Truth
Flickering torches lit the way down the lime-crusted steps as Star descended to question the prisoner. The dungeons of Evenspark had the same damp dreariness and insidious shadows as those in Ravencliff. Although she’d never been to Evenspark’s dungeons, Star felt a wave of reminiscence and thought back to when she’d asked Leer to accompany her on her mission.
Mixed feelings of remorse, sympathy, and an unexplainable burgeoning affection blurred together. If she hadn’t asked him, then he wouldn’t be dead. Yet she would have never succeeded in her quest without him and they would have never had that time together. She would have never felt his lips on her own as his passion for her spilled out in the last moments of his burdened life.
Star sighed. She was so heartsick she was in no mood to question anyone, let alone her superior, yet Zetta waited for her in a cell in the deepest bowels of the dungeons. She had to carry on with her mission, whether she wanted to or not. Besides, it just might give her a reprieve from the immense feelings blossoming then withering in her heart.
The guard nodded when she approached and opened the heavy wooden door with a heave. “She’s all yours. Won’t talk to anyone, so good luck.”
Star stepped into the cell and saw Zetta sitting in the corner on a pile of old hay. She had her legs folded up against her chest and her arms wrapped around them, as if she could hide from the world. Star felt a pang of pity, for Zetta was there because of her. She’d turned her in red-handed.
Zetta looked up at her with wary eyes. Her gaze turned to recognition and loathing. “Star! Are you behind all of this? Did you report my private letter?”
“I am and I did.”
“But why? Why get involved? Why not do as you’re told and let life go on as normal?”
Anger flared in Star’s chest. “Because those letters carried the downfall of both kingdoms.”
“That’s impossible. They were going to the outskirts. No one there has power or authority over anyone.”
Star realized Zetta had no idea who she enabled. She’d thought it was a favor for a nobleman, an inconsequential private task. Star had to remind herself Zetta still cheated the system.
“Zetta, listen to me, this is very important. Who asked you to deliver those letters?”
Her superior shrugged. “I didn’t catch a name.”
This would be harder than she thought. Star sat across from Zetta. She was already so journey-worn and dirty the dungeon floor couldn’t possibly make her appearance any worse. “Zetta, the people behind the letters are conspirators against both Evenspark and Ravencliff.”
“Nonsense. The letters were addressed to Fallon Leer. I’ve met the man myself. He was one of our best riders, before you came along, and has a heart kinder than any man I’ve ever known. He’d never do anything against his kingdom.”
With the mention of Leer’s name, Star reeled. Tears stung her eyes and she blinked them back. Now was not the time to show vulnerability. “Zetta, Fallon is dead. He died helping me fight the Elyndra. He intercepted these letters in an attempt to find the people involved.”
Zetta’s voice caught. “Leer is dead?”
Star couldn’t talk about Leer, not now. She had avoided uttering his name for fear the dam holding back her emotions would burst, but Zetta forced her to come to terms with her imminent feelings and his martyred death. “Yes, and if you don’t tell me who’s behind the letters, then he died fighting a lost cause. His mission will never be complete.”
Zetta stared her down, penetrating her eyes, searching for deception. She muttered, “My God, you loved him.”
Star wiped back her tears, ignoring Zetta’s claim. “Please, Zetta, tell me who sent those letters.”
Zetta sat back, releasing her legs. She waited a moment before taking a deep breath, as if she launched herself into a journey of her own. “The first time I saw the brown-robed man, he lurked in the shadows of the night. He scared me. I thought he was a robber, but instead of holding out a knife, he held a bag of gold. He said it was imperative his letters were sent privately, that they not be processed by the system. He had no identification tags, and so would not be allowed to send them.”
Zetta rubbed her face, accidentally smudging dirt on her forehead. Star could tell she’d struggled with the decision to accept his bargain.
“Did you ask why he had no tags?”
“No.” Zetta sighed. “With that much gold, you don’t ask questions. My family has scraped the bottom of our savings for years ever since a rich uncle diverted our inheritance to hoard it for himself. I needed the money.”
“Did you get any notion of where he was from? Where he was staying? Anything?”
“All I know is he smelled strange, like potions and chemicals. He had a snobbish quality to his speech and persona, like he thought himself far superior than us lowly Interkingdom Carriers. But I accepted his money nonetheless.”
Star chewed on her lower lip. He sounded much like the man she met in the machine before the orb absorbed his body. Everything in Zetta’s story checked out. Star would write a report for the queen dismissing Zetta’s involvement as minimal and naming the perpetrators as the robed people from the north. “Zetta, this is especially important. When did you see him last?”
Zetta blew out air from her mouth. “Weeks ago. Right before I sent you out with that letter addressed to Leer.”
Star pursed her lips. That meant the spy could be anywhere by now. In fact, he could have perished with all the rest of them back at the machine. Now all they could do was pick up the pieces and be alert in case any of them still lived and tried something in the future.
She gave Zetta a sad smile. “I will do my best to annul your crimes. I can’t guarantee you will be set free, but I will speak on your behalf.”
Zetta came forward, taking Star’s hand in both of hers. “I thank you so very much. All I’ve caused you is pain. We both knew that Tia Rood was unfit to be a messenger. I chose her because she didn’t question my orders. I replaced you, yet you still fight for my rights?”
Star felt her heart warm. She’d forgiven the spry old woman. “We must unite against these conspirators. You are not the enemy. Besides, I don’t think they’ll be back anytime soon.” She rose up from the hay, dusting off her messenger’s cloak and knocked on the door of the cell to be let out.
“The robed people, what did they want?”
Star turned back to face her, her face drawn and her eyes heavy. “They wanted most of us dead.”
Zetta furrowed her eyebrows. “That just doesn’t make sense at all.”
“Wait until you hear the rest of it.”
The guard opened the cell door, and nothing more could be said. With a swift nod, Star walked away, leaving Zetta to do what she did best—worry and brood.
She filed the report that evening, requesting Zetta be released under oath to abide by the rules of the Interkingdom Carriers. She’d be watched from afar to see if the brown-robed man returned, but Star knew he was long gone by now. She also suspected Zetta would be wary to accept any other offers.
Star could hardly believe she’d reached the end of her arduous journey. She had nowhere left to go but home. Walking Windracer behind her, Star followed the all-too-familiar streets to her family’s home in the outskirts. As she passed by the metal structure of the grid, she could see through the weave work to the land beyond.
Although the Forgotten One’s story was ridiculous, Star felt there must be some kernel of truth. Why else would he stand by his convictions, right up until his imminent death? She didn’t like to think about it because there was only one choice she could have made. Perhaps she had doomed them all to extinction in thousands of years, but at least now she knew her parents and the people of Ravencliff and Evenspark were safe.