You know which one. Freya. Freya’s a fertility goddess known for her amber necklace. Mae’s being helped by an amber knife sacred to a fertility goddess.
Amber’s important for half of European religions, Horatio argued.
Go look it up on the media stream when you’re home—if it’s still there.
I just can’t shake the feeling I’m being played, Justin said.
Well, if you are, then it’s not by us. We didn’t send the knife. We don’t even have opposable thumbs.
That was true. He and Mae had never figured out where that knife had come from, and Justin supposed that would provide the first set of answers. A human servant was needed to use the Gemman postal system. His initial suspect, Callista, denied involvement, and her patron goddess was more about magic and moonlight than amber and fertility. Odin and the ravens had talked about Mae being crowned in flowers since before Justin met her, and it made sense they’d be referring to a fertility goddess in their own pantheon.
Somehow, despite all the complications tormenting him internally and externally, Justin survived those long two days. On that third morning, his party packed up and made their farewells to Carl’s family. The cloud of Hannah’s disappearance still hung over everyone, but Carl’s initial swagger and pride at hosting important foreigners was still going strong. And really, for those not privy to the dark underside of it all, the trip had been a stunning success. Quiet Phil had managed to work on a favorable trade negotiation, and Lucian had endeared himself to the Arcadian president, who promised to further open lines of communication. Along with touring Divinia, they’d made a number of day trips to other important sites and cities, ultimately accomplishing what no Gemman in history had.
“Now if we can just make it out alive,” Atticus muttered to Justin, as they boarded the bus that would take them back to the border. Justin was pretty sure the diplomat was going to start drinking heavily once they were back on their native soil, and honestly, Justin couldn’t blame him.
The Arcadian delegation coming back with them took separate transportation, no doubt to receive their last, covert orders. Lucian and Atticus had been in contact with the Gemman government, gaining permission for the group’s ostensible purpose: Arcadians visiting and sharing their culture. Lucian hadn’t dared communicate any hint of knowledge of the conspiracy while in Arcadia, but he’d assured Justin that once they were safely within the RUNA’s borders, they’d make sure the hackers were set up and discovered quickly.
“We don’t want them sitting around, gathering more data,” Lucian had said. “We’ll act like we’re going along with the cultural exchange and conveniently set them up in locations most accessible to the media stream’s way stations. Once they take the bait, and we get your defector friends to testify about the plan, this’ll be a done deal.” Lucian had then paused to give Justin a long, level look. “And they really are your friends. That Hansen guy adores you. How’d you pull that off?”
“He just wants to live the Gemman dream, that’s all,” Justin had replied glibly.
The Gemman dream and worship of Odin. When Justin’s bus reached the base on the Arcadian side of the Mississippi, they found Hansen’s party of men and women were already there. Hansen approached Justin with a formal greeting and then, once others were away, murmured, “I expect things are going to be a little . . . hectic when it all comes out. But I hope once matters calm, and Elaina and the others and I have settled down, we’ll be able to meet with you regularly to learn about him.”
“I look forward to it,” Justin replied, feeling a sinking sensation in his stomach.
The Arcadian soldiers searched the luggage of everyone, Arcadian and Gemman alike, and performed more pat downs to ensure nothing was being transported illegally. None of the soldiers suspected a woman might be smuggled out, and none of them dared ask an Cloistered woman to uncover herself. The Gemmans and the Arcadian delegation were given permission to leave and ushered onto a boat that would take them to the other side of the river. As the shore drew closer, Justin could see the familiar gray-and-maroon of the regular Gemman military waiting for them, along with a welcome sight: the RUNA’s flag.
He experienced a strange emotional surge at the sight of it, the maroon and dark purple field adorned with a golden circle of laurel leaves, that reminded him of his return from Panama. The RUNA’s motto echoed in his mind, Gemma mundi, and he wondered if Hannah had any idea of the extraordinary opportunity those words and that flag offered her. Did she realize that her world was about to open up? Sitting quietly beside him, unreadable in her thick clothing, Justin couldn’t guess at her feelings. Probably she was terrified at being caught, which perhaps wasn’t that unreasonable a fear since they hadn’t crossed the Gemman border yet.
Having her here reminded him of Mae who should have been here beside him instead. Where was she? Surely they would’ve heard if something had happened to her. The not-knowing was maddening, and Justin kept thinking back to their last meeting, to the kiss he still couldn’t understand and how he’d promised her he’d help with her niece. Was there something he could have done differently? If he’d helped her sooner, could they have avoided her disappearing with those girls?
I’m going to give you some relationship advice, said Horatio, interrupting the endless questions.
I don’t have a relationship, Justin replied promptly.
Shut up, and listen anyway, ordered the raven. You and she work well together, no surprise since you’re meant for each other—and I don’t just mean in the romantic way you keep botching up. You’re a team, a good one. You watch out for each other, and that’s good. But that doesn’t mean you’re meant to do every single little thing together. Yes, you have a shared destiny, but you also have an individual one, and so does she. The reason you didn’t think of anything sooner to help her is because that wasn’t your task. That was hers, and she found something and acted. Your task was to uncover the Grand Disciple’s conspiracy and bring these people to Odin. Be content with the knowledge that you’re both fulfilling the duties you’re supposed to.
It’s hard to feel content when mostly I’m worried I’ll never see her again, said Justin. I don’t know how I could get by without her.
Well, then, said Horatio, maybe you should tell her that the next time you see her.
The boat docked at the Gemman base, and a group of Arcadian soldiers waited to make sure both Gemman and Arcadian diplomats crossed over safely. There was no press here—they’d face that in Vancouver—but there were enough Gemman soldiers watching to make Justin feel like he was already being broadcast on the stream. It made him uneasy, especially knowing anything could still go wrong, but the spotlight was Lucian’s natural habit. He thrived on it and made a pretty speech to the Arcadian soldiers at the boat, thanking them for their service and hospitality. He then strode forward to an officer waiting with a chip scanner, making a point to be the first of them to officially return home.
Justin was close behind him and watched as Lucian rested his hand on the scanner. It was a formality for Gemmans, so common that they did it without conscious thought most of the time. And, Justin realized with a pang, it might be Hannah’s undoing.
The officer—a captain, from his uniform—glanced at whatever information popped up on the small screen facing him and gave a small nod. “Welcome home, senator.”
“Glad to be back,” boomed Lucian in his show voice. “Though I am disappointed I missed the Hamaki Cup finals. Tell me the Comets won, and you’ll make me a happy man.”