Numbers Ignite (28 page)

The audience was quiet. I could see the realization fall upon them all at once. Their gazes went from me to Mills and back again.

Mills stepped forward. His smile had slipped. “Assembly, are you ready to give a verdict?”

The silver-haired woman stood. “We are.”

The audience stilled. They hadn’t even discussed it. Edyn frowned and shot me a worried look.

“We find the defendant guilty on both counts.”

The audience exploded. Shouts and enraged screams filled the air. The crowd pushed themselves forward toward me and the assembly, and guards moved to block them, their weapons up.

“Order!” Mills called out, unable to hide a smile. “Order!”

Edyn leaned over. “I was afraid of that. This trial was just a formality. They knew all along what the verdict would be.”

I nodded. They just hadn’t expected the audience to see right through it. It was ironic. We had convinced most of the people of my innocence, but it didn’t even matter.

Most of the people.

An idea sparked in my head.

“We will now sentence the convict,” Mills shouted above the noise. “Stand down now, or you will be forcefully removed!”

“I have something to say,” I said.

My words cut through the noise somehow, and the audience backed off and began shushing each other.

“The defendant’s testimony has already been given,” the woman said.

“Let him speak!” someone shouted, and Mills’s head snapped toward the crowd. When it was quiet again, the woman opened her mouth to continue.

But I jumped in, speaking loudly so everyone could hear. “I declare a challenge to Mills for leadership.”

I knelt on the floor of my cell, forcing myself not to flinch as the surgeon picked away at my wound through the bars. The guard had allowed him in but refused to unlock my cell for the operation. He dug a little too hard, and a sharp pain stabbed through my body.

“Sorry,” he muttered.

I grunted, feeling sweat drip down the back of my neck. The guy was lucky there were bars between us.

Selia stood in the corner, arms folded. “I haven’t quite decided if challenging Mills was brilliant or very, very unwise.”

“I suppose it depends on how this plays out,” I said.

After I had declared my challenge, Rutner had stepped forward and declared his as well, glaring at me all the while. I had forced his hand before he was ready.

The crowd had lost control after that, everyone shouting at each other and throwing their support behind one person or the other. The commotion had thankfully convinced the assembly to postpone my sentencing until the election was over. Mills and Rutner had already begun making personal visits to the people. And here I sat, in jail, having my insides dug out with a knife while the surgeon searched for a bullet. The pain pill barely touched it.

Edyn spoke from the corner, where she sat cross-legged. “I’m just mad I didn’t think of it first. Even if you lose, your challenge will buy you more time.”

“Don’t pretend like you care,” I said. “You’re the only reason I’m still here.”

She glared back, leaning forward. “I’m not sorry. If you’d gotten away, Mills would have won. Everyone would know that he was right about you.”

“That’s happening anyway, thanks to you. Jumping in at the end of the trial to defend me doesn’t magically make it all better, Edyn.”

“You don’t have to understand it, Vance, but you do have to be civil.” Her mouth tugged a little, and I knew she was feeling guilty but refused to admit it. The girl was so exasperating.

“And what does your father think of all this?” I asked.

A little of the fire went out of her eyes, and she sat back again, her legs still tucked beneath her. “He’ll get over it. Meanwhile, we need to figure out how to talk the assembly into releasing you under guard for a few hours. You have some visits to make.”

“Edyn, you’re taking this way too seriously. You can’t really think they’d elect me.”

“Not the upper settlers, no. But the lower ones might. They’re mad, Vance. Even ask Selia—Mills is far too class-focused for them to ever climb out of the swamp as long as he’s in power. You’re their only chance, whether they like you or not. You have to go talk to them.”

“It’s true,” Selia said. “You’ll lose a lot of votes to Rutner, but that can’t be helped.”

I started to shake my head, then stopped when it tugged on my injury. The surgeon pulled away and sighed in exasperation. “This would be so much easier if you’d lie down and
hold still.
”

“Vance isn’t the type to lie down,” Edyn said with a slow smile.

I tried to sit still. “If Rutner and Mills are visiting people, let them. I want to have a meeting instead.”

Selia cocked her head. “You want everyone to come see you in prison? The guards won’t let them in. It was hard enough for me.”

“Then Edyn can hold the door open, and I’ll shout really loud. Whatever gets the message across.” I gave Selia an apologetic look. She was already too involved in this. “Do you mind spreading the word? We’ll meet tonight after dark.”

Selia’s head shot up in surprise, but then resolve filled her expression. “I’ll make the arrangements.”

“There,” the physician said, rocking back and wrapping his tools carefully in soft paper. “Got it. You’re lucky the bullet was intact. If it was in pieces, you’d be halfway to death by now.”

I already was. By this time tomorrow I’d either be sentenced to death or elected governor of the settlement. I’d never been one to settle for a mediocre life.

