55. Keelan

Chapter 55

Keelan

I rode Dittler slowly into the heart of Saltstone.

The stallion, normally strong-willed and quick to snap, trotted deliberately. For the first time since I’d met the beast, his head hung low.

Once-stately shops that crowded the western side of the Merchants’ Guild Hall were burned-out shells. The whole place looked like a line of angry flame had streaked through town, leaving a trail of blackened earth and charred, gutted buildings behind.

I traced the path of the blackened line, and my eyes landed on the point before the Silver Mountains where the Mages’ tower once stood.

Then I turned my head and followed the line across the road and into one of the wealthiest residential sections in all of Melucia. It was a wasteland.

Spirits, what terrible magic could do such a thing?

The gaudy, colorful exterior of the Merchants’ Guild’s boxy building now held more char than paint. Sections of walls and the roof had collapsed. Most of the building could likely be saved, but only with great effort.

At least something would survive.

I crossed the river and reined Dittler to a halt at the fork. One path led to the Guard Compound, the other to Tiana’s infirmary. My heart pulled me toward the latter, if only for one last look.

I owe her so much more than that.

But what did I have to give? I already failed her.

The shops along the road were as decimated as those by the Merchants’ Guild, but Tiana’s medical building stood miraculously untouched. Perhaps its abandoned state saved it from the looting soldiers or wanton destruction. I would never know, but my heart smiled at the sight of the cabin standing whole amid so much loss.

Tiana would’ve loved that.

I tied Dittler to a post and pushed open the door. Nothing had changed. Nothing had been disturbed. I was stunned.

I walked aimlessly through the building, running fingers over the exam tables, trying to feel Tiana’s hand in my gentle touch.

The hard wood refused me solace.

When I reached the storage room in the back and scanned its upturned contents, something in the pungent, acidic smell of fused potions caused the Healer’s smiling face to appear in my mind.

She reached forward and cupped my cheek.

She smiled.

Then she vanished.

I reached out with my own hand, as if to stop hers from disappearing, but she was gone.

That’s when the tears came again.

I forced myself to walk back to the entrance. A gust of wind blew through the open door, causing something on the wall to rattle and flap. I glanced to my left to find the ornate tapestry Tiana’s father had left her rippling with the wind. If I left it, some looter would steal it and sell it to the highest bidder, ensuring Tiana’s father and his legacy would fade. I couldn’t let that happen, so I carefully removed the weaving, rolled it, and tied it to Dittler’s flank.

Then I closed the infirmary door one last time.

A short trot later, I dismounted and walked Dittler through the southern gate of the Guard Compound. It was marred with the same charred line in the ground I’d seen near the Merchants’ Guild. It started at the site of the Mages’ tower, ran through the center of the Guard Compound, and into the southeastern residential district. Miraculously, the destructive path traveled down the exact center of the compound, missing all the buildings. They stood exactly as I remembered them.

Guards in dusty-blue coats scurried with more purpose that I’d seen anywhere else in the city thus far. Their shoulders and eyes carried more life and strength than that of the soldiers I’d encountered.

My head snapped up when someone called excitedly from across the yard.

“KEELAN!”

Ridley Doa nearly knocked me down as he charged across the field and wrapped me in a mighty hug. Dittler brayed and nipped at Ridley. I smiled for the first time since entering the city, my heart pausing from its grief for a moment of pure joy.

“You’re alive! Spirits, we thought we’d lost you.”

“It looks like we missed the fighting,” I said, glancing around. “So many . . . how did the Guard survive? How did you?”

Ridley’s grin faded. “They went after the soldiers. Keelan, when that witch started with her fire . . . I’ve never seen anything like it. It looked like the skies had opened and were pouring molten lava everywhere. Not pouring, shooting, in wide streams. I was . . . all we could do . . .”

“Take a breath,” I said, squeezing his shoulder.

He nodded and stared at his boots a moment, then looked up through tortured eyes.

“Keelan, they were going to kill the people. I know it. The soldiers went after anyone who moved. They went after children .” His voice broke on the last word. “The Guard was supposed to fight at first. They had us running drills with the army. Something changed. I don’t know what. The Triad ordered the whole capital evacuated. That’s when our mission shifted to getting everyone out.”

“Evacuation? Did the Kingdom just let everyone go?”

Ridley shrugged. “I was in the city, rounding people up, keeping order. You’d have to ask the men at the gates.”

I nodded and stared into the distance, imagining the scene of hundreds of thousands fleeing their homes.

“It’s good to see you, Keelan,” Ridley said, his voice free of mockery or jest. “You might be my Lieutenant, but you’re all the family I’ve got . . . and that’s more than a lot of folk can say now.”

I looked down at Ridley. He’d always been far more expressive than me. Then again, most rocks were. My instincts told me to return his sincerity with the same, but the smart-ass boy who lived within wrested control. “It’s good to see you, too, even if you’ve let your uniform go to hell. What were you thinking, cadet ?”

