A Country Falls (Greatest Thief 3)

Bonus - The Other Associate

During Chapter Thirty-Eight

When Acen shook me awake, I almost ordered him away. Not for myself. I could get up and handle whatever needed handling. But for Finn. He was pressed so snugly against me that it almost felt like a crime to try to leave him. At least I knew he would sleep through my movement. For someone who was always on alert, he was a deep sleeper.

But I tried not to disturb him too much as I slipped my arm out from under his waist and sat up. "What?"

"Jalor's asking for you," Acen whispered. "I would tell him to wait, but it's about the man that attacked you."

"I thought he wanted to handle it on his own," I said, and I understood the desire. He wouldn't be able to lean on me once he was named Lord East Draulin.

Acen nodded. He didn't even have to say anything, the look he was giving me was more than enough. Jalor wouldn't have called for me if he really didn't have to. It would feel to him like he was giving up, even if we all told him otherwise.

"It isn't an easy job," I said, vaguely, knowing Acen would understand. "I'll be out in a moment."

He nodded again and stepped away, letting the curtain fall back into place. I ran a hand over my face, as if doing so would make me feel more awake. Then Finn shifted, and I looked down at him.

Bittersweet circumstance had given Jalor the opportunity to choose Mayah over his oath to me. And while I was happy for them both, I knew firsthand how hard it would be for Jalor to step into power by her side. There were days I still didn't feel equipped to be Lord West Draulin, and I'd at least been born in the ruling family. Jalor was a country lord and a knight. He wasn't really supposed to marry into a ruling family. It was going to be a challenge, but at least he had his noble upbringing to help him get through it.

Finn didn't have that. Which was only one of the reasons I could never ask him to step into power beside me.

Gently, I brushed his hair out of his eyes and leaned down to kiss his forehead. He tried to wiggle closer, but when he didn't find me where he expected me, he opened his eyes.

"What's happening?"

"Jalor needs to see me." I lay my hand on his chest when he tried to sit up. "No, go back to sleep. I just didn't want you to wake up alone, that's all."

He was already settling back into the blankets, but he tried to protest. "I can come."

"No." I gave him a real kiss, then pushed aside the curtain and climbed out of bed. Duty called.

We found Jalor standing outside of one of the prison cells, his right thumb hooked into his belt. His cloak was neatly in place over his left shoulder. The pose didn't look quite natural, and it was easy to imagine that he would be crossing his arms, if he could.

I was prepared for the memories that flashed through my mind. Jalor bleeding out on the ground. Hacking through what was left of his elbow. Tying Mayah's ribbon around his upper arm so tightly that it cut into my fingers as I pulled on the knot. My right hand started to tremble, but I caught it with my left and pretended to crack my knuckles to disguise the action.

I was prepared because it happened every time I saw Jalor. Just a moment of horrifying thoughts, like my mind had to make sense of his missing arm all over again. Then it passed and I could behave normally again.

Without looking at him, I knew Acen had seen my hand. I knew he would be cataloguing it away. A potential weakness. Like Ender's left side or Finn's bad wrist.

"So," I said firmly. Now that the moment had passed, we could get to business. "Have you been at this all night?"

Jalor shrugged his right shoulder, frustration clear on his face. "I did take a break. I wanted to do this myself, but... you'll understand." He unhooked his thumb and pushed through the door. Acen and I followed.