Dreamwalker's Bride - Chapter 173

Chapter 173: A little combative
Trace tensed, wondering how the others would respond to Ash’s words.

“That’s no way to speak to the new boss,” Frank frowned at the man below.

Shifting the rope off his shoulder and tossing one end down into the pit, Trace thought he should demonstrate his good faith up front.

“New boss?” Ash grimaced. “You’re as crazy as he is. We’ll die several times over for betraying the big guy.”

“We’ll be long gone before he gets here,” Frank assured him as the two men in the pit briefly struggled over who got to be taken out first. Ash lost.

When both men were out of the sinkhole, Trace gave them water and some food, something he felt incredibly bad about not leaving them when he put them down there.

He also handed them all the money left in his pocket with a grateful smile.

“You can split this amongst yourselves as you see fit, but I recommend that you get as far away from here as possible before your former boss comes to check on things. My impression of him is that he would have similar punishment for simply failing him as he would for actively betraying him.” Trace advised.

The guards exchanged glances. Apparently there was going to be no love lost between them, because they didn’t even exchange goodbyes before splitting into pairs and going their separate ways.

Thankfully, neither pair headed in the direction Trace was going next.

He waited a time, while his father watched him curiously. When the others were out of sight, he turned with questioning eyes to his son.

“I assume there’s a reason we’re not heading straight back to the family?”

“Yes. We have three other people to collect first, and then we have to decide who’s going to stay here for the plan, and who’s going to leave.” Trace sighed.

That was going to be a difficult decision, made with limited information and a lot of unknowns. Trace had a loose plan that might work, with some tweaking and input, but he didn’t want most of the non-magical people anywhere near.

Unfortunately, some would probably try to stay and help, especially if they knew what was at stake. What was the use of going home if home might soon be ruled by an evil dictator who might kill you out of spite for escaping him?

And what, really, was a life on the run?

Trace walked forward, and his father followed, chewing on the inside of his cheek.

“So… how’s marriage going?” He asked conversationally after a moment. “All settled in? No major fights?”

“She knows everything about me, now, and hasn’t left me,” Trace replied. “That seems like a successful start to a marriage.”

His father chuckled. “I should say so. I’m glad, Son. You deserve happiness.”

“I don’t know what I deserve,” Trace shrugged, “but I know I want her to be happy, and for some reason, she seems happy with me.”

She was still the daughter of a Count. Even though she loved him, would she find life with him tedious? If he really wanted to avoid being in the capitol, would she follow him back to the farm, or miss the life she’d once had too much?

If they succeeded in rescuing the king, who knew what would happen?

“You both seem happy with each other,” Trace’s father grinned. “Need any more talks or advice?”

“No!” Trace blurted, “I mean, no, thanks, Dad, I’m fine for the time being. I will definitely let you know if I need any further information so you never need to bring it up again unless I do first.”

“Ah, well. You know where to find me… All the time, I guess, even when I’m in a cave,” Trace’s father looked down. “It hurts me, you know, failing your mother. Letting us get captured like that. It happened so suddenly, I didn’t know to expect it, to defend against it. I was out in the fields tending the animals.”

“What happened?” Trace glanced at his father. He hadn’t heard this part of the story yet.

“They got your mother, Sarah, and the kids first. Took them all in a matter of moments. Seth and I had the choice of either surrendering or watching them die. You can guess what we chose.”

“It was the right choice,” Trace assured him. “Preserving life and fighting back later is much wiser than trying to act rashly.”

“I know it was right, but it doesn’t make it hurt less,” His father admitted. “I can’t thank you enough for finding and freeing us. I never could have forgiven myself otherwise.”

Before long, they came to the camp on the surface where two very nervous adults watched their approach.

The doctor stood and moved to hide Deborah from view until it was clear that Trace was on friendly terms with the man he brought back.

“Where’s Anaisa?” The doctor’s brow was knitted with consternation. “Where have you been??”

“We found the cave and freed the prisoners. We were temporarily trapped, but it’s fine now,” Trace explained quickly. “This is my father. I wanted to come let you know that everything’s all right… and talk about whether to bring you back or send you elsewhere.”

“I’m not sure what you mean,” The doctor frowned. Trace’s father shifted his weight, clearly curious about the woman sitting and holding a small bundle.

“I mean,” Trace grimaced, “that Oakdown will be coming now that we’ve found his secret. He’ll be ready for a fight, and I’m not sure whether it’s safer to have you closer, where he won’t expect, or far away, where I can’t defend you.”

“We should all get far away,” The doctor countered, “shouldn’t we?”

“No,” Trace shook his head, “this is the only place where we know he’ll be, and he’ll be outside the social and physical protection of the city. We control the ground here, for now, and it may be the best opportunity we ever have to set up a trap. I can’t just let that pass.”