yours. And with it I hope to send you a hundred resistance fighters.”
“Then you really are going to need all these fancy dishes,” Colin commented. “You’d better find something to use to carry them. Mick’s called for some of the cooking stuff. He wants to set up a secondary camp.”
“You’ve seen Mick?” Another breath of relief. “He’s okay?”
“Yeah, he’s good. We’re going to need some of the sheets and shit for Arlington if we’re going to handle the rescues for now.”
“Let’s get what you need and go. I want to see all the commanders in New Hope tomorrow—” She broke off, remembering she made a deal. “No, in two days. Flynn, can you pass the word? And let my parents know I’ll be home either tomorrow or the day after?”
She gathered sheets—and towels—with Colin.
“You’re okay?” she asked him.
“A to the okay. Hell of a fight, Fal. Some of them ran like rabbits at the end of it. I had a couple of DUs homing in on me. I’ve got a couple of witches to thank for that block.”
He stopped, grinned. “We took fucking D.C. Who’s president now?”
“Still not you.” And, taking his hand, took them to Arlington.
Fallon toured the houses where they relocated rescues. Volunteers and soldiers had hauled in extra beds, cots, mattresses. In kitchens, more volunteers made soups, teas while medicals treated injuries.
In one large family room, Fallon counted twenty-five beds. Some slept, some ate, others simply sat huddled under blankets.
The air—she could breathe it—tasted of their fatigue, confusion, fears, hopes. Volunteers moved through, offering tea, soup, and sometimes just a hand to hold.
She saw Travis sitting with a woman. Long gray hair, withered face. Murmuring to her as he draped a blanket over her shoulders. Nearby, Hannah tucked in two children together. They clung to each other.
