I wasn’t the only one surprised by Kaius’s announcement. Next to me, Nikon hissed out a breath. Though it wasn’t exactly a furious sound, it wasn’t happy either. I wouldn’t want to be in Kaius’s and Zoe’s sandals the next time they talked to Nikon.
“Now that you understand why we ask for your respect, hear us out,” Zoe said. “My brother and I have worked with the rebellion a long time, trying hard to get out of the Reding’s control. We’ve had success in Ruso. Itpy was doing well, until the warriors cracked down harder. We’ve made a difference in Kenti and Laventri. So you understand what we’re trying to take on and do for Sirya. We’re ready to change the way things are, not just a city at a time, but for all of Eppla.”
“How do we know you’re really the Jackal?” asked the first man who’d called out.
“You don’t, but I promise I am,” Kaius said.
How did I never have a faint idea that it might be him? It didn’t make sense that he and Zoe had been able to keep this from me. We lived with them and traveled with them for months. Why did this never come out?
There was so much talking to these two that Nikon and I needed to do. I was anxious for it.
“What is your plan?” a deeper voice from my right called out.
“We would like the marauders to join forces with the rebellion,” Zoe said. “It’s a big step, for both of you. The reputation that the marauders have is fierce, and the rebellion isn’t known for working with others, but we can be stronger together. We can stop the warriors from imprisoning people or killing them. We can make a difference if we work together.”
“Pretty words, but how specifically will we do that?” a sweet-sounding woman said.
A good question—one we hadn’t discussed. We wanted to take down the Reding and Vading, but doing so would be harder than saying it.
“We’re going to assassinate the Reding and Vading at their next meeting with the public.” Zoe’s firm tone scared me. I didn’t like Antonia, but she had taken care of me, been there for me through several years. She wanted to kill me, enslaved others, and who knew what else. And yet, killing her and the Reding seemed like a harsh way of doing things. Did we have to stoop to their level?
Then again, if they were left alive, the chances of them keeping the country were higher. Was this the right way to proceed? From the gasps turning to exclamations, others didn’t have that same problem.
Tewy squawked, though it was impossible to tell if he was excited or angry. Perhaps a little of both. I gave him a pat. He didn’t calm down, but it made me feel better.
Nikon put an arm around me, and I relaxed a little. Those around me settled down, but my heart was still torn apart.
Zoe said, “Thank you. We understand this is a big task. It will take all of us working together to make it happen. We’re looking for volunteers, to help against the warriors while a smaller team deals with the Reding and Vading. If you would like to help, please raise your hand.”
Silence.
Moments later, Nikon leaned over and said, “Almost everyone is raising their hands.”
“Wonderful. If you’re interested, please see the Jackal or me after we’re done speaking. We’re also looking for people to be mixed in the crowd, to assist with keeping everyone calm after we take out the Reding and Vading, and encourage the masses to return home.”
“How do you plan on getting to the Reding and Vading in the first place?” a female voice called out. “They’re at the top of their pyramid, surrounded by more warriors than we have people here.”
“That’s a good question,” Kaius said.
Zoe continued, “We plan on sneaking in, dressed as warriors ourselves.”
Sounded risky. I hoped it worked.
They continued to answer questions as they were asked, but I focused on my worry about Kaius and Zoe. As much as I wanted their plan to work, could it? What was more, if it did work, would they survive the fight with the warriors?
They might think it worth the risk, but I didn’t like it. I couldn’t lose my friends when I hadn’t had them as long as I wanted. I’d already lost so much.
Zoe and Kaius gathered people together, organizing them according to what they wanted to do to help. Where did I fit into it all? In the crowd, helping give my calm voice, I supposed. Nikon would be better off with Kaius and Zoe, but he’d want to stay with me. Tewy, on the other hand, shouldn’t go anywhere near Antonia while we were trying to pass under her nose. We couldn’t very well leave him behind on his own, though.
“What are you thinking?” I whispered to Nikon.
“If you must hear it, we’re in deeper than I meant for us to go.”
“But it’s good, right? We wanted to help the people. If Kaius is the Jackal, there’s no better person to be with.”
“Kaius isn’t what I expected in the Jackal.”
“Nor I.” He was far too quiet and reserved to be so.
“The question is,” Nikon said hesitantly, “do you want to go along with their plan?”
My voice grew smaller. “I’m not sure.”
There was so much to think about. Consequences of our choices. Plus, there was the Vading to consider. “Antonia isn’t who I thought she was. She’s done far too much damage to people and needs to be taken out of ruling power, but I still don’t wish her this fate.”
“What fate would you give her?”
