Chapter 342: Away

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 home 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 something told me, strongly, that the real reason Tristan and Levi had come was to collect me.

’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 times 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 same time, Kassie spoke.

"No girl. This is not a place you can go. Just Cade will do, he needs this more than anyone. You stay home 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 times 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 me, held for a moment, then slid away as he leaned off the wall.

"We came 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 me, and leave?" My tone came 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 came at this time."

My eyes stayed narrow.

"Well, I didn’t make a deal of the fact that you came in the middle of the night... it was just a question."

Levi laughed this time.

"Oh! You inferred, obviously. Tsk, who wouldn’t get that the time we chose to come was what you were trying to point out?"

I held the stare a moment 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 mentioned?"

Levi nodded with a smile.

"And you want to trust our lives with him again? It was already hard enough the first time!"

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 moment.

"Hahaha, I was joking! It’s a game 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 meticulous. 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 me.

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 came out, we were still surrounded by it.

It confused me. When Cressida and I had travelled to El Mercado, 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 moment he saw me.

"Hey Champ! Long time! Where’s that mean 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 me 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 renamed her... she’s called Nightsyell now."

I turned to him, disbelief flickering across my face before I reformed it into a grin.

"Really?! Amazing!"

He puffed his chest out.

"I know, I know. I’m very good with names. Sometimes it amazes me how I just come up with these, you know..."

He spoke, and continued to speak, and did not stop speaking as he led us all into the airship.