CHAPTER FIFTY

 

 

Henry wished he could stop time and not have to live through the sad part of this day. It had all started so well! He’d gotten up early and picked up Treysh at the hospital, where she had finally received her leave from the Rebels’ Quarantine—that’s what they called it on the radio. It wasn’t the only sealed zone in Reverence, all aimed at containing the handful of outbursts of Galen’s Plague, but it was the one they’d all been housed in, and it seemed to have gained a certain level of fame.

Henry could barely contain his excitement. Since they’d thrown him out of the quarantine two weeks ago, he’d visited every day. Sometimes they allowed him to put on a biohazard suit and sit by her bed, but most of the time he had to watch and wave from afar. Everyone but her had made it out of the hospital by now—Vermen just three days ago, Andeal a week before that. The latter had his parents waiting at the exit.

Sofia had hugged him so tight Henry had almost expected to hear bones crack. “Nice radio work,” she’d said.

Andeal had laughed, but he’d seemed on the verge of crying. His father couldn’t help himself and was doing just that, two steps behind.

“Of course that’s the first thing you’d tell me,” Andeal said. “It was nothing. I just took the best of each of you.”

“Liar,” his mother answered. “I bet you still don’t cook at all.”

That was true enough, Henry knew, though he had no idea why she’d bring it up. Probably a reference to Adrian. He’d ask later. At that point he hadn’t wanted to leave Treysh’s side at all.

She’d spent several days hovering close to death, plugged into an artificial breather while they saturated her blood with drugs he couldn’t name. The doctors said her lungs were shot. She shouldn’t do anything involving smoke or dust or fumes and avoid strenuous exercises. Henry had nodded along with the recommendations. He knew she would follow none of them. She’d already muttered to him that no doctor would stop her from crafting more fireworks.

Her stay had lasted long enough that the natural roots of her hair had regrown, a deep black. Henry had hunted down green dye for her. They’d spent the day redoing her color and eating a bunch of noodles and he’d finally gathered enough courage to ask her out, at which point she’d laughed and given him far more than a peck on the cheek, and the dizzying feeling had carried him through the day. The kiss had sent his head spinning. He hadn’t believed anything could be better than flying a hot air balloon. He had been wrong.

Henry’s euphoria vanished as he stood on the side of the road, watching Andeal and Maniel load the electric truck borrowed from Kinsi. They had provisions for a long voyage to Regaria. Vermen had tried to help, only to be promptly shooed away by Andeal’s mother. Hans hadn’t protested. They all knew his prosthetic leg still hurt by the end of the day. He sat on a large rock and tried to readjust it. Lungvist, checklist in hand to make sure they didn’t forget anything, kept throwing worried glances his way. Others joined them as they completed the preparations. Joshua hobbled on his crutches under the attentive gaze of Martin, his boyfriend, while Alex chatted with Adrian. Stern carried a fair-sized box with a grim expression.

Seraphin’s ashes.

When he’d learned almost all the rebels were trapped in quarantine, Kinsi had made arrangements to cremate the Regarian’s body and kept the ashes safe. It was long past time to bury him with his ancestors. They had waited for Hans and then, learning she ought to be out soon, waited for Treysh. Both were here, now.

Which meant that soon enough, Andeal, Maniel, Alex and Vermen would be gone.

Henry didn’t want to see them leave. He knew he wouldn’t be in Reverence forever, either—he was working on permits to rebuild the Annual Mount Kairn’s Race path and would one day return to Ferrea and breathe new life into it—but he clung to the little bubble of peace they had. Like life had forgotten about them at last and everyone was allowed to take a deep breath and recover.

Their departure popped that bubble. Not unlike Seraphin’s arrival had, that very first day. Henry guessed it was proper. It didn’t make it any easier.

When they were all done and Andeal approached, Henry threw himself into his arms and hugged him, drawing a surprised exclamation from him and amused chuckles from his family.

“Promise you’ll visit,” Henry said.

Andeal smiled. Large bags decorated his eyes and he was exhausted most of the time—Maniel said he barely slept because of nightmares—but he seemed more content than ever before to Henry. He had his family now, would find a place to live, just like he wanted. Galen had left him a lot more scars than partial paralysis in his right hand, most of them invisible, but there was something peaceful about the way he teased his parents or held Maniel’s hand, like he knew he could work through it.

“Of course, Henry. When I finally get my degree, I won’t miss my chance to celebrate with Treysh and you.”

“You’d better not!” she said. “We haven’t drunk to mine yet, either.”

“Make sure you don’t kill your lungs before I’m done, then.” He gave a friendly tap on her hat as she protested, then turned to Henry. “You should come instead. Dad’s a great cook.”

“I will.”

Andeal knew he couldn’t refuse good food. Well, food of any kind, really. His friend chuckled and stepped back, glancing at Vermen. His eyes widened ever so slightly and they all followed his gaze. Hans was standing very close to his lieutenant, on the tip of his toes, whispering in his ear. Judging from the way he held David’s thigh, the light blush on the lanky man’s cheeks, and their general proximity, Henry doubted there was anything platonic about that whisper. And if he, of all people, could see it…

Treysh whistled loudly at them and burst out laughing as David pulled back, turning a deep red. He glared at her and struggled for a retort, which only amused her further.

“Don’t be ashamed,” she said. “I’m lucky my man isn’t going on a month-long trip to bury his first love.”

Audible groans welcomed her comment. Vermen shook his head, his expression stuck somewhere between anger and amazement. “Sometimes I think I should’ve left you in that cell.”

She answered with a proud, wide grin, at which point Hans chose to ignore her and direct his attention to Stern. They stared at each other for a long time, neither saying anything, then Seraphin’s old friend handed Vermen the ashes.

“Take care.”

“You know I will.”

“And tell him I’ll visit as soon as I can.”

Stern had somehow inherited the ‘official’ command of the White Renegade’s rebels—like there was really anything like that left—and spent his days answering questions and requests from government agents, lawyers, and media alike. He’d had help from Mayor Riley and, as soon as he got out of the hospital, from Joshua, but he couldn’t just leave for a whole month. Not so soon.

“Let’s go,” Vermen said.

He climbed into the back of the truck with a final wave to David. Andeal, Maniel and Alex followed, exchanging their goodbyes, and every time someone disappeared into the car Henry’s heart shriveled a little more. He grabbed Treysh’s hand and squeezed it, tightening his grip as the car drove away. She turned to him and whispered, “You know I brought a small firework in my pack, right?”

“Really?” Why did he ask? Of course she had. “Quick, before they’re out of sight!”

It was silly and illegal and he didn’t care in the least. They planted the long blue rocket in the ground with childish giggles, ignored Lungvist’s protests, and scratched the matches in one big dramatic movement. Henry’s hand stayed over Treysh’s as they brought it to the fuse.

“Remember when we hijacked the radio the first time?” Henry asked. “I thought you were wild.”

“You were right.”

“Well, don’t ever stop.”

The rocket launched before they scrambled back, singeing their eyebrows and drawing excited laughter from Treysh. It burst high into the sky, showering bright green particles all around and drawing an appreciative ‘ooh’ from Joshua. Henry remained sitting, his fingers brushing against the grass and his neck bent backward as he appreciated the explosive send-off. Stars were beginning to shine and the sky to the west was ablaze, reminding Henry of the many sunsets he’d shared, flying with Andeal.

One day, he promised himself, he would also return to the skies.