The Curse of the Blessed

Chapter Eighteen

For a moment, I didn't register what Reed had said. And then it all came rushing in.

Of course. It all made sense. He'd always reminded me of someone. His looks, his mannerisms—they'd been close enough to make me recognize the similarity, yet still dissimilar enough that I couldn't guess who he looked like.

And now I knew.

"You're what?" Bran asked, giving Reed a blank stare.

Reed, who, by now, had regained his composure, met Bran's gaze evenly. "I'm not going to say it again."

"Your own father sent us out on this quest, not caring whether we lived or died while on it?"

"He gave us a chance to prove ourselves," Reed corrected.

"If you say so." Bran turned to Lark. "This is true?"

She nodded slowly.

"Okay. Because this seems like the sort of thing that might have been nice to know a while ago."

"Why?" Reed asked, his tone annoyed. "It's not like it would have changed anything. It's not like it would have mattered."

Bran shrugged. "I would have been interested."

"Not for the right reasons."

Captain Rayan hesitated. "Do you need a moment alone to talk through this together, or can I continue the discussion?"

"I think we should continue," Reed said. "There's nothing more to know. My father is the Head Man. That's that."

"I thought you weren't going to say it again," Bran muttered.

Reed shot him a glare.

"Bad timing. Got it."

"Anyway," said Captain Rayan, "it sounds like at least some of you would prefer to continue the quest. Do you all feel that way?"

Reed and Lark nodded; I looked at Bran, curious to see how he would react.

"I'm thinking about staying," he said.

Lark turned to stare at him, eyes wide and startled.

"Oh," said Reed. He didn't seem surprised. Maybe he'd been expecting it. Bran had always talked about how he didn't want to go back to his parents, how he wanted to stay with us, Blesseds, because we were alike.

"Why?" Leith asked, genuine curiosity written on his face. "You don't want to stay with your friends?"

"I don't know," Bran admitted. "I said I'm thinking about it. I'm not sure, not quite yet."

"What do you want?" Lark asked.

Bran frowned. "What do you mean?"

"What would you rather do? What's your thought process? What do you think would be best for you?"

"Well... I'd be in less danger if I stayed. And I like it here."

Captain Rayan nodded, a smile beginning to grow on her face, although her eyes were squinted slightly, searching Bran's expression for... something. "Those are all good reasons."

"Yeah." Bran looked down at the floor, then up again, turning to Lark and Reed. "So? What do you think?"

"If it's what's best for you, you should do it," Lark said immediately.

Reed was slower to respond, thinking his answer through. "If you want to go... we won't stop you. It's your choice."

"You'd rather I stayed?"