Chapter Eight Noah

Noah lingered in the canteen after he'd finished his breakfast that morning. On the opposite side of the cave, Paulo sat with Jacob and Sarah. Their heads were bent together, their discussion intense. Paulo leaned forward, gesturing with both hands while the other two looked on, their faces impassive. He wished he could hear what they were saying. He'd considered just walking over and joining in, but knew neither of the council leaders would take him seriously. He could only hope that his brother still had enough sway with Jacob to make a difference.

After his recent encounters with Ella and Charlie, Noah hadn't been able to stop thinking about them. He had sensed their loneliness; seen how much they were suffering from lack of human contact. While he understood Jacob's caution since Faith and Diane's escape, the way he was treating them was downright cruel.

He'd spoken to Flynn and his ma about it, hoping they might intervene. And while they were sympathetic, they were extremely wary of Jacob's behaviour and didn't want to go over his head unless it was absolutely necessary. They'd asked Paulo if he would talk to Jacob first, see if he still had some influence. If he could change their leader's mind without them having to get involved, they were hoping things might remain peaceful.

As Flynn had pointed out, Eremus had seven prisoners, currently housed in three different locations. It required more time and effort to look after them separately. Jacob was a practical man. They were hoping Paulo might persuade him to move all the women into a single cell to save on manpower. Appealing to the leader's common sense might be the way to go, and if he agreed to the move, it would definitely make the women feel less alone. There was safety in numbers, even in a prison cell.

No matter what the future plan was, Eremus owed its prisoners humane treatment. Any future relations with the women of Bellator would be coloured by how the people they had previously dealt with had been treated. He knew Flynn, his ma, and lately, even Paulo, agreed. Jacob was a different matter.

Eventually, Noah made his way to the front of the cave, unable to contain his curiosity. He took his time washing out his bowl, glancing sideways at the table where his brother sat. They had the same shift today, so he could easily have waited for his brother at the tunnel exit, but part of him had wanted to gauge Jacob's reaction to his brother's plea.

He was just placing his bowl back on the rack when Harden approached. Noah was pleased to see he was alone. Without an audience, he was far less likely to give Noah a hard time.

"Harden." Noah lifted his chin.

"Madden." The older boy cocked an eyebrow. "What duty you got today?"

"Fishing." Surprised at Harden's attempt to make small talk, Noah wasn't sure what else to say. "With Paulo."

"Let's hope you snag a decent catch." Harden gestured to his bowl as he plunged it into the soapy water. "I hear we need it."

"Yeah."

"Things get worse, we'll have to start rationing." The older boy grimaced. "We need another raid."

"We do." Noah agreed. "Flynn said we're waiting ‘til Ruth gets back, though… see how the land lies in the city."

Grunting agreement, Harden finished washing his dish. He pulled the towel from the rack, giving it a cursory dry before leaning past Noah to stack it away.

"She's brave."

"What?"

"Ruth." Harden turned and met Noah's eye. "Going in alone. The way things are with Danforth. I mean, if she's caught…" he winced. "You have to hand it to her."

"I guess so."

Harden shot a glance at the table where his ma sat with Jacob and Paulo. He stiffened, and Noah remembered his discomfort at the meeting the previous day. "What's that all about?"

Noah figured it was safest to play dumb. "Not sure."

Harden took a step forward, looking like he might join the group. Without thinking, Noah put a hand out to stop him.

"What the–" Harden's eyes flew to Noah's. "What do you think you're doing?"

Noah tensed, but before he could respond, there were raised voices from the table where Paulo and Jacob sat.

"Don't question me." Jacob's face had darkened.

Beside Noah, Harden stiffened.

"I'm not–" Paulo tried, but Jacob didn't let him finish.

"Look what happened the last time we permitted those girls some freedom!" The leader jumped to his feet. "We lost two of them. And now you want me to–"

"I just thought if we–" Paulo stood up, echoing Jacob's movement.

"No." Jacob flung his hands wide. "I'm past being understanding."

Paulo tried again. "But Ella's one of us. She's–"

"One of us?" Sarah exclaimed. "She gave that right up the day she helped those girls escape."

She didn't help them! Noah wanted to shake her. She doesn't deserve this.

"I won't tolerate betrayal." Jacob jabbed a finger at Paulo, cutting off his interruption before he could make it. "Ella's punishment stands."

"But–"

"I don't want to hear any more about it." With a final glare, Jacob strode from the canteen with Sarah at his heels.

