“Closure?” Dagan said with a shrug. He couldn’t know for sure, but it seemed like the sort of thing. If they just left in the night, didn’t even get to see the mangled charred corpse of the evil they’d defeated, didn’t let Hen’s adoring public even say thank you, would it ever feel real? Finished?
Hen seemed to consider.
“So, you’re really leaving?” Jak asked quietly.
“Oh, yeah, as soon as the healers say I can travel without ruining their good work. I mean, the room is great and all, Jak, thanks a ton. But…” Hen pushed himself up on both hands again. “The City in general…I’m done.”
Slowly, Jak nodded. If he was disappointed, it didn’t show; he just looked thoughtful.
Piret said, “Told you.
Jak rolled his one good eye, which somehow seemed even more emphatic than both would’ve.
“Visit us,” Dagan suggested. “A little holiday in the ‘dark forest’ will do you good, Jak.”
“Actually, it will,” Piret said seriously. “Place is amazing. That said…you’re sure there’s nothing we can do to convince you to stay and help, Hen?”
Hen shook his head. “Not a single thing.”
“Because we really need someone to take control of the Guardhall, now it’s cleaned out. Brecca’s still in the cells with the other loyalists,” Piret said. “And Kajja’s trying to get Maya to take over, but she doesn’t want anything to do with it; she’s just working with the miners. We’ve created a whole new division for her.”
“That’s great, honestly,” Hen said. “And I wish everyone all the luck in the world. But no. I want…” He glanced at Dagan and smiled. “I just want to go home.”
Dagan nodded and tried to look like he wasn’t about to burst into tears. He got up to busy himself with tea, since that seemed like an excellent distraction.
“What about you, Jak?” Hen asked. “Piret’s running the whole show with Eva, what’s your division?”
“My division is the division no one knows the name for,” Jak replied with a chuckle.
“Oh, so like the assassins but capable?” Hen snorted.
“Something like that. More information than murder, though. Eyes and ears are kind of my thing.”
“I knew you’d climb the ladder of power fast,” Hen said.
“Me too,” Jak admitted. “Thought it would involve a lot more nudity than it has, frankly, but I’m trying not to be disappointed.”
Piret cleared her throat, and when Dagan glanced up from his tea, he saw her fully and entirely flushing.
Adorable.
“Thanks for the claws, speaking of. He loves them,” Hen said.
Dagan winked at Jak over his shoulder; Jak laughed out loud and shared another knowing look with him.
“I can’t with you three, especially not before breakfast.” Piret stood, clearing her throat again, and made for the door. “We’ll send someone to gather you up tomorrow. Both of you, please.”
“Yes sir, great and mighty high leader Piret, sir,” Hen said.
“Shut up. Glad to see you up and about. But shut up.”
Chapter 7: High City Square, Stone City, Harvest Moon Waning
The soaring towers of the Great See hadn’t collapsed entirely yet, but Innan insisted it would just be a matter of time. No one was allowed inside it, and now that they’d gotten the corpses of fallen comrades and evil gods out of the tunnels, those were closed off too. Instead, the people of the Stone City gathered in the streets, starting at square where the resistance had set up their provisional government within view of the See: the great symbol of darkness just waiting to crumble into its own depths.
The “parade” was a ridiculous thing, of course. Gareth had long since gone back to the Heart Wood, to return Bartolo’s body to his partner so it could be given to the forest in a timely fashion. Though the Council was sending more people to help with rebuilding, Thad of the Black Walnut Grove, with all the enthusiasm of youth and curiosity, had already arrived. Otherwise, Dagan and the healers were the main representatives of the Wood, along with Alonza, First Apprentice to the Head Verder of the Heart Wood (of course, he couldn’t miss an opportunity to grandstand). Demetrius rode with him astride a large mare from the Heart Wood, far bigger than any beast from the Ag District.
Piret and Sister Eva had formed up beside them, Piret on foot, Eva on a donkey. Jak was notably absent, lucky fellow, having argued it was better that most people didn’t know his face, if he was to be effective at information gathering. Piret had argued that half the blooded men in the City already did, and he was known by reputation to far more citizens. Jak had demurred nevertheless, insisting a low profile would be key from now on. He’d be back in the ranks on foot, somewhere, blending in with his comrades-in-arms. Kajja and Innan each rode on a donkey, side-by-side, pretending not to look at one another with doe-eyes every chance they got.
Behind them, Dagan sat forward on his own mare—well, not his, but sent for his use. He’d convinced Hendrik to ride with him instead of trying to balance on a donkey of his own. He’d argued at first. Then Kajja had threatened to put him in a wagon. He’d changed his tune immediately.
“Why is it so big?” Hen looked the beast in the eye, which required him to look slightly downward. It looked back, blinking placidly.
“You’ve never seen a pony?” But even as Dagan asked, he realized he’d never seen one in the City, either. Just donkeys pulling their loads here and there.
Hendrik made a long-suffering face. “I’ve heard of them. But no, I haven’t seen them.”
“Come on.” Dagan held out a hand and, with the help of Thad and a portable mounting block, they got Hendrik up behind him.
At first he was stiff, his hand clutching at Dagan’s belt, his thighs pressing against Dagan’s tight. As the column of celebrants fell in behind them, though, he began to relax. He slipped an arm around Dagan’s middle and kissed the back of his head. “This isn’t so bad.”
“She’ll get us back to the Heart Wood much faster, too. Kind of them to send her to us.”
“Where do they live?”
“Grassland Conservancy. It’s on the eastern edge of the wood; I’ll show you. There’s a whole herd that roams free. The Verder there is an expert trainer; I’ve heard it’s incredible to see them work.”
Hen leaned his cheek against Dagan’s hair and sighed, relaxing into him. “I can’t wait to see it. All of it.”
