After the news Levi brought, and despite everything happening with us, the call of a new job arrived. It felt unjust. We had to take care of our ho properly, but it was also true that the Black Snow Company needed more contracts. We were getting jobs, yes, but the Waterland contracts were a different level entirely.
And sothing told , strongly, that the real reason Tristan and Levi had co was to collect .
’I have a very bad feeling about this.’
Regardless of how I felt, this was important. I told myself that over and over again, no matter how many tis that disturbing feeling clawed its way back.
’Well, Kassie is also kind of right. There’s Maggie here. I’m sure she has it handled.’
And I needed the catalyst to grow stronger. Most of my attributes sat on the edge of breaking into another level. I needed this job as much as the company did.
And maybe, Kassie and I could finally be alone again.
"Lady Kassie, I’m looking forward to going to this place with you... I look forward to learning so much from you too."
Evangeline. I didn’t even need to turn. My jaw tightened, a heat building behind my ribs that had nothing to do with reason and everything to do with the fact that she was still talking to Kassie like that. However, at the sa ti, Kassie spoke.
"No girl. This is not a place you can go. Just Cade will do, he needs this more than anyone. You stay ho and hold the fort."
Evangeline’s expression turned dour, but she buried it behind a wide grin.
"Yes, Lady Kassandra. I will protect this place as though it were mine own!"
Kassie tilted her head.
"Isn’t it?"
Evangeline responded quickly, her tongue almost tumbling over her own words.
"Yes, yes, of course. I consider this place mine!"
Kassie nodded.
"When I return, we will search for your sister."
Evangeline’s eyes brightened, and she bowed so many tis I lost count.
"Thank you! Thank you, Lady Kassandra."
As satisfied as I was with the turn of events, I was also confused.
’When was there a talk about searching for her sister?’
Kassie turned to Levi.
"Looking at the urgency and your body language, I suppose you want us to leave as soon as possible."
Levi nodded while Tristan’s gaze found , held for a mont, then slid away as he leaned off the wall.
"We ca here with Gilbert. He’s waiting for us at the outer ring, La Frontera, and we want to make sure we avoid the eyes of the Guardia Valderas. A flying ship is bound to bring the type of attention that can stall us or announce us."
Levi reinforced the point, gesturing toward Tristan with the bottle in his hand.
"That is right. And I’m sure the Blood Mage is convinced we are not in the city... we must move fast."
I stared outside. The night sky was still dark, deep into midnight.
I narrowed my eyes at the two of them.
"Was your plan to sweep in, kidnap , and leave?" My tone ca out more accusing than I intended. Or maybe exactly as much.
Levi chuckled.
"What? Kidnap you? As if that were ever possible. It was simply coincidence that we ca at this ti."
My eyes stayed narrow.
"Well, I didn’t make a deal of the fact that you ca in the middle of the night... it was just a question."
Levi laughed this ti.
"Oh! You inferred, obviously. Tsk, who wouldn’t get that the ti we chose to co was what you were trying to point out?"
I held the stare a mont longer, then let it go.
"Well, if you say so... so I suppose we’re moving now." I paused. "Wait. Gilbert? That Gilbert? Isn’t he that con man you ntioned?"
Levi nodded with a smile.
"And you want to trust our lives with him again? It was already hard enough the first ti!"
Levi’s smile turned serious.
"Cade, even con artists have values, you know. Don’t be so unfair to criminals."
My tone and expression subsided. I actually felt bad.
Only for him to laugh the next mont.
"Hahaha, I was joking! It’s a ga of chance! We leave it to circumstances! That’s how we win!!"
I stared at him, not finding a shred of what he said any bit funny. I’d been observing Levi for the past few months, and I knew that despite seeming like the most careless of us all, he was the most ticulous. The most careful.
I didn’t buy the carefree front. I was sure he had things in place.
So I just sighed and let it go.
For a fact, I knew he had it in control. He might be selfish, but he cared about the company a great deal, and about Tristan, and about .
With a few more preparations and quiet goodbyes, we slipped out of Los Arcos in secret, passing through deep forest and walking through the night, keeping clear of patrols.
Horses waited for us at the treeline. Tristan and I climbed one while Levi took the other. I withdrew Kassie to my Nave and we rode across the vast distance at speed, cutting through trees and dark forest. Even when the sun ca out, we were still surrounded by it.
It confused . When Cressida and I had travelled to El rcado, we had passed through forest, but it hadn’t lasted long. That had been less a forest and more the outer ruins of Los Arcos, fallen to the armies of trees, leaves, and vines. This was different. This went on and on.
After a while, we arrived at the Frontera, the farmland on the city’s edge. We crested a vast hill, and behind it, resting against the declining slope, sat a shape like a beached whale.
Getting closer corrected that impression. It was no whale. It was an airship. One of Gilbert’s.
Gilbert grinned the mont he saw .
"Hey Champ! Long ti! Where’s that an lady of yours?!"
He didn’t even wait for an answer. His hand landed on my shoulder like we were old friends, and he turned toward the ship with a proud sweep of his arm.
"How does she look? Nightwhisper went through a little upgrade."
I studied the airship where it rested on the ground. Nisha was already coming out of it. I smiled slightly.
"This, most certainly, Lord Gilbert, is more than a little upgrade. Nightwhisper has been reborn! Yes, a rebirth, that is what this is!"
Gilbert yanked his fist with vigor.
"Yes! I knew it! I like you. I’m saving you the best seat today." He shrugged slightly. "And I renad her... she’s called Nightsyell now."
I turned to him, disbelief flickering across my face before I reford it into a grin.
"Really?! Amazing!"
He puffed his chest out.
"I know, I know. I’m very good with nas. Sotis it amazes how I just co up with these, you know..."
He spoke, and continued to speak, and did not stop speaking as he led us all into the airship.
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