Chapter 235 - The Test of Trust (1/2)

Ebony hadn't been able to believe it. She hadn't believed it when she'd seen the line disappear, but she'd had over two years to get used to that reality. The three days since she'd seen that same line re-establish were not nearly enough. She was afraid to touch the charm again. Afraid to activate it and realise that it had all been a dream.

Because if Rassa was alive, where had he been all this time? Why hadn't he come?

A part of her hoped that he'd been indisposed. That he was incapable of coming. That the flickering line meant he was somewhere between life and death. Another part, the part that was still covered in shame and was living the life of a slave, thought otherwise. Rassa was immortal after all. He would live for eternity, maybe he'd finally stopped to think as the Inktress was drowning him and decided he was better off without the dead weight of mortality for company.

But until she saw him, until she had a reason, whether that took a few more hours or a few more years, she decided not to judge him. To not condemn him.

Instead, Ebony turned her thoughts to their escape plan. She'd seen Aegin in that time since serving the Madame, but her story had seemed too bazaar to pass on. Aegin had told her that he had proposed escape to the other Reapers. But they had refused unless given a proper plan. One that was likely to work without them all dying.

So Ebony and Aegin were met with a wall. The same wall they'd always had in front of them since they arrived on Herguard but had avoided. Now that they were facing it, they'd realised how large it was. Aegin was reluctant to do more than smash through it with him own strength, but Ebony knew that wasn't possible.

They needed help, and help had practically set itself down on their doorstep.

So when she was next allowed to meet Aegin, Ebony barely waited until the door was closed when she spoke.

”I found us an ally,” she said.

Aegin's eyes widened, ”Who?”

”The Madame”.

Aegin's eyes narrowed again, ”Seriously?”

Ebony nodded, ”She's bored”.

Aegin rolled his eyes, ”Ebony, that's not a reason that someone would become an ally. At least not a reliable one. What happens when she gets bored with our escape plan? She's going to back out just as quickly”.

Ebony sighed, ”It's not like that”.

”Oh, and how do you know?” asked Aegin.

”Look, she's not here by choice either,” Ebony said, ”There are things she told me that...well they're about as believe as...as Rassa's story”.