was silent, and then Adena’s voice rang through the air. “Of course, we can. I should’ve thought of it sooner. Outside the South entry point?”
“We’ll see you there,” Gavin said.
Finally, he ushered her into the small room and the door slid closed behind them.
“You didn’t need to do that.”
“Why not?” he answered. “Adena’s gonna want to make sure you’re all right anyhow, may as well start off with you not feeling uncomfortable.”
After a moment, the small room opened to yet another corridor door and then finally, thankfully, they were back outside.
Rhela hurried up to her, hands outstretched to take her own. “You look better,” she said softly. “I’m glad.”
Adena walked toward them, arm threaded through that of another woman, small and curvy, with soft brown hair.
“This is my cousin, Matilde,” she said. “Which also makes Declan my cousin. But Matilde’s more important.”
“Hey,” the dark-haired stranger said. “I thought you wanted me here for a reason? Don’t start off by being mean.”
Esme considered him thoughtfully.
Tall, at least she would’ve thought so before meeting these star men.
Certainly, he’d had little claim to the title next to Gavin.
Dressed like a townsman, a well-to-do one at that.
But she trusted Adena and Rhela. And if they thought he could help, it would be worthwhile to listen.
Oddly, Gavin ignored the newcomer and for once, Esme couldn’t read his emotions at all.
His hand hovering at the small of her back, he guided her to a chair at the table that had been set up in the late morning sun, then stood behind her as the others came and sat.
Nic glanced towards them, raised an eyebrow but said nothing. “I don’t know how much Matilde told you about the situation,” he started.
Declan shrugged. “Not much, just that there were children missing. I haven’t heard anything about that. But,” he frowned, “for weeks now, I’ve realized there’s something odd going on in Raccelton.”
“Like what?” Matilde asked sharply.
He waved away his sister’s glare. “Really, if I thought kidnapped children were involved, you think I wouldn’t have said something already?” He slowly looked around the table. “It’s nothing that overt, nothing I can put my finger on. But ever since I moved our headquarters down there, the more I meet people, the more I feel like something’s wrong.”
Esme studied his face. What he was saying didn’t make much sense. But he believed it to be true.
He was worried about something, confused.
But that didn’t seem likely to be helpful for them, did it?
“What kind of wrong?” Jormoi asked.
Declan drummed his fingers, stared at the table. “The kind you can’t quite put your finger on. I’m the new guy. Folks from the capital don’t tend to think anyone from outside its walls is worth much to begin with. But still, our father had friends, contacts.”
“And they’ve told you nothing?” pressed Nic.
“I don’t mean everyone down there. Just a few people, but enough that I don’t think I’m imagining things. It’s almost like there’s something they’re waiting for me to signal about it, to show that I’m in on the secret.” Declan threw his hands in the air. “But whatever it was, I’m clueless.”
“Always were,” teased Matilde.
Esme’s chest tightened.
This wasn’t going to make any difference. This townsman might mean well, but he knew nothing.
She should be on the road, searching, asking her own questions.
Rhela reached for Jormoi’s hand. “My parents ran from something that was going on in the capital,” she said. “I wonder if it had something to do with this secret?”
“I have examined all of the records you brought me from the lander and replayed your father’s video recording multiple times,” Kennet nodded to Rhela. “Still, I am no closer to understanding what experiments he referred to. At this point, anything is possible.”
At the word ‘experiments’ the iron band around Esme’s chest tightened, the pressure in her head grew.
She reached for the scar under her hair, then pulled her hand away quickly.
She needed to go. Do something.
Now.
“We need to get back to the capitol,” Nic said. “Get some answers.”
Declan shook his head slowly. “The people who know what’s going on aren’t going to talk to you.”
He raised his hands, palms out, as Nic growled.
“No offense, but they know me, knew my father, understand exactly how I fit into society here. And while I have no problem with you, and thank the day you guys arrived,” he reached over and squeezed his sister’s hand, “there’s plenty that think that the men from the stars should go back there, leave Crucible alone.”
Adena leaned over,