“Guard standards have really taken a hit while you’ve been gone. Don’t get me started.” Ridley’s boyish grin returned, lighting up the courtyard. Then his eyes shot open with excitement. He grabbed my arm and turned, pulling me behind him. “Irina’s tits, I can’t believe I forgot. There’s someone here who will want to see you right away. Come on.”

I let myself be dragged toward the headquarters building, but groaned, “Do we have to see the Captain-Commander first thing?”

“You’re not even close, Great Investigator.” Ridley laughed. “You’re going to owe me forever after this.”

I tied Dittler outside the headquarters and followed Ridley inside. I was surprised to see a flurry of activity. Dozens of Guardsmen bustled toward one task or another. When the famous Lieutenant Rea appeared in the doorway, all eyes turned and work halted. There had been so little to celebrate lately, the loyal Guard family wouldn’t let one of their own return home without a fair number of backslaps and kindhearted jests.

Ridley pried me away after a few moments, still oddly anxious about whatever mischief had him worked up. He dragged me into the bowels of the building where the Captain-Commander’s office held court.

“Ugh. I thought you said we weren’t coming here,” I said.

“No, I said we weren’t coming to see the Captain-Commander. He might be in his office, but so is the person you . . . never mind . . . you just have to see.”

The way Ridley almost giggled spiked my suspicious nature. He was definitely up to something.

Albius’s ever-attendant clerk rose and tried to speak, but Ridley waved him down. He never broke stride as he reached the stately doors of the office. “Don’t even think about it.”

I raised a brow at Ridley’s new confidence—and blatant insubordination.

The ceiling-high doors of the Captain-Commander’s office squealed open to reveal Albius sitting behind his desk, glaring down at a stack of papers. When he looked up, an almost comedic mix of annoyance at being disturbed, then relief at my sudden appearance passed across his face.

“Rea, about fucking time you reported for duty. The whole damn city burned while you were off playing holiday.” The Commander rose and glared across his desk.

A heartbeat passed.

Then two.

Then ten.

Finally, the man’s granite cracked. He rounded his desk and strode toward me so fast I couldn’t hope to dodge his outstretched arms. I’d never been hugged by Albius before. It was a bit like getting whacked by a mason’s mallet and squeezed in a vice all at once.

Oddly, it was not unpleasant.

Especially when the bear of a man’s laughter vibrated my soul.

“It’s good to have you back, boy,” he muttered in my ear. As if catching himself, he jerked back. “Spirits, I’m getting fucking soft. Lieutenant, report.”

Albius leaned against his desk and looked up expectantly.

I noticed someone seated in a chair facing the desk and cocked a brow.

“Oh, right,” Albius said. “I should’ve introduced my guest first.”

Without warning, the man leaped up, rounded his chair, and slammed into me, sending us both tumbling to the floor. I threw my arms forward to push my assailant back. Unruly blond hair flew in all directions.

I gripped the man by both shoulders and pulled him close, losing any semblance of composure. Declan laughed freely as he buried his head in my shoulder, while I, ever stoic, wept loudly and gripped my brother tighter than I ever had as a child.

“Oh, Spirits, little brother . . . You’re safe. You’re really safe,” I whispered over and over. “Dec—”

“I’m here, Kee. We’re all right.”

The strength in Declan’s voice startled me more than his appearance. My hands still gripping his shoulders, I pulled back and looked into his eyes.

“Dec, who . . . what’s happened to you?”

Commander Albius went to stand beside Ridley. The rugged man who carried the weight of the world—and never smiled—was grinning as broadly as Ridley.

“When you two finish making out, let me know. I’d like Lieutenant Rea’s report,” Albius said with a chuckle in his voice.

Declan and I untangled ourselves and bumbled our way to our feet. Both of us wiped fresh tears from our faces.

“What is that ?” I finally noticed Declan’s tunic and whistled. “Your taste in clothes certainly changed while I was gone.”

Childish mischief sparked in Declan’s eyes right before the tunic flared a brilliant gold and the Phoenix practically flew off his chest. I stumbled back a few steps, my eyes wide and mouth agape. The tunic dimmed, then returned to Ranger green.

Declan laughed. “Just a souvenir from my trip. You always tell me to bring something back when I go away.”

My eyes bugged, and Declan laughed harder.

“I’ll tell you all about it later. There’s a lot . . . to catch up on.”

Well, that was a mysterious tease .

The Captain-Commander cleared his throat, and all eyes turned.

“Gentlemen, please sit. I really do need to hear Keelan’s report. The people will start returning in the morning, and we have little time to enjoy reunions.” Albius sat at his conference table and motioned for us to do the same. When Ridley turned to leave, Albius gripped his arm.

“You should stay, Sergeant Doa.”

Ridley’s jaw dropped. “Sergeant? Sir?”

“Don’t question your superiors, Sergeant . Sit.” Albius gave him a tight grin as I patted his shoulder in congratulations. “Now, Keelan, why don’t you bring us up to speed on your investigation and what you found across the border. We can brief you on our situation here and the preparations underway for the people’s return.”