It’s not like they can banish me again.
“If you claim we don’t know enough about Ever to answer and make an informed decision, then I’ll go to someone who does—who might have answers.”
“Who?” Crimson asks.
“Lyle. She’s the family we know Ever has. And she’s banished as well. So, you don’t need to worry about hiding me.” I nod to Cetus. He’s already risked enough, even if he’s not convinced of Ever’s innocence.
“I’m coming with you.” Kyra steps forward, pulling at the strap to her pack. Seems she came knowing the plan before I did.
“So am I.” Calix shuffles forward, too.
“Absolutely not. You can barely walk,” Crimson scolds her brother, but he just looks to me and attempts to grin.
“You can’t stop me. And I’ll be recovered just fine in a day or so. Crim?”
“No. I’m not losing both of you to this insanity. You have no idea of the consequences. The Court won’t sanction this. I forbid it.” Cetus’s voice is cold and direct, and it reminds me of when he’d tell us all off for being out past nightfall. But we aren’t children anymore, and none of us serves under his command. Not officially.
“Don’t you want to get your revenge on this mother fucker?” Calix asks his sister.
“Stars, yes, but…”
“Then it’s settled.” Calix tries to right himself.
“Calix. Crimson. Please. Don’t do this. I can’t protect you outside of Kirrasia.” It’s the first time I’ve heard concern seep into General Aster’s voice.
“Will you or the rest of the Orders be doing anything to find Ever or to bring her back?” I ask the General, deflecting.
Cetus bristles at my question.
“What about finding the murderer of one of our trainees?” Kyra adds. “It should be the top priority within The Court. Or at least it would be if it were a Chamber member dead on the ground.”
The ripple of unease is clear as Cetus rights himself against the accusation. “There will be an investigation, of course,” he placates her, but not very well, and she knows it.
“That’s not enough. And you know it. You know something is wrong, or you wouldn’t be here. The more we find out, the worse it looks. I appreciate the help, but?—”
“Can you help, Dad? Get Ciro to send scouts or interrogate the guards—something. If not because of Ever, then because of Micah,” Crimson weighs in, and her support seems to melt something in Kyra, for her body starts to visibly shake.
“I’ll make sure the investigation is proper and push for more. You have my word.”
“We’ll go back for supplies. Make sure Calix sees Perrin again to get fully healed, and then we can meet Ten at the edge of the Variscite forest, on the cliffs past the training rings. It will take you at least a day to get there.”
“And a night in the forest? You remember the Jarkoreth that Ever killed?” Calix mumbles to Crimson.
“Ten will be fine. He can skirt the forest at night. And Dad will ensure there aren’t any scouts or officers in that area. Right?” Crimson shoves her hands on her hips and turns to her father, expectancy reeking from her.
“I can do that, yes.” Defeat must be something alien to Cetus, but in the face of his daughter, he doesn’t have much of a choice.
“Do you even know where Lyle will be?” Kyra asks.
“Not exactly. Did Nettle come back?”
“Who’s Nettle?” Cetus scowls at me.
“Ever’s horse. She arrived in Kirrasia on him. Lyle had one too.”
“Your plan is to take horses?”
“It’s the only lead I have to Lyle. If the horses are back in the stable, we can take those. It wouldn’t hurt us to be mounted for the journey, anyway. The Jade isn’t an easy trek.”
