Page 93 of Swords of Soul and Shadow (Gate Chronicles #3)

“Pilot Kase Shackley is the only reason you lot aren’t dead right now.” Sergeant pointed his sword at one of the loudest offenders. “Don’t give the Cerls the satisfaction of dividing us.”

Kase swallowed. He hadn’t expected such a defense from the man forced to guard him. Maybe he shouldn’t be so hard on him.

Though a few onlookers looked like they had more to say, they clearly didn’t like their odds. They might have had the numbers, but they were untrained and unwilling to test the Stradat Lord Kapitan’s wrath, even if they didn’t respect him as they once did.

“Thanks,” Kase muttered as Sergeant returned to his side, sheathing his sword.

The guard only grunted. Back to holding a grudge about his assignment, then.

Kase dusted his shirt off. Better he just go back to his tent—obviously Eravin had run off somewhere, and he was risking too much trying to find him.

He’d lost all his courage in the years since their split.

The thought hurt Kase a little. He hadn’t realized just how much he’d missed his friend until he’d blackmailed Kase. Ironic.

What was it about the people Kase befriended? Eravin had joined up with One World. Ben was working with the Cerls. Both had betrayed their people and everything they’d stood for. Was it Kase? Was he the problem? He was the common denominator.

Kase ran his tongue along his teeth as he strode down the corridor, ignoring the stares of those still dispersing. Hopefully his bad luck was up, and the same thing wouldn’t happen to Hallie.

If he hurried, he could go fetch some rations and take them to Saldr’s tent.

She should be there training still. Maybe they could find a little privacy and continue what they’d started the previous night.

Wouldn’t leave them long if he had to be at the Stradat Lord Kapitan’s tent at noon, but it was better than nothing.

“Heard you been asking ‘round about me, Shackley.”

Kase paused, and Sergeant’s hand went back to his sword.

The tunnel he’d just entered was rather sparsely populated, a shortcut back to his tent.

The only gas lantern hung at the end of it and offered shadows for those wishing to remain unidentified.

Kase glanced at where the voice had come from.

A man with a fisherman’s cap tucked down over his forehead leaned against the wall.

The man had a cigarette hanging from his lips, the smoldering tip casting a faint glow on the man’s familiar features.

His bottom lip sported a scab, as if it had been recently busted.

“Eravin.”

Eravin took a puff and blew out, the smoke lazily snaking toward the ceiling. He pushed off the wall and nodded to a few women passing by the other way.

“So,” he said casually, “have they decided if you’re a traitor or not?”

Kase couldn’t help the frustrated groan that escaped his lips. “Says the man who sold out his country to One World!”

Eravin gave a soft chuckle. “Really, that’s the best you have?” He threw the cigarette down and ground it under the toe of his worn boot. “The High Council was corrupt, something I’m sure you’d agree with.”

“Heddie Koppen isn’t corrupt.”

“Wasn’t.” Eravin stepped closer. “Heard she didn’t make it out of the Jayde Center in time.”

He’d already known, but the words were still like a punch in the gut. He’d liked the High Guardswoman, even if he hadn’t spent too much time with her. Kase narrowed his eyes. “Your doing.”

Eravin raised a brow. “Maybe, but like I said when we struck that truce, it wasn’t part of my plan.”

“Right.” Kase rolled his eyes. “As if blackmailing people for state secrets wouldn’t cause the government to collapse.”

“Welcome to reality, Shackley.” Eravin laughed mirthlessly. He glanced to the side where a pair of off-duty soldiers passed by. Sergeant nodded to them. “I’m doing my best to save our country. You have the audacity to fly a Cerl machine and call me the traitor?”

“If you would’ve let me explain, you would know I stole it and figured out how to use it against them.”

“You’ve always been a good liar.”

Kase balled his right hand into a fist. Despite the delivery, he tried to take that as a sort of twisted compliment. “That’s not what I came to discuss.”

Eravin stepped back and spread his arms to the dark tunnel. “And pray, what did you come to discuss? Come to thank me?”

“Stay away from Hallie.”

Eravin’s sardonic smile faltered. Lowering his arms, he furrowed his brow. “Hallie?”

“Don’t play stupid.”

“Well, seeing as I’m not…” He put his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “I’m just not sure why I would need to stay away from her, considering I haven’t done anything to warrant such a directive.”

“You’re being a stars-blasted dulkop. Waylan and Neville, too.”

“You never change.”

Kase ignored the jab, though he eyed Sergeant standing a few feet away, his face half in shadow. Would he intervene if Kase decked Eravin? “Telling her about the card game was low. Even for you.”

“How do you know it was me?”

Kase rolled his eyes. “I know your style.”

