“Did something happen?”
He shook his head and pulled the covers back.
“Is Painter OK?”
“He’s fine, Mom,” Wren said, and it came out more sharply than he meant for it to. “I really want to go to sleep.” He climbed into his bed and lay on his side, facing the wall, pulled the covers up under his chin. Footsteps approached, and Wren closed his eyes so that he didn’t have to look at his mama. He knew she’d be able to read him, and he just couldn’t face the conversation. There was no telling how anyone would react if they found out what Painter had done.
He felt Mama sit down on the edge of the bed. She stroked his hair, and then rubbed his back in silence. Wren tried to even out his breathing and pretended to be asleep, hoping that would keep her from trying to talk to him anymore. He just needed some time to think through everything. Maybe it didn’t really matter what Painter had done. Maybe it mattered very much.
“We’ve been here before, baby,” Cass whispered after a few minutes. “We’ll figure this out, too.” She leaned over him and kissed the side of his head gently. Then she got up and switched off the light, and left the room. Wren was certain she thought he was asleep, and that made him wonder all the more exactly what she’d meant.
“Seems risky to me,” Finn said, as Cass rejoined the team. They were still discussing their options, and it didn’t sound like they were any closer to a decision.
“Risky’s all we’ve got, Finn,” Swoop answered.
“Yeah, but there’s no way we could roll up there heavy as we are and think they’re going to let us in without asking questions. And no way I’m going up there unless we’re rolling heavy.”
“Well, we can’t stay here,” Gamble said, “and it seems the best option of few. Question is can we make it work?”
“Why not?” asked Wick.
“Why not what?” said Swoop.
“Why can’t we stay here?”
“This place is an emergency shelter, Wick, not a long-term solution. Every day we’re here, we’re pullin’ on resources they can’t spare. I don’t care how friendly they are, that ain’t good for them or us.”
Wick shrugged. “Ninestory just seems like a stretch to me. Hard people up that way. Not likely to look too kindly on a war party coming up in their midst.”
“Then again,” Mouse said, “if there are people who won’t think twice about a bunch of roughnecks wandering around, it’s probably them.”
“I’m sorry,” Cass interrupted. “Ninestory?”
Gamble nodded. “Midsized enclave. Not the nicest place, but it’s hardened. Figure we could set up for a good couple of weeks there.”
“If we can get in the door,” Finn said.
“You’ve been before?” Cass asked.
“A few of us passed through once,” Sky said.
“Didn’t leave on great terms, though,” Swoop added. He and Sky shared a meaningful look.
“I doubt anyone would remember us.”
“Hope not.”
“I think it’s our best shot,” Gamble said. “It’s close; we have more firsthand experience with it than anywhere else. And they’re the type that might actually appreciate having a few extra steely-eyed shooters around.”
“Or, you know, they’ll open fire as soon as they see us and strip our gear,” Finn said.
“What do you think, Lady Cass?” Gamble asked.
“It’s what you would advise?”
“It is.”
Cass surveyed the others gathered there, intent on her. Hard men led by a hard woman. She had bristled at their dismissal of her before. Now it seemed foolish that she had ever doubted.
“When do we leave?” she asked.
Cass was up before the sun, checking and double-checking their gear to make sure nothing was left behind. She kept as quiet as she could to let Wren sleep as long as he was able. It felt strange preparing to leave so soon after they’d arrived, but Swoop had been right. They’d done what they could for the wounded. Any more time spent in the refuge was just a drain on people who couldn’t afford it. She’d felt it was only proper for her to be the one to break the news.
As dawn was breaking, Cass slipped out and made her way to Lil’s room. She tapped lightly on the door, uncertain if Thani was in there and not wanting to wake the child. Cass was surprised by how quickly Lil answered, fully awake and fully dressed. Lil stepped out into the hall and closed the door behind them.
Cass explained their decision, and though Lil listened patiently and seemed to understand, she nevertheless made every effort to convince them to stay.
“It wouldn’t be fair to you,” Cass said. “And as unlikely as it seems, there may be trouble following us. I couldn’t live with myself if we brought danger to your door.”
“We’re still the same people you sought before,” Lil said. “Fewer, perhaps. But the same.”
“It’s not that. Our situation’s changed. And you’ve suffered enough.”
“We’ve all suffered enough,” Lil said. “If by lingering another day or two, you, your son, or any of those with you can gain rest or restoration, I would welcome your delay. We all would.”
“I appreciate it, Lil. All of us do. But we have to move.”
Lil dipped her head. “If you must go, you must. But if you should decide to return, you’d be welcome.”
“And what about you? Where will you go?”
Lil looked off down the hall, back towards where the others from her compound were sleeping, and inhaled deeply. She shook her head. “I don’t know. It may be another week before all my people are well enough to move. And even then, some may choose a different path.”
“What about Morningside?”
Lil looked at her with mild surprise. “Is it safe?” she asked.
“I believe it would be for you.”
Lil nodded. “Perhaps. Time will tell.”
“Well, whatever the future holds, I’m glad to have met you at last. Wren has talked about you so much, I feel like I’ve known you far longer than a day.”
Lil smiled. “Wren is very special. I have to confess… my reluctance to let you go has a great deal to do with him. I’d really hoped to get to spend more time with him. If I’d known you’d be leaving so soon, I would’ve made more of an effort.”
“He’s very fond of you. It’s easy to see why,” Cass said. She paused, feeling the full weight of the debt she owed this woman. Cass shook her head. “I never really thanked you for all you did for him. I’m not sure I even know how.”
“Seeing him alive and well is enough. And knowing he is with his mother is more than I could’ve hoped.”
Cass shared her connection information and personal encryption key with Lil, and Lil shared hers, enabling the two women to pim one another. Each promised to update the other on any movement.
“I’ll see you out when you’re ready,” Lil said.
“Shouldn’t be long,” Cass said.
As Cass returned to her room, she found Gamble and her team making their final preparations. They exchanged a few words, and Cass let Gamble know that Lil would be waiting to let them out of the compound. When Cass entered her room, Wren was sitting up in bed, bleary-eyed.
“We’re leaving?” he asked.
Cass nodded. “Yeah, baby. Gamble thinks it’s best.”
He yawned. “OK.”
Cass was a little surprised. She’d been expecting Wren to put up some resistance, or at least to ask why. Instead, he slid out of his bed and started making it.
“Will we have to go far today?” Wren asked.
“A few hours.”
“That’s not so bad.”
He finished straightening the covers on his bed and got dressed. Cass was hesitant to push too much after his response the previous night, but she still wasn’t convinced that everything had gone alright with Painter.