For a moment, there was silence. Noah cringed, waiting for Harden to turn on him. But when he turned to face his old nemesis, his eyes were fixed on the exit.

"Noah?"

At the sound of Paulo's voice, Harden jerked to life again.

"Don't touch me." He turned to Noah. "Ever."

He headed for the exit, not giving Noah time to respond.

"Well, that was a disaster." Paulo joined Noah. "Dammit! Let's get out of here."

After the near-miss with Harden, Noah was glad to escape the caves. Fishing was a job he enjoyed, and he had been looking forward to spending the day with his brother. They collected the tackle and made their way outside.

Sucking in a deep breath as they emerged into the fresh air, Noah shot his brother a sideways glance. "I take it Jacob wasn't very keen on moving the prisoners in together."

Paulo scowled. "You heard him."

"Yeah." Noah ducked under a low-hanging branch. "Not exactly the soul of compassion, is he?"

Paulo grunted a humourless laugh.

"I was really hoping you could get him to change his mind."

"Nope." Paulo strode ahead. "And I think I've pretty much destroyed any influence I had with him now."

"I'm sorry."

Paulo fell silent, his face stormy. Noah let him be, knowing from experience he shouldn't push him. He hurried to keep up with his brother's punishing pace as they headed for Swallow Lake, remembering the last time he'd been there. He'd been with Faith. They'd been fleeing from the battle in the woods, trying to stop the Bellator guards from taking her hostage.

It had been one of the most terrifying hours of his life. And, somehow, one of the most wonderful. Just the two of them against the world. She had kissed him in the rain, offered to sacrifice her freedom to save him. They had hidden in the freezing water together whilst the guards passed within inches of them. He had known that she cared.

He closed his eyes, shutting out the memory. Now that she'd gone, it was painful.

"It's not just today." Paulo's voice cut through Noah's thoughts. "I've been finding it more and more difficult to talk to Jacob lately. He's been distant. Secretive." His pace increased. "He didn't involve me in planning the bombing, mainly because–"

"He knew you'd be against it."

"Yeah." Realising Noah had fallen behind, Paulo slowed his pace. "I suspect, after this, he won't confide in me at all." He turned and met Noah's gaze. "Since the guard attack in the tunnels, he seems really… agitated."

"Don't we all?"

"It's different with him." Paulo stared ahead again. "He seems almost… possessed. Like… he knows things could turn against him, and… it's like he's prepared to do anything to stop that from happening."

The thought was a sobering one. Noah shifted his pack into a more comfortable position, grateful when Paulo changed the subject.

"Harden still giving you trouble?"

"Not so much these days." Noah's breathing was heavy with effort. "That was the first time in a while, and I think maybe…"

"What?"

"Maybe I asked for it." Noah held a hand up at Paulo's objection. "I was trying to stop him from interrupting you. Physically." He rolled his eyes. "It wasn't the best idea I've ever had."

"No. But still…" Paulo frowned. "It looked like he was threatening you. Want me to have a word?"

"No. Like I said, I got in his way." Noah was happy to see the lake coming into view ahead. "Harden doesn't seek me out to pick on me anymore. Not the way he used to. Lately, he seems more… withdrawn. Angrier. But not with me, particularly."

"That makes sense."

"What do you mean?"

"His ma pushes him pretty hard. She's the one who got him into doing Jacob's dirty work. Like planting the explosives in the forest." Paulo winced. "All those dead guards. It has to weigh heavy on him."

"I suppose." Noah turned to his brother. "I'm not sure I have a lot of sympathy for him. I'm grateful he has bigger things to worry about these days, though. Unless I put myself in his way, he pretty much leaves me alone."

As they arrived at the lakeside, Paulo elbowed him. "I'll bet Harden wouldn't get such a positive reaction from picking on you at the moment. What with you being a hero and all."

"I'm hardly a hero." Thinking back to the incident with the guards in the tunnels, Noah blushed. "I just finished what you'd started."

"Don't put yourself down. If you hadn't had the idea of turning out that light, I wouldn't be here right now. Neither of us would."

"Maybe."

"Heroes aren't always the ones at the front, shouting and waving their weapons." Paulo laid the rods on the ground. "Sometimes they're the quiet ones, the ones we don't notice. And sometimes, their weapons aren't so obvious."

"You'd consider a flashlight a weapon?" Noah scoffed as he set his pack down beside a stout log.

"In the sense that using it protected us, yes." Paulo raised an eyebrow. "Yes, I would."

