TWENTY-ONE

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“NO! RYON!” 

I continued screaming Ryon’s name as Marietta dragged me back into the building. She forced me down onto the steps, ordering me to breathe, inhaling on one and exhaling on two. My head spun, and my heart raced. All I thought about was Ryon. Blood dripped from his face, his hair damp with sweat, and his body was limp with defeat. His eyes hung with emptiness, lacking their excitement and luster. I had to get to him.

He was only guilty of inviting people to our tavern. Nothing more.

And I repeated that sentiment repeatedly to Marietta.

He did nothing wrong.

“Nanette. Nanette. Calm down. Hysterics will do you no good.” Marietta gripped my shoulders.

I fell into her embrace, sobbing. I needed the hug more than I cared to admit. Part of me wished Elodie would appear in the stairwell and comfort me as well, just like she did when Mama died. But it was just Marietta and me, alone, as the commotion dwindled to a half-sung tune. My heart thudded and raced.

This was all a mistake.

Maybe Elodie was right.

Ryon and I should have behaved ourselves.

But the guard would still arrest storytellers, even if we kept our heads bowed.

The cycle would continue. 

“I need to find him—they’re taking him to the Pit! I have to get there and break him out or something!” A wheeze escaped my lips. “I need to see him.”

“Nanette, breathe. Do not be rash.” Marietta said. “You have connections. Could your friend in the Capitol help?”

“Jaida…” I mumbled. “Yes, you’re right. I should…I should go talk with her right now!” I leapt to my feet.

“Nanette! Sit! You need a chance to calm down!”

“I can’t wait. The longer I wait...please, Marietta, I need to go see Jaida.”

Marietta sighed. “Are you sure you’re okay to go?” 

Tears continued to sting the corners of my eyes, but I nodded, gulping down another tenuous sob. The sooner I acted, the sooner Ryon would be home.

Or so I hoped.

With another embrace, I said goodbye to Marietta and walked back into the plaza. The commotion ceased as fast as it began. A few vendors and patrons in the streets reemerged from behind benches and from the shop doors while the few remaining guards resumed their positions against the walls. It was as if a raid had never happened. The only sign of struggle came from the smoke lacing through the air like spiderwebs and the distant rumble of horses and buggies rushing away from the city.

I eyed a couple of the guards as I walked towards the Capitol Building. They all looked the same, with their slicked-back hair and stone-cold eyes. Who took Ryon? Did they take him to the Pit? Or worse? Had they already beaten the truth out of him? Was it okay for me to go home? Or would guards be waiting for me there?

No. Ryon was stronger than that. He wouldn’t falter.

But what about the other storytellers?

No. I had to believe in them. All of them. Humans exist to tell stories. Take that away, and we’re only the demons the Order claims exist. 

By the time I reached the Capitol Building, I had reconnected with my confidence, casting aside the last bout of tears and carrying my head high. It was a weird feeling, entering those double doors again. They were heavier than I remembered, and as I strode in, I swore all eyes focused on me. 

I rewrote history.

I wrote the truth.

But they didn’t know that. To them, I was the one who caused Captain Oberland to lose his job. The long-respected captain had fallen because of me.

But did that matter if he caused others harm? Did his friendly façade mean anything if others cried because of his deeds?

 

I didn’t speak to anyone as I marched through the halls, up to the second floor where Jaida’s office waited. The door hung ajar.

“Jaida?” I nudged the door open. “Hello? Jaida?”

Her office sat empty. Completely empty. Not a trinket in sight.

“Oh no… not you too…”

I collapsed on the floor, burying my face in my hands. No.

I lost my sister, my fiancé, and now my friend. Hadn’t we planned a quiet trip into the city? We expected terror in other waves, down in the tavern or in aisles of storytellers.

Not today.

I lost track of long I sat on the floor crying. In repetitive circles, I kept telling myself to stand up already; this wouldn’t help! Misery was unbecoming of me. But the stress and fear overwhelmed me. I might never have moved… if a kind voice didn’t pull me from my despair. “Miss Ivans?”

I turned. Senator Heartz stood in the doorway, exhaustion prickling the corners of his face.

