KDBookOnline
Share Us
I shook my head. “Nothing, it was a gift,” I said.
She knelt, staring at me for a moment longer before pulling the three children up off the curb. “You are too kind. Thank you again,” she said, ushering them along. “We should be on our way. I hope you enjoy the celebration.”
I watched as the mother and children found their father. He exhaled in relief, taking his family into his arms. My heart warmed at the sight of their affection.
I made my way back over to the others. Nil and Kara were filling their faces full of candy as they laughed and splashed each other in the fountain. Lily was trying on jewelry and headpieces at one of the vendor booths as Evan leaned against a post nearby, taking her in. Jordan had disappeared altogether.
As the night finally descended, the people of our small, innocent town became our entertainment. They were drunk off ale and whiskey as they stumbled around the broken streets of the square. They laughed freely and smiled at everyone they saw. Lily and I sat at the edge of the stage as the music slowed in tempo.
“What’s it like to be drunk?” she asked me.
“I don’t know. I’ve never taken the chance in fear of what would happen to me if I lost my wits,” I said honestly.
“You deserve some fun too, you know. Why not let me watch the others and you go steal yourself a bottle of whiskey over there,” she said, then clamped her hands over her mouth in shock. “I did not just encourage you to steal. That is wrong. Please don’t tell Sister Ester.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “Don’t worry, your sinful suggestion is safe with me.”
“Momentary lapse in judgment. God, please forgive me,” she said, looking up to the heavens. “You are a bad influence on me, Gen.”
“Oh, that was my fault now, was it? Well, I can just leave if you’d like. Wouldn’t want to corrupt you any more than I have,” I said playfully.
“No, never leave. You continue to try and corrupt me, and I will continue to try and lead you to Christ.”
“Deal,” I said, wrapping my arm around her and squeezing her tight.
Evan made his way over to us, sitting on the other side of Lily. Across the crowd I saw Stefan emerge, looking as if someone had just killed his dog. I furrowed my brow, trying to figure out what was going on.
I turned to Lily and Evan. “Hey, will you two watch Nil and Kara?” I asked.
“Sure, what’s going on?” asked Evan.
“Hopefully nothing, but if it gets too late, get them back to the church, okay?” I ordered.
“Of course,” said Evan.
Lily looked at me curiously. I gave her a small reassuring smile before moving through the crowd towards Stefan. He was a wreck.
“What is it? Where is Conner?” I asked.
He exhaled deeply. “Advisor Harren caught Danielle and him together tonight during his little get-together,” Stefan said in a panic. “It wasn’t good, Gen. Harren went ballistic. He beat Conner to a pulp in front of all his guests and then had the guards haul him away to the cells until he could figure out his punishment. I tried to help him, I really did, but he wouldn’t listen to me, and then when they took him, I couldn’t get anywhere near him.”
I brought my hands to his shoulders, steadying him as he swayed from side to side barely able to keep upright. “It’s okay, Stefan. You did all that you could.” I said, calmly. Shit, shit, shit, I thought. Of all nights he had to go and get caught now when there was twice the number of people and guards in town. Stupid idiot.
“What do we do?” asked Stefan.
“We do nothing. You’ve done enough for tonight. Go and enjoy the solstice and I will figure out how to get him out.”
“Should I find Jordan, or tell the others?”
“No, let me worry about Conner. I want them to enjoy the celebration, which includes you. Don’t worry. Like I said, I will get him out.”
He nodded, walking slowly past me into the crowd of people. I thought for a moment, trying to figure out how I was going to get the stupid bastard out of jail. I frantically checked my surroundings, trying to figure out a solution, just as my eyes landed on a booth selling whiskey. I tilted my head to the side as my plan began to take form. Well, it was a celebration after all.
Chapter 3
Relax. Smile. Act casual. I had collected three things for my mission: a hallucinogen, alcohol, and a cloak. I held the bottle of whiskey in my hands, shaking the liquid ever so slowly, making sure the drugs had time to dissolve. Gods, if I got caught, they would turn me over to the Alfar courts for sure. Even the human’s respect for my mother wouldn’t be able to save me.
I made my way into the courthouse after timing the guard’s shift change. I had exactly thirty seconds until two new guards rotated to the front entrance of the jailhouse. I descended the uneven stone steps into the damp and underlit prison. The building was one of the oldest structures in our town. The stone that created the foundation was broken and loose. I pulled the hood of the cloak over my hair.