Storm of Locusts

Chapter 11

Back in the living room, Tah and the Goodacres are settled around my makeshift coffee table, steaming mugs of tea in hands. Tah is gesturing broadly with one hand, and Clive and Rissa are laughing. Laughing.

Then Rissa sees me and the lightness in the room cuts off like it never was. Clive sobers too. I realize they’re both looking at the pommel protruding over my shoulder. Oh well. It wasn’t like it was a secret.

Tah turns in his chair and sees me. He grins like he’s proud of me, and I’m stupidly grateful.

“I’m ready to go!” Ben says brightly as she rushes into the room behind me. Both the Goodacres’ eyebrows shoot up.

“This is Ben,” I say. “She’s coming with us.”

“What? Why?” Rissa protests.

Clive grins. “Since when did you get a mini-me?”

I glance at Ben. Oh God, Clive’s right. Ben’s dressed in the same leggings and T-shirt I always wear. The only difference is she’s got her big lace-up combat boots on instead of moccasins and her long hair is pulled pack in a tsiiyééł, where mine is not long enough to reach my shoulders.

“What happened to your clothes?” I ask her. “The blue fatigues?”

“Still drying,” Tah says. “They had to be washed.”

“Well, go get them. You can change when we get to the All-American.”

“I think she looks great!” Clive says, and Ben grins. “And we can always use another shooter.”

“She’s a tracker,” I explain.

“Born for Keha’atiinii,” Ben says brightly. “Foot-trails People.”

“And how exactly did she end up with you?” Rissa asks, still doubtful.

I have to tell them sooner or later. “Hastiin was her uncle.”

Clive catches the past tense, looks up. “Was?”

“Ben, go wait outside,” I tell the girl.

“I don’t need to—”

“Come on,” Tah says gently, coming forward to take her by the arm. “You can help me feed the dogs. They like you. Especially the little one, Ladygirl.”

Ben looks like she wants to stay, but after a forlorn glance over her shoulder, she lets Tah lead her out the door. Once it’s closed firmly, I tell the twins what happened at Lake Asááyi, what happened to Hastiin. And the final favor he asked me.

Rissa’s the first to speak. “And you’re going to do it?”

“I don’t see that I have a choice.”

“You have a choice,” she says. “You always have a choice.”

“What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t?”

“I wasn’t aware that the two of you were friends,” Rissa says dryly.

“She wants to come.”

“Of course she wants to come,” she says. “She thinks this is an adventure.”

“She’ll be with the three of us,” Clive says. “That’s actually pretty safe. Maybe safer than being with the Thirsty Boys, especially if they decide to go after that White Locust. Explosives, huh?”

“A lot. A whole arsenal. Enough to take out a town.”

“Wonder what he wanted them for . . .”

“Can you both focus?” Rissa says. “We’re talking about a child.”

“A child I watched attempt to stab a woman to death yesterday.”

Rissa waves my words away. “She was emotionally distraught. In the heat of the moment.”

“That was a hell of a temper tantrum.”

“Clan powers,” Clive muses thoughtfully. “She could be dangerous.” His eyes cut to me. “No offense.”

“None taken, because you’re right. She could be. Which, as you pointed out, would mean she’s in good company. So we’re bringing her along.”

Rissa frowns.

“Bring her along, then,” she says finally. “She gets killed, that’s on your head.” Rissa stands and, without another word, heads for the door, pausing long enough only to retrieve her guns. She passes Tah and Ben coming back in, not bothering to acknowledge them. Ben watches the Goodacre twin go, chewing worriedly on her lip, no doubt afraid that Rissa somehow vetoed her ride along.

“Don’t worry. You’re still in,” I reassure her.

Ben grins and rushes out the door like she’s afraid I’ll change my mind. Clive whispers a thanks to Tah for the hospitality, grips his hand briefly, and is gone.

It’s just me and Tah now. I go to shake his hand, and he gives me a hug. I’m aware of the myriad weapons strapped to my body, making me hard to get close to, but Tah hugs me anyway. His bones feel bird-thin under his shirt, and I’m reminded how fragile he is, how old.

Doubt hits me like a hammer. How did I end up here? Ben to watch over, Rissa hating me, Clive indifferent, and Kai missing. And Hastiin dead. I consider going back to my room and crawling into bed, forgetting about all these people who want something from me, expect me to be someone that I’m not.

“Don’t worry about the Goodacres,” Tah says, like he’s reading my mind. “They’ll come around. You just make sure that you take care of Ben. She’s yours now.”

“I know.”

“And bring Kai home, Maggie. He’s yours too.”