I wiped the snot from my nose. “Sorry, Senator. I did not mean to intrude.”

“It is a’ight, Miss Ivans. What are you doing here?”

“Oh...I was coming to see Jaida…”

“Jaida didn’t have time to tell you?”

I shook my head.

“She left yesterday to head back to Newbird’s Arm for the time being. She’s trying to stop the construction of the Pit.” Senator Heartz’s face fell. “Did she tell you that the notion passed? Pits are to be established across the country. I tried my best to stop it, but…it wasn’t enough. There are too many adversaries in the Senate.”

“Yes, we saw in the paper. But we didn’t have a chance to speak with her.”

“It happened quickly if I say so myself. But her leaving is a necessity. I don’t have the time to spare. But she plans to come back once we have a senatorial recess. She only emptied her office for safety, not fear. Guards are always snooping around, after all.” Senator Heartz placed a strong hand on my shoulder. “But I fear your mood is not just for my sister, is that correct?”

“That’s correct,” I whispered. “They…the Guard…they arrested Ryon. I…I need to see him. Can you help?”

“I would love to help, Miss Ivans. But I believe you already know where they are taking Ryon.”

I stared at the senator, then towards the windows. Yes, of course, I knew.

It didn’t mean I wouldn’t try to stop it.  

 

Without questioning the circumstances of Ryon’s arrest, Senator Heartz hailed a cabby to take us to the Pit on the outside of town. He heard the general idea of what happened in the square, and as we rode to find Ryon, he caught me up on the details.  

“Cordova got whiff of a new network of storytellers,” Senator Heartz whispered to me. “Jaida and I thought it was your tavern and planned to warn you, but he acted faster. Rounded up the storytellers he could find in the alleys. Recognized most of them, I guess. Figured that would stop it.”

“And Ryon got caught up in the mess...” I replied.

“As it seems.”

I hung my head, not willing to speak as the cabby bumped along the road. Did it always take this long to get to the village on the outskirts of the Capitol? With Ryon, it never felt like any time at all! But every passing second meant the longer it would take for Ryon to be free. 

I didn’t dare lift my head as we passed by his parents’ farm. For years, he’d grown up with the Pit glowering at him. Now he was its prisoner. Ryon always understood the risks of his rebellion, but part of me felt like this was my fault! Why did we have to go visit Elodie and Marietta today? Why couldn’t we go tomorrow? Or next week? 

Or never? 

We arrived in the heart of the village, a short walk away from the Pit. Before Senator Heartz could stop me, I raced to the fence, my heart pounding, dirt kicking up over my shoes. I peered through a hole in the fence at the sight. Ever since Ryon first showed me the Pit, I hadn’t dared to take another look. It was just as terrifying as I remembered: children laying in squalor, adults charred and worn, and the elderly withering away half dead. My heart ached. I couldn’t imagine Ryon, my bright and talkative Ryon, becoming so worn. 

“Miss Ivans,” Senator Heartz joined my side, “Come with me.” 

I glanced through the fence one last time, then followed the senator. We strode in silence for a few minutes until rounding the corner where the Guards stood positioned on the road leading into the Pit.

A large metal gate stood between two watchtowers, while Guards with their usual glares waited undeterred. 

“Stay close to me,” Senator Heartz whispered.

I stood by his side as we approached. A guard repositioned his pistol.

“Who goes there?” The Guard barked.

“Good afternoon, Lieutenant. I’m Senator Heartz from the Newbird Region.” The senator removed a badge from his coat. “I’m here on official senate duties. They would like me to take stock of those you arrested from the raids today.”

“No one informed me of this.” The guard replied.

“Does the Senate have to give notice to every lieutenant in the Capitol?”

The Guard squirmed in frustration. “We have a procedure, sir.”

“Yes, and this raid today avoided half of them.” 

I admired the senator’s guile. His courage to stand before the Guard with a firm heart placed a new sapling of determination in my soul.

I will find Ryon.

The Guard looked the senator up and down, then glanced at me. “And who is this?” 

“This is my scribe. She will be taking notes for me,” The senator said.

“She doesn’t look like a scribe. Those are commoner clothes.” 

