Chapter 21 - Weak Link


Ailbert's home was much more modern than I expected it to be. Surrounded by corn fields, was a beautiful white farmhouse. Black windows across the front added contrast to the white siding. Wooden beams created a rustic look that matched the beams from the red barn that stood out back.

      I was most surprised by the number of little kids running around the lot. Nathaniel had to slow down as we pulled into the long driveway, two young boys crossing the driveway as they chased each other with water guns. I smiled. With the unruly red hair, they reminded me of my brothers.

       "Big family," I remarked, still sitting in the truck.

      Nathaniel nodded. "The Gladstone's have the biggest clan in the Legion. They obviously don't all live here, but Ailbert has a lot of kids and grandkids running around."

      "Are they trying to grow their numbers because they're two seats away from the dead clans?" I asked. "Ubel's changing his game plan by going after the Burkhards."

      I expected to be chided as usual when I voiced my suspicions, but Nathaniel smirked.

      "They led people to believe that the order of elimination was the force of Zid's doing; punishment for the war. Fear truly can be blinding...I think he's losing patience now and going for what he perceives as weaker links. The Elie clan members have been extra careful – they are more easily manipulated. It would be a mistake for him to attack his current greatest allies."

      While he was careful not to speak his name, I was shocked that he was admitting so much with Ubel standing in view.

      If Ubel truly perceived the Burkhard clan to be the weakest link, he was sourly wrong.

      "I think he knows you and Aadya are far from the weakest links. He's going after who he's most afraid of."

      There was fiery revenge burning through aunt and nephew, and with that kind of passion, even dozens of Gladstone's wouldn't compare to the damage Nathaniel and Aadya would do to Ubel's reputation. They were taking their time. Unlike him, they were being patient, and they would strike at the right moment.

      "Indeed, he is." Nathaniel nodded. "And he's made it abundantly clear that he fears you the most right now."

      "Me?" I snorted. "You've seen me try to fight, I'm harmless. It's not fear, it's hatred."

      "Fighting isn't just physical," he said. "You're not as harmless as you believe, and that hatred makes him rash. Use it against him."

      "Who are you?" I asked and frowned at the blond beside me. Where was all the caution he usually preached?

      "Something's coming," he said, reaching for the door handle. "We won't be able to play it safe much longer."

      With that said he exited the car, preventing the voicing of the many questions I had. He couldn't just say something like that and abruptly mark the conversation a close. I followed him towards the house, grumbling under my breath.

      Ailbert greeted us at the door and showed us to Savannah's room. I made myself busy, looking around the room as if I knew what we were looking for.

      "She didn't give any indication of wanting to rebel?" Nathaniel asked Ailbert.

      "She had been acting strange for a few days," Ailbert admitted. "She spent most of last week in her room. She was quiet at the dinner table; not like her usual animated self... We thought it was just the recent breakup with her boyfriend."

       Ubel didn't add to the conversation, lurking in the hallway like a watchdog. This would have been a good time for someone to accidentally bump into him and push him down the stairs. I was half tempted to do it myself.

      "Was she hanging around anyone new?" Nathaniel asked.

       "Not that we know of. It's hard to keep track with so many kids," he sighed. "But she took the Dodge caravan instead of one of the cars."

      Great. So, that meant she probably had helpers.

      "I don't think there's much that will help us in here," Nathaniel admitted after writing down the plate number of the grey caravan. "Do you have the busola?"

       The what?

      Ailbert nodded and pulled a small knife out of his coat pocket. Nathaniel grabbed the ancient, rusting blade, by its wooden handle.

       "I keep it on me at all times," Ailbert said. "In case something was to happen to the stone."

      Nathaniel walked across the room with the blade, holding it out in front of him. After a few steps, the tip of the blade grew orange, like it had been placed over a flame.

      "The busola is like a compass we use to track the stones," Nathaniel told me, becoming an expert at answering my silent questions. "Every stone has its own... She must have headed south."

       "We have old family cabins a few miles south from Wypark," Ailbert said. "Maybe she's heading that way."

      Why did we even bother searching the room if they had the compass? Why guess where she was going when the blade would direct us?

       Nathaniel wrote down the address to the cabins and pocketed the busola. "Thanks for your help, Ailbert." He turned towards the door and nudged his head at me. "We better get going."

       "Leaving so soon." Ubel marked his entrance. I should have pushed him when I had the chance.

       Nathaniel tensed. "You did say immediately," he retorted, tone hardening. His firm gaze urged me to follow him. I didn't question his motives, I followed Nathaniel down the stairs. "We have enough information. Thanks for seeing us off."

       He was trying to play it cool, but Nathaniel was pressed to leave.

      "She cannot be expected to complete a task like this without completing the ritual," Ubel called after us. "How would she fight properly?"

       I almost ran into Nathaniel as he froze a few steps away from the front door. He turned around furiously, grey eyes narrowing at the man standing atop the staircase. "You cannot be serious."

      "It is customary...Plus, I'm ensuring that she gets the best chance possible."

      Nathaniel was deadly quiet, racing thoughts likely trying to plan a way out.

      "We can do it right here, since you're pressed to leave," Ubel taunted. He walked past us and held the door open. "The barn will have to do."

       He was smug because he knew we had no way out of this. Nathaniel had voiced his fear that this would happen, but I let myself have hope that I'd something get out of doing it. It was time for my near-death experience to go on mission that would very likely kill me... This just kept getting better.

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