Dmitri had intended to stay until Abel settled in Setia. That was the plan. No detours, no ulterior motives. Ciella was already upset with him for being so involved in the boy’s life that he could not help but keep his word.

  So when it became apparent that Abel’s school assignment was accepted by everyone except him, Ciella forced him out of the inn.

  “You have to respect his wishes, even if you believe he’s making a bad decision. He already knows why it’s bad.” Ciella murmured sympathetically to him as she loaded their luggage onto the carriage.

  “Just pack slower, okay?” Dmitri pleaded, which was met with a reluctant scrunched nose.

  Ciella clocked Abel emerging from the inn onto the driveway and huffed. “Fine, you big sap.”

  With that, she disappeared behind the carriage as Dmitri waved Abel over.

  “Did you change your mind?” Dmitri gave Abel a wry, sad smile.

  “No— I mean— Maybe.” Abel sighed. ”I feel like I should join you.” His folded arms trembled, betraying the emotion he strained to keep off his face. Beneath the fear of falling under the Kingdom’s thrall once more settled a very real grief in his stomach.“I still have family out there.”

  Dmitri’s grip slackened on the ties on the carriage.

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  “You’re willing to share more about yourself.” Dmitri stated as invitation, gentle. “Are they blood or bond?”

  “Gross. Marriage is for old people. ” Abel grimaced. Dmitri couldn’t help but laugh.

  “I see. Not so much wives, husbands, and partners as parents, siblings, and kin.”

  Abel made a croaked noise of affirmation. A silence fell between them soon after as Dmitri resumed work. Abel shuffled his feet, struggling to get the next words out.

  “They’re stationed in Geshila, my family. It’s a town just south of the Citadel.” Abel cleared his throat.

  “Find them within the next three months, and I’ll show you how to enter the Citadel. Those are my terms.”

  Dmitri observed Abel with a bit of surprise. For all that he knew the boy endured in the interrogation upon arriving at the capital, it was impressive he still had something to bargain with— that he was still even willing to bargain.

  His interrogation officers may have been right to be wary of him.

  “I can only promise I will try my absolute best.” Dmitri nodded, accepting the mission without hesitation. He had a sense he knew why Abel was approaching him now. As the one man who had a chance of saving the ones he loved, Dmitri was the only one worth trusting. And he was right.

  “I’ll follow the rules in the meantime.” Abel promised in return. “I’ll wait for your call, in these three months. When time is up…”A sense of discomfort and guilt that washed over Abel for resorting to such measures. While knowing Dmitri’s personal life gave Abel the upper hand in blackmail (not that he anticipated bringing harm to Madam Fenharrow would be anywhere near to being easy), trying to instill fear in Dmitri felt like kicking a puppy.

  “I’ll send word by then.” Dmitri merely smiled, hopped aboard the carriage, allowing a silent Ciella to join him as they rode away. They left sullen Abel to keep vigil over them until they turned the corner.

  In the carriage, Ciella let out an audible breath, gentle, as if to remind Dmitri himself to exhale.

  “Geshila, huh? Planning an assault on a small tradepost town is hardly going to seem like enough of a strategic advantage on the surface. The Empire’s war council will ask questions.” Ciella mused. Dmitri pursed his lips in displeasure.

  “Then we tell the Empire council we’re somewhere else and sneak in quietly?” He tilted his head towards her, a lilt to his gaze that broke Ciella’s focus.

  “And do you enjoy running into danger with no possibility of rescue or exit?” Ciella murmured, mimicking his mannerisms, her shoulder pressed against his.

  “We now know my capacity. I don’t need to start a fight to free them.” Dmitri’s gaze was too earnest. “Give me a stealth mission.”

  “…Fine.” Ciella’s breath ghosted over his lips, the sharp look on her eyes full of concern. “We’ll make it work.”