“I had off today.” I formulated my lie in haste. “I was stopping by the Capitol to retrieve something from my desk when Senator Heartz asked I join him.”

“Hmph.” I couldn’t tell if the Guard believed us or not, but he didn’t really have much of a choice. He grunted to himself, then unlocked the gate a smidge so we could enter. 

The gates screeched, sending the hairs on my neck standing on edge.

The entrance of the Pit reminded me of stories about war. Wagons and tents lay positioned at the front, with Guards gathered in groups. They acted human there: huddled together in conversation, smoking, and playing card games. Just beyond where they ate and drank, vagrants sat in squalor.

I scanned the campsite in horror, trying to find Ryon among it all. A few trucks sat parked against the far corner of the site, with rows of individuals chained to the wall. My heart leapt as I saw a dollop of flaming red hair sitting with them.

Senator Heartz motioned me along with him. “Follow my lead, a’ight? I’ll distract the Guard, so you may speak with him.” 

We strode over with purpose, but my stomach remained in knots. Was this my future? The Pit wreaked of garbage and feces, death loitering on the arms of smoke in the air. 

A captain marched before the prisoners, a club in hand. He hit a few over the head as they squirmed and protested.

Even Ryon.

“Excuse me? Captain?” Senator Heartz strode over to the captain. He gave me a quick nod, and as the guard turned his back on the prisoners, I raced over to Ryon.

He raised his head as I approached. Blood dripped from a cut on his forehead. His voice scratched the air. “Nan?” 

“Ryon!” I restrained the urge to hug him, to touch him, to kiss him, instead keeping myself a couple of steps back. 

“What’re you doing here? You’ll get caught—”

“Senator Heartz.” I moved my head towards the senator.

“Still...you...Nan...I...” For once, Ryon was at a loss for words. He lowered his head, staring at his bruised hands. “I was talking too much. I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.” I choked on my tears. 

“No, I...when I was giving out flyers, these kids, they asked if I knew any stories. So, I started telling a pretty pitiful one, and other storytellers joined in to save me from humiliation. A guard caught notice, and I...I should have seen him. He was right there!” 

“No, Ryon, no,” I said. “Senator Heartz says Captain Cordova planned this raid. It wasn’t because of you.”

“They overheard—”

“The raid was happening no matter what. Please, don’t blame yourself. We’ll...I’ll get you out of here. Whatever the bail is, whatever I need to do...I’ll buy your freedom!”

“Nanette...”

“I can sell the tavern or…or get another job! I will not let you stay here!”

“Nan—”

“I’m sure the tavern could fetch a pretty penny—”

“Nanette!” He stopped me. “Don’t sell the tavern!”

“But…nothing good comes of it,” I choked. “I can’t run it alone.”

“Yes, but it’s your baby. You have put so much work into it.” Ryon flinched. Blood started pooling from his wound again. “Think on it. Promise me you won’t sell. Just keep working, saving, and…and hopefully, I can get out of here. Then we can figure it out from there.”

“But what if they want to take you away? Or if you get sick? I can’t let you end up like the others here.”

“Then we’ll regroup. But keep fighting, Nanette. That’s who you are. You’re a fighter. It’s why I love you.”

The floodgates threatened to reopen, but I held back my tears again. “I won’t rest until I get you out.”

“I don’t doubt you.” 

I gazed at him a few moments longer, yearning to touch his face and wipe the blood from his cheeks.

My heart sank deeper in my stomach as I watched him fidget. The realization came as a question. “What about your medication? The sugar medication?”

“I’m sure I’ll be okay,” Ryon whispered.

“You need it, though.”

“Ahem, Miss Ivans?” Senator Heartz called. “Do you have the count complete? We don’t want to overstay our welcome here. The Guard is quite busy.”

“Oh, uh, yes, sir!” I called back, keeping a certain essence of poise. “Coming!” 

I glanced back at Ryon one last time and murmured, “Take care of yourself the best you can. I love you.”

“Go be as stunning as a sunset, Nanette,” Ryon whispered back.

I held his gaze until he became nothing more than a faceless prisoner. Then I returned to Senator Heartz’s side, trying my best not to draw attention from the Guard while my heart crumbled into a thousand pieces.