I tried to think of an answer, but nothing came to me. “What fate would you have befall the Reding?” I asked.
He went quiet. The chatter of those in the group ebbed and flowed, but still Nikon said nothing. Because he knew the Reding, Nikon had to feel something for the man, whether that was hate or loyalty. I doubted it was the latter, but the longer he took to speak, the more I wondered.
“I don’t want him to die.” The words sounded pained, as if they tore him apart to say.
“I understand.”
“You don’t—not really—but that’s my own fault.”
I sensed a tension I doubted he’d speak of. “What do we do, then?” I asked.
“Maybe bring Tewy with us,” he joked.
The monkey gave a happy squeak. Apparently he liked that idea more than staying behind. I didn’t like being left behind either, which happened all too frequently in a place where I could be enslaved. “He’d like that,” I said.
“It does sound that way,” Nikon said. “I have wondered…”
When he didn’t continue, I asked, “What?”
“It’s probably nothing, but I thought perhaps Tewy has been affected by magic. He seems more intelligent and resourceful than a regular monkey.”
The thought had crossed my mind. “Maybe. The other monkeys by my old house never acted like him. I’m uncertain what Antonia did to train him, but it’s possible.”
Tewy hooted in what sounded like agreement.
“You’re a good monkey.” I petted him, the thought still on my mind. But I had to think on what we needed to do about this situation with the rebellion and the Reding and Vading. I lowered my voice again. “Maybe we should go with them, instead of hiding in the crowd.”
“No.” Nikon’s word was firm.
“I don’t like it either. Too many things could go wrong. But we have to consider it.”
“We’ll ask them to turn it into a kidnapping, instead of a murder.” He sounded certain the others would go along, but I wasn’t.
“And if they don’t agree? What then? They won’t want us to come, suspecting we’ll cause trouble.”
“It’s a dangerous plan. Sands, it’s not even much of a plan.”
He had a point there. “We’ll talk to Zoe and Kaius, and come up with one.”
“And if you’re right? If they don’t like the plan and we can’t convince them to go along with it?”
I let my shoulders slump. “I wish I knew.”
Nikon’s warm, familiar hand gripped my shoulder. “We’ll figure something out, but talking to them first is a good step. If we have to change things after that, fine. But the Reding and Vading aren’t worth much, especially not risking our friendships over.” Despite his words, there had been a tightness to his voice when he said Reding.
“Do you really believe the Reding and Vading aren’t worth anything?” I asked.
“I have to.”
“Why?”
His grip left my shoulder, a breeze picking up to swirl around me. I’d rather have him connecting with me than the wind. Nikon’s sigh could barely be heard over the rustle of people who still weren’t close to us, by the sound of things. Still, how wise were we to discuss this here, despite the hushed tones?
“It doesn’t matter,” Nikon said.
I didn’t believe that for a moment, but if he wanted to pretend, then so be it. “We’ll speak with them. And if it doesn’t go well, what do we do?” We wouldn’t have a chance to discuss it later.
“We do our best to stop the worst from happening.”
It was a goal we shared, but it still left me feeling guilty over the possible repercussions for both our friends and our country. If we kept our leaders alive but imprisoned, there had to be a way to improve life for everyone, but what if there were consequences I couldn’t foresee?
“Careful,” Nikon whispered, “Zoe and Kaius are coming this way.”
I was glad for the warning.
Tewy jumped from my lap, the sound of sand shifting following what I believed was his path to our friends.
“What did you both think?” Zoe asked as she sat next to me.
“About Kaius being the Jackal?” I replied. “I’m stunned.”
“Sorry about that. I hate keeping secrets, but sometimes the fewer people who know something, the better.”
That was the truth. “I’ll get over my surprise. I more wished to talk to you about your plan to kill the Reding and Vading.”
“It’s risky,” she said before I could add anything, “but they’re tyrants. They’re keeping so many people back. If we take them out, the problem will be easier to solve. We just have to make it happen, because no one else will.”
I was beginning to think she was the brains behind the Jackal. “What if you didn’t kill them? What if you kidnapped them instead?”
“No.” Kaius’s one-word response was uncharacteristically passionate.
“He’s right,” Zoe said. “As long as they’re alive, it could lead to trouble. We can’t let anyone stop us from meeting our goal. Sorry, Cassandra.”
“But what about the two of you? Do you want blood on your hands?” I didn’t want that for them any more than I wanted it for Antonia and her husband.
“If that’s what it takes,” Kaius replied without hesitation.
There was no chance of changing their minds. They were set on killing the Reding and Vading. Antonia, my caretaker, would be doomed to her fate. She deserved punishment, but death? I had to do something about it.