The Sun Dwellers

And then I’ll kill him.

Unfortunately, another hour of tromping, head stooped, through the sewers, takes just a bit of the fight out of me. Mostly we’ve been silent, although every once and a while Trevor will say something to try to fire us up, but even he’s been quiet for the last ten minutes.

“How big is this city?” I finally ask, in frustration.

“Big,” Tristan says. “Bigger than you can possibly imagine. Think the biggest moon dweller city and then multiple that by a hundred.”

His explanation makes it even harder for me to imagine. How can one fathom the fathomless? Anyway, we’re not trying to get all the way across it, just to the center, so it can’t be that far, right?

Wrong.

Neck aching, legs burning, mouth dry, spirit shattered, I stop an hour later when Bren pulls up in front of us.

“We’ve got to be close,” Tristan says, making my head perk up a little. He knows the size of the city better than me.

“We are,” Bren says. “And this is where we must part ways. For our path takes us below, while I suspect yours takes you straight to your father.”

“Good to luck to you, Bren,” Tristan says, clasping the servant’s hand. “We are forever in your debt.”

“Succeed in whatever your mission is, and all debts shall be forgiven,” Bren returns. Then, turning to Roc, he says, “Brother, forgive me for not trusting in the purity of your heart sooner. I very much would have liked to stand beside you in this fight.”

“And you, my friend,” Roc says, once more embracing him. “Linus, Sinew—listen to your brother. He has good instincts.”

The silent siblings nod solemnly, before the threesome head in the other direction, begi

“A hundred yards more and you’ll reach a ladder. That’ll get you close,” Bren shouts, his echoes fading into the distance along with him.

“When we get to the ladder we can rest and make plans,” Tristan says. No one can argue with that idea.

I’m still feeling the effects of our bent-over jaunt through the sewers, but somehow it doesn’t hurt so much now that I know the end is near. Evidently my companions feel the same way, as our pace is redoubled and we reach a dead end only a minute later.

“I’m ready for a nap,” Trevor says, sprawling out along the curving edge of the tube.

“You do that…while we kill the president,” Roc says.

It’s strange hearing Roc say something like that, especially when he now knows the President is his father.

“Ooh, I don’t want to miss that,” Trevor says. “I guess I can sleep later, maybe when I’m dead.”

“You’re not going to die,” I say, sitting down. “None of us are.” It’s the biggest lie I’ve told in my entire life, and, selfishly, I think I told it to comfort my own fears rather than anyone else’s.

“So what’s the plan?” Tawni asks, hugging her knees next to me.

“Bust in, kill anything that moves, shoot Tristan and Roc’s dad in the head,” Trevor says bluntly.

“Our father,” Tristan corrects.

“Yeah, him, too,” Trevor says.

“I think we might want to try a slightly stealthier approach,” I say. “That is, if we do want to live through this. And I do—I’ve got a sister to look after.” I glance at Tristan, who gives me a slight nod, which I return in thanks for the not-so-subtle reminder he gave me earlier. No matter how bad things get, there’s always someone who needs me as much as I need them.

“She’s right,” he says. “We need to split up.”

“No!” I say right away. “We said we would stick together. Apart we’ll be hanging bats. Dead meat.”

“Hear me out,” Tristan says. “Roc and I know the palace better than anyone, my father included. When we were kids we explored every nook and cra

“If one group is captured, the other might still make it,” Roc adds. Evidently they’ve already discussed this without us, although I have no idea when. “If we’re caught together, it’s all over.”

I shut my eyes. Argh! I’m mad, but not because of their plan, or that they came up with it without us, but because they’re right. It’s the best, and most logical, way to improve our chances for success.

“Who goes with who?” I say, giving up the argument without a fight.

“We wanted to leave that up to the group,” Tristan says.

“At least you left something up to the group,” I grumble under my breath.

“I want Tawni with me,” Roc says right away.

“Bad idea,” Trevor says. “We can’t let personal feelings get in the way of the mission as a whole.”

“I agree,” I say. “Tristan and I will split up, and so should Tawni and Roc.”

“Wait a minute. I’m not sure that makes the most sense,” Tristan says, frowning. “Strategically it might make the most sense to have you and me together.”

“It doesn’t,” I say, wanting more than anything to relent, to go with him, to seal our fates together with this decision. But I can’t. Trevor’s right, for once.

“Trevor and Adele are right,” Tawni says, glancing at Roc. “I’m sorry, I want to go with you, but…”

Roc chews on his lip, turns to Tristan, who’s doing much the same thing. “Three against two,” I say. “Couples must be separated.” Again. It’s the third time I’ll be separated from Tristan since first seeing him. If history repeats itself, we’ll both face great dangers before we ever see each other again.

“I don’t agree,” Tristan says, “but I’ll go along with the group’s decision.”

“Don’t make me beg,” Roc says to Tawni.

“Roc, I’m sorry.”

“Rrrr, fine. Okay. I’ll go with whoever we decide.”

“Me and Tawni,” I suggest, reverting naturally to the combo that’s gotten me this far.

“No way,” Tristan says. “Tawni’s not a fighter. You need at least two fighters.”

“She’ll fight if she has to,” I argue, which draws a smile from Tawni. “She even practiced with Roc, remember?” I add.

“That’s not helping your argument,” Tristan says. “Roc’s got spirit but he’s not exactly a professional warrior.”

“Hey! I’ve saved your skin more than once already,” Roc complains.

“I’m not contending that. I’m just saying that one training session with you won’t put Tawni on even ground with a palace guard.”

“But she’ll have me,” I say. “No one will touch her on my watch.”

“Unless you get killed,” Tristan says grimly. “You’re tough as hell, Adele, but you’re not invincible.” And that, my friends, is the problem. No matter how much righteous anger and lust for revenge courses through my veins, I can’t guarantee anything. “Just take Trevor with you. Please.”

And there it is. The compromise. If Tristan can’t be there to protect me (as if I need protecting), he wants the next best fighter to be with me. Which leaves him with Roc, who, although determined and loyal to a fault, is no warrior, as Tristan already pointed out. But wait a minute…

“I thought you said you and Roc have to be separated, so each squad has someone to help navigate through the palace,” I say.

“That’s correct,” Tristan confirms. Then that means…

“You’re going with Tawni?”

“That’s what I’m suggesting.”

I shake my head in wonder at the nerve of my boyfriend. If he thinks he can get away with the exact same thing that I just tried to get away with, he’s got another thing coming. “Not a chance. If that’s the way you want to play it, I’m going with Roc. You take Trevor and Tawni.”

“Perfect. Done,” Trevor says, clapping his hands together. “I’m ready.”