"Maybe." Noah bit his lip to stop himself from smiling. "Harden mentioned Ruth, too. Said she was really brave, going into the city like that…" Noah faltered. "I mean… by herself and all."

Paulo shot him a sideways glance. "You worried?"

"What do you think?" Unzipping his pack, Noah took out a small box and handed it to his brother. "Not much I can do at the moment though, is there?"

"She'll be okay. She has her head screwed on right." Paulo began to bait the first hook. "She's been to Bellator in disguise in the past. She knows how to blend in."

"I hope so."

"Wearing the guard's clothing was a touch of genius." He passed Noah the baited rod. "Bet people don't even notice her face. They'll see the uniform and move past her without even blinking."

Noah considered his brother's words as he cast his line out into the lake. Paulo was probably right. And Ruth wasn't one to draw unnecessary attention to herself. Hopefully, his friend would be able to move around the city safely. She would complete the mission and be home soon.

"What did you make of Charlie?" Paulo kept his head bent over the second rod as he asked the question.

Noah shrugged. "Once she got over her fear, she seemed… decent. Angry… with Danforth, though. For all the lies."

"Guess we all believe what we're told. Until we see proof of something different." Paulo's face screwed up in concentration. When his own rod was ready, he glanced out at the water. "She's not what I expected."

"You mean her age?" Charlie had to be in her early twenties, but most of the Bellator guards who patrolled outside the city were more experienced.

"No."

"She doesn't seem like the loyal soldier we've come to expect from Danforth's guard, I suppose." Noah stared at his brother. "Was that it? That she doesn't seem like the violent type?"

"Maybe. I don't know. There was just something I couldn't put my finger on." He grimaced. "Not that she spoke to me."

"You like her." Noah laughed at his brother's discomfort. "Never mind. Maybe you'll have more luck next time. Now that she's spoken to us, she might consider talking to others." He dodged a sharp elbow, struggling to keep his rod still. "Even a grumpy old man like you!"

"Whatever." Paulo scowled. "Anyway, it doesn't look like Jacob's prepared to change his mind. Seems like Charlie and Ella are stuck, unless Anna and Flynn are prepared to act against him."

"It's not fair." Noah's hands were gripping the rod too tightly. "Ella doesn't deserve–"

Paulo held up a hand. "You don't have to tell me that. I'm well aware that she had nothing to do with the girls' escape." He cursed under his breath. "Her only error was trusting those stupid girls too much. If they hadn't…"

"They're not stupid."

"Don't defend her." Stretching a muscled arm way back behind him, Paulo cast his fishing line way out into the lake.

Noah was patently aware that his brother's line had travelled much farther than his own. "Why not?"

"Because," Paulo sat down on the log, "she doesn't deserve your loyalty. Ella's where she is right now because of your little girlfriend."

Stiffening, Noah considered his response. This was the most positive conversation he'd had with his brother in a long time. He didn't want to spoil it. But, despite his own anger with Faith, he understood her motives.

"Faith's not my girlfriend." He kept his tone even as he could. "And she left because she felt she had to. When Sophia was taken, she–"

Paulo held up a hand to stop him. "You can't have it both ways. Arguing for better treatment of the prisoners is all very well… if they deserve it."

"Why wouldn't Faith deserve it? She's loyal, that's all." Noah flexed his fingers. "Can't you understand her wanting to find Sophia? Her best friend, who's been dragged back to Bellator? Anything might be happening to her."

"You're still sticking up for her." Paulo leaned closer. "Do you really believe she cares about you?"

Noah looked across the lake. That day, when they'd been running from the guards together, he'd been certain that she did. Now, he wasn't so sure.

"You're so sensitive. It makes you a soft touch. I mean, did she tell you she was leaving?" Noah knew he couldn't deny it. Paulo pushed on, shaking his head. "She saw you as someone she could manipulate. A few soft words, a kiss or two…" Noting the hurt on Noah's face, his brother's voice softened. "Sorry little brother, but the evidence speaks for itself."

Noah gave up. It was useless to argue, and he didn't want to alienate Paulo again. Not when he had been so cooperative in speaking to Jacob. Tormented, he lapsed into silence, his eyes on the water. Paulo also seemed happy to let the subject go.

But as Noah reeled in a catch, his brother's words rang in his ears. Paulo wasn't the only one to accuse him of being na?ve. Had he just been fooling himself, where Faith was concerned?

The only way to find out would be to go to Bellator and ask her. And in a city where men were not welcome, that was a death sentence.