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“I sympathize with your predicament,” the old man whose name they’d learned was Jedar said sorrowfully, “but I cannot lend you my ship. It’s all I own in the world.” He’d removed his dusty brown hat and set it in front of him on the mess hall table where he, Onnika, Zeek, and Aidan were seated.
She had changed into a simple sweaterdress and tall black boots. She was finally warm, but Jedar’s response sent a renewed splash of ice through her system. Asher and Lear were still watching over Caryn, a good thing, because if they were here, they’d have brought a counterproductive level of aggression. Priya and Vin were out scouring the station for alternative transport in the event the old man refused them…which was proving to be the case.
“We promise to return it to you as soon as we can,” Onnika assured with a note of desperation. “You have my word.”
Jedar shook his head, “I have no doubt of your integrity, Miss Onnika, but I’m afraid I simply cannot trust your word with something so important to me. My ship is my home. And as ships are quite often destroyed in this race, you can understand why I cannot leave my home in the hands of Phase Nine racers,” he gave her a sympathetic look, “as much as I might like them.”
Unsure how to persuade him, she shot Aidan an imploring glance.
Aidan met Jedar’s gaze and stabbed his finger into the table. “I personally guarantee that any damage incurred in this last leg of the race will be repaired,” he declared. “Furthermore, we will pay you for the time we use your ship. What will it cost?”
Jedar scrubbed a hand along the scruff of his jaw, contemplating Aidan’s offer. Onnika’s heart flirted with hope.
“I would require enough credits deposited to my account today so that, if needed, I could purchase myself a new ship.”
The entire room seemed to deflate. Aidan finally broke the silence. “If we had a couple days to get the money together we could do that…but with such short notice it’s impossible.”
Jedar palmed his hat but didn’t pick it up. His eyes closed with regret, causing little wrinkles to fan out along the corners. “I’m sorry, but I have to insist on receiving payment up front. If you cannot do that, then…” He set his hat atop his head, signaling the end of negotiations.
Not above begging, Onnika made a desperate plea. “My sister will die I we don’t get her to the end of the race. Please, Jedar, please. Will you help us?”
Jedar regarded her with compassion. “The little lassie who ran The Gauntlet with you?”
Onnika nodded, feeling her bottom lip quiver.
“Surely she has recovered, as you have?”
Aidan’s warm hand covered her shoulder, his thumb rubbing the bare flesh in a comforting gesture. “She was poisoned.”
“Is there no antidote?” Jedar inquired.
“None that we are aware of. She hasn’t much time.”
“If there is no antidote, how will getting to the end of the race help?”
“We’ve been told there is a mystical healer at the end of the race. A Serakian.”
The old man’s eyes went wide. “Serakian? They’ve never shown an interest in this race. How did you come across this information?”
“The doctor who examined Caryn mentioned it.”
“And this doctor is somehow in the know when no one else is? No one is meant to have information on any phase until after the first racer has left each phase. Not even the staff. Even then, all any of us gets are simple schematics with a destination. And as no ships have left this phase yet, we cannot be sure what will be found at the finale.”
Aidan slid her an uncertain look. Jedar was right, of course. No one should know what awaited contestants at the end. Could the doctor have given them false hope? For what purpose? The odds of them getting to the end in time were nearly insurmountable. He must have known that. Had he been instructed to keep them in the race at any cost? It seemed an exceedingly cruel thing to do.
“I have to believe it’s true,” Onnika said, still gazing at Aidan.
Though she saw her own awful doubt reflected in his eyes, he returned a curt nod. “Aye, we have to keep going. If there’s even the slimmest chance, we have to take it.”
Jedar’s expression pinched in grief. “It’s an indisputable fact that this race is brutal. Y’all came into it knowing that. I wish I could help you, sweetheart. Ireallydo, but without my ship and no money to procure another, I might die on this godforsaken station, destitute and forgotten. You can promise me everything under the sun, but I’ll not leave myself so vulnerable. I can’t. I’m sorry, but I just can’t put myself in such a precarious position.” He tipped his hat and stood. “You have my deepest sympathies.”
Zeek slammed his fist on the table. It was the largest show of violence he’d ever displayed. “You heartless bastard! A girl’s life is at stake.”
“I’ve said my piece, young man.”
“You have no idea what these girls have gone through to get this far.”
Zeek didn’t know the half of it. All their trials and tribulations? Their struggles? Onnika had begun to believe it all was meant to lead them here, like some divine hand had been guiding them so they could find Aidan and this wonderful crew of misfits who would keep them safe. Protected. Who would take them home. Finally. Would a single deviation in their path still have led them here? To this moment? With Caryn dying, ripped from life by a random series of unfortunate events?
