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The energy of the fight is roiling through me, setting the stage for my hot-headed reproach. In actuality, as much as I want to hate the Santanas in this moment, I understand their distress, and why they did what they did. I will do whatever it takes to retrieve Lena, no matter the cost. There’s not much difference between me and my old friends, but I don’t have the energy to tug at that thread tonight.
“You didn’t answer my question, Roan. Who’s the girl? And why did Ari mention that he knew something about Princess Adalena? What is going on?” Liam asks, arms still folded as his gaze never leaves mine.
“What happened to Lena?” Tess questions again, louder this time as she takes a step toward me.
I rub circles on my forehead with the heel of my hand. “I can’t tell you. I’m sorry.” Liam pinches the bridge of his nose, shaking his head at my answer. “I gave my word.” Liam scoffs as I finish. My glare does nothing to make him unwrinkle his frustration. I made a promise, and I won’t go back on it. And after everything that happened tonight, I don’t feel any guilt keeping Lena’s secret to myself.
Tess takes a steadying breath before she speaks. “We understand. Please let us know if we can help.” I know she wants to say more, her eyes boring straight into mine. If she’s anything like the girl I remember, she wants to back me into a corner and refuse to let me leave until I answer all her questions.
I stare back at her, unflinching under her gaze. “Listen. I know you’re angry with me,” Tess continues, “and you have every right to be. But when Liam spotted you walking through the gates— I could’ve wept with joy. With your help I knew we could make it work. We could figure out what Sir Crane and his lackeys were up to. But then you said you were just passing through and couldn’t stay.” She pauses, turning her attention to Otto, Aiden, and Ari in turn. “I’m sorry for the deceit. But I needed you. We needed you. I thought you were lying, Ari. You look the part of thief and spy, but not many actually live up to their word.”
I can't help thepfftthat escapes me and the subsequent eye-roll that accompanies her last words. But Tess doesn't stop her discourse. “I didn't actually think you'd be able to get in and out unnoticed. The house is so big, and those things could have been anywhere. I just… I couldn’t leave Fort Lowsan in the hands of Phillip Crane and his horrible family. And it was the only way I could think of that wouldn’t have you marching through those doors and out our gates.”
She turns back to face me. “In fact, I’m still surprised you didn’t. You were never one to follow orders.” A friendly grin plays at her softened face, a plead for forgiveness as she plays to our past together.
Ari has been quiet up till this moment. “What did you take from his office?” Her face is even, almost bored. I make a fist as the thought of her hand squeezing mine as we rode away resurfaces.
“I was reading through some papers from his drawer when the handle of my lantern broke and the glass shattered to the floor. Guess I should check the hardware of my reading lights before breaking and entering,” she muses to a somber room.
“And…?” Ari prods, her mouth closed into a firm line. Though I swear there's a gleam in her eye as she watches Tess squirm beneath her detached stare.
“I just grabbed whatever I could wrap my fingers around. Some receipts from the look of it. The travel summary of my father and his trip to Fort Kotar. And it looks like reports about different guards, their locations around Fort Lowsan and their salaries. I think it will be enough to show that something was going on. These aren’t exactly contracts for a fruit merchant,” says Tess, pulling the rolled up papers from a back pocket. Ari holds out a hand, and Tess passes them over to her.
Aiden chimes in. “Sir Crane is dead on his own property. How do you plan on explaining that to the Guard? You may be in charge here. But if they feel foul play was afoot, they will take it straight to the palace.”
“I will tell them I went to confront him. I had suspicions of a plot against my family that I wanted answers to. He attacked me, and I defended myself,” Liam says. Definitely not an answer that would fully exonerate the Santanas from an investigation, but also one that might prod more into Sir Crane’s business dealings and surely uncover his illicit activity.
“You should go report this immediately. His family could be there burning documents and packing up evidence against the Crane’s.”
Liam nods at my statement. “I know. I’m going to head over there now.” But he doesn’t move.
Instead, we stand in silence. Liam looks me up and down, his scowl eventually softening into a grimace. The only noise between us is the rustling of papers as Ari searches through the documents Tess grabbed.
“I’m sorry, Ari,” Tess sputters. “I know. Using you as bait was..."
“Kind of brilliant. Had it actually worked,” Ari says, not bothering to look up as she continues to scan. If anyone has a right to be upset, it's her. But she hardly even seems bothered by it. She was moments away from dying, more than once, and she's acting like nothing was amiss.
Tess blinks rapidly, her mouth slightly ajar. “W-what? I thought you'd be furious?”
“Oh, I am. You and your brother got lucky. Very, very lucky. You planned for me to get caught. An extremely poor plan, might I add. And because of your mistakes you almost killed us all. Next time, have someone who actually knows what they're doing come with you. Or better yet, stay behind.” There's an edge to her voice now, her lips twisted into a frown. Liam hisses at Ari's words, but she doesn't even glance in his direction.
“I know, I know,” Tess replies, closing her eyes as she shakes her head. “If it weren’t for you, my brother and I would most likely be dead. So, I guess I’m trying to apologize. But also, say thank you.” Tess drops her gaze to rest upon Ari. “You didn’t have to come back for us. After what we did. You had every right to walk away. But you didn’t. And, I’m… I’m very grateful. Thank you, for saving our lives.”
Tess's eyes glisten as she walks over to the thief, holding out a hand. Ari looks at her and her show of gratitude and respect after all that happened, before slowly reaching out and grasping the hand of the girl who just toyed with her life. A shaky acceptance branches between the two women.
It will take a while to forgive what happened here tonight, but my anger no longer boils on the surface. Instead, I focus on Lena. She came through Fort Lowsan, and the Crane’s helped them move through unnoticed.She was here.
“I promise I will make it up to you, in any way I can.” Tess turns to the rest of us. “I thank all of you as well. Because of your efforts, my family is safe tonight.”
“I did work really hard,” Otto mumbles, resulting in a glare from Aiden, and a huff from Ari.
“Now. How can I help you get on your way? I can gather some supplies and make sure your horses are watered and fed by daybreak.”
“Thank you,” I respond. Her kindness doesn’t make up for the last few hours, but it will give me the space to plan our way toward Thenstra. And Lena.
The room is still tense, but Tess’s attempts to appease our anger has taken the edge off. Ari hands back the clump of papers. “Nothing jumps off the page. Send word if you find anything else,” Ari tells her.
Liam turns to leave, giving the rest of us silent permission to do the same.
