Page 87 (2/2)

Instead, Cal pilots a o jet, built to carry heavy transports or o bay holds over three hundred escaped prisoners, many injured, all shell-shocked Most are newbloods, but there are also Silvers a their tis, exhaustion, and hunger I don’t want to go down to them, so I stick to the upper level of the jet At least it’s quiet in this section, separated from the bay by a narrow stairwell, and from the cockpit by a closed door I can’t make myself move past the two bodies at my feet One lies beneath a white sheet, stained only by the blossom of red blood over his pierced heart Farley kneels over him, frozen, a hand under the sheet to clutch ers The other corpse I refuse to cover

Elara looks ugly in death Lightning twisted herher mouth into a sneer even she couldn’t muster while alive Her simple uniforone, burned away until only stringy patches reuards, were just as defor on the runway But the queen is still unmistakable Everyone will know this corpse I’ll o lie down"

The body unsettles Kilorn, thaton her bones "Let Sara check you out"

"Tell Cal to change course"

He blinks atabout? We’re going back to the Notch, back ho back to Tuck Tell him, please"

"Mare"

"Please"

He doesn’t one crazy? Do you remember what happened back there, what the Colonel will do to you if you come back?"

Crazy I wish I wish my mind would snap from the torture o mad "He can certainly try But there are toohim, I doubt he’ll refuse us this ti It’s not the corpse scaring hi to show hiain, fire course He will understand"

The jab stings Kilorn, but I don’t care He hardens, drawing back to do as I tell him The cockpit door shuts behind him, but I barely notice I’s than petty insults Who is he to question ood luck and my foolishness to protect hireat man How can he be dead? And he is not the only one No, there are certainly others left to make the prison their tomb We’ll only knoe land, and can see who else escaped on the Blackrun And ill be landing on the island co to some lonely, backwoods cave

"Did your seer tell you about this?"

The first words Farley’s spoken since we left Corros She hasn’t wept yet, but her voice sounds hoarse, as if she spent the last few days screaed with red, the irises a vivid blue

"That fool, Jon, who told us to do this?" she continues, turning to face me "Did he tell you Shade would die? Did he? I suppose that was an easy price for the lightning girl to pay, so long as it meant more newbloods for you to control More soldiers in a war you have no idea how to fight One measly brother for more followers to kiss your feet Not a bad trade, was it? Especially with the queen thrown in Who cares about a dead man no one knohen you could have her corpse?"