“Telling the truth? You caught me.”

“It was my story to tell, not yours.”

Eravin ran a hand down his day-old stubble, rubbing his chin and going quiet when a group of women and a few children passed, their chatter echoing off the tunnel walls. “Why do you care so much? It’s still difficult for me to believe you’d care so much about a girl so far below your station.”

“Shut up.”

“Surely, your father wouldn’t approve. She’s not much better than gutter scum.

No money. No connections. Though I have to agree with Waylan…

she is rather pretty.” The corner of Eravin’s mouth quirked up.

His eyes caught on Kase’s cheek. “Is that why you’re sporting that new scar?

Your father found out about your latest rebellion? Looks like Harlan’s gotten sloppy.”

For the third time in a week, Kase’s rage boiled over, but instead of using his fists, he grabbed the front of Eravin’s shirt and shoved him against the wall, his face so close, their noses nearly met. He wasn’t certain Hallie would approve, but he would not back down. He would fight for her.

Sergeant moved closer as Kase shook his old friend. “Leave her out of this. That’s all I came to say.”

“Is that really all, or is there something else about her you aren’t saying?”

Kase shoved him away. “Touch her, and you will regret it.”

Eravin straightened his clothes and dusted off his shoulders. “Regret it? You must know that whenever I deal out, I’m never caught.”

“I know you better than you know yourself. I’ll catch you.”

The other man chuckled darkly. “Doubt that.”

And then he vanished as quickly as he had appeared.

His head spun, trying to unravel Eravin’s shrewd smirk and double-meanings.

Did Eravin know about Hallie being the Essence?

Was that what he’d meant? Kase had been forced to tell the Stradat Lord Kapitan, but he refused to betray her trust like that again.

It was only in the name of saving the country that he’d done it the first time. Still made him feel terrible.

He rubbed a hand down his face. Before he could come back to his senses enough to head for the more populated corridor, a voice echoed behind him: “Hey, Kase!”

Freezing, he looked to Sergeant, who wasn’t reaching for his weapons. Friendly then. Besides, Eravin wouldn’t call him by his given name.

The voice was one he recognized but had been avoiding for obvious reasons. He wasn’t sure his anger from the encounter with Eravin had burned off, and he did not want to have it out with Niels there in the corridor.

He acted as if he hadn’t heard his name and moved down the hallway instead, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him. Kase shrugged it off but turned. “May I help you, Mr. Metzinger?”

He’d accepted Hallie’s explanation and had truly understood her need for closure, but that didn’t mean Kase had to be friends with the guy. Niels stopped short. “Can we talk?”

Eyes narrowed, Kase shoved his hands into his pockets. It would keep him from lashing out, he hoped. Niels nodded toward one of the nearby cavern rooms. “In there?”

Kase shook his head. “No, I’d rather not.”

A group of refugees shuffled by, giving them strange looks. Kase ignored them.

Once they’d passed, Niels said, “Listen, I just came to say—”

“That you’ll stop messing with her head? I know about the kiss, and I should clock you for it.” Kase clenched his teeth, nostrils flaring. “But I promised her I wouldn’t, so you should be thanking her on bended knee you aren’t back in that ward.”

Niels threw up his hands. “Look, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have done it. I was just acting on instinct, and I misread everything, I’ll admit it. But that’s not what I wanted to talk to you about.”

Kase opened and closed his mouth, the wind dying in his sails. “Oh.”

The other man held out his right wrist and plucked at a braided cord there. “I just wanted to thank you for the blanket. One of the nurses, Petra, helped me braid it into this cord so it’d be easier to lug around.”

The bracelet sparkled softly in the dim cavern lighting. The tell-tale blue was only just discernible. Kase had to admit it was a good idea—one he wished he’d thought of earlier.

Niels continued, “So thank you for your help…I didn’t expect any from you, especially with…well, me and Hal.” He played with the braided cord. “And I heard…well, I overheard your conversation with that skeleton-looking fella. You did the right thing.”

The use of his nickname for her grated on Kase’s nerves, but he took a few deep breaths before remembering Stowe’s words. “Thought you believed I was arrogant.”

Niels’ neck turned pink, and he rubbed it again. “That was before I knew what you’d done for her.” He blew out a breath. “Just…thank you. I wouldn’t be here without you…and…” Hesitantly, he stuck out his hand. “I’m grateful Hal’s in good hands.”

Kase chewed on the inside of his cheek. If anything, Kase was in good hands with Hallie, but he accepted the handshake anyway. “Thanks.”

And with a nod, Niels was off back down the tunnel, and Kase was left again with only his thoughts and Sergeant’s watchful gaze.