The physician fumbled through his tools. “You’ll need a few stitches to close it up, but I don’t see any sign of infection. Just be careful with that arm from now on, or you’ll tear the tissues beyond repair.”

“Thanks,” I said. I’d already gotten a lecture about fighting the moment he walked in, which was laughable at this point. Whatever happened, we were way beyond hand-to-hand combat.

One way or another, it would all end tomorrow.

That evening, Edyn came in, her face exuberant. “I got you permission to stand outside the jail for the meeting. Secured and guarded, of course, but definitely better than nothing.”

“How did you manage that?”

She shrugged, but I could hear the excitement in her voice. “A little studying. Turns out that they can’t legally keep you from speaking to anyone, or it invalidates the election results.” She cocked her head. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I just can’t believe you did it.”

She grinned. “I know. You won’t believe the crowd Selia has gathered. They’re on their way now. People from up top, the middle, and down low—everybody together, all ready to defend you. They believe you, Vance. I’m glad they finally see in you what I’ve seen all along.” She stepped forward and took my hand through the bars. “Maybe our parents knew something we didn’t. Maybe we need each other.” Her face was so close now I could feel her breath. “This could actually work. You will overthrow Mills, and I’ll be at your side. We’ll make this the most powerful settlement that ever existed, and you’ll be the one who made it that way.” She smiled. “NORA will shake when they know you rule Blackfell.”

My skin crawled. I’d never heard Edyn talk this way, but something about all this was wrong.

“This has to work,” she murmured, “because we were meant to be together.” She reached a hesitant hand up to stroke my jaw.

I pulled away, turning my back on her. “Edyn, thanks for all you’re doing, but I can’t talk about this right now.”

“We don’t have to talk.” She leaned forward and lowered her voice to a husky whisper. “You communicate very well without talking.”

I turned to look at her again, taking in her soft lips and the curls she’d obviously spent a lot of time on this morning. Her hair fell over delicate shoulders. Edyn was well built, everything a woman should be. And she looked at me as if she’d give me everything if I asked.

But as I looked at her, the usual uneasiness crept into place. “The other day was a mistake.”

Her body stiffened. “I can help you get over her, Vance. She’s not here. I am. We need each other.” She leaned forward through the bars.

I confronted the reluctance in my mind, that feeling that said I shouldn’t trust Edyn. I couldn’t trust Treena either. She’d taken what I’d given and shoved me away. Besides, Edyn was right. Treena was gone forever, and Edyn was right here in front of me. Most any guy in my position would choose this.

Her words echoed in my mind.
NORA will shake when they know you rule Blackfell.

I didn’t want to rule anyone. If Edyn didn’t understand that, she didn’t know me at all.

I shook her off and headed to my bedroll, then sat down to put on my boots. “If they’re headed this way, we’d better get moving.”

Disappointment lined her features. “Fine. I’ll get the guard to let you out.”

But before she could leave, there were pounding footsteps outside. Ju-Long slammed the door open, followed by several guards holding lanterns. Anton came in last, frowning.

“What’s going on?” Edyn asked. “We have permission from the assembly. You have no right to—”

“Rutner is dead.” Ju-Long announced.

I stared at him. Edyn gave a startled gasp and stumbled backward. “What?”

“Poisoned.”

“Dead?” Edyn said softly. “But—he can’t be.”

“I am sorry.” Ju-Long’s expression was anything but sorry. “His body was found on the floor of his home just thirty minutes ago. A physician was called, but it was too late.”

Edyn put her hand over her mouth and leaned against the wall. I had a feeling it was the only thing holding her up. It was hard to see her shatter like this.

Ju-Long’s face softened as he watched her. “His body has been taken to Mills’s suite. You may visit him there.”

She nodded, turning a sickly white, and wrapped her arms around herself. Anton opened the door for her and held it as she stepped through. Then she was gone.

Poisoned. If the fool hadn’t declared his challenge, he’d still be alive. I could only hope that Mills wouldn’t try the same tactic with me.

“Tell those idiots outside to go home,” Ju-Long said to a guard. “Hawking is restricted to the prison tonight on suspicion of murder.”

I swore. “How did I poison him from here? Do enlighten me.”

“The timing is rather convenient,” Ju-Long said. “You’ve been hosting visitors in the jail, sending runners to do your bidding all day. It’s a matter of time before we discover it was one of your followers.”

And until they planted evidence to that effect. This was the last piece in Mills’s game, his move to unite the last of the stragglers against me. My clan respected Rutner, just as I had. If they thought I was responsible for his death, they’d kill me themselves.

It was brilliant.

Anton met my gaze, then looked away. Surely he knew what was happening here. Mills was killing off our clan members now. This had gone way beyond a simple trial.

“It won’t be long now, Hawking,” Ju-Long said, and then he shoved his way past his guards, who filed out after him.

Anton gave me a long look, as if wishing he could say something. For a moment, I saw the friend I’d grown up with. Then he shook his head and followed the crowd, letting the door close softly behind him.