Days without Dakko and Ido dragged on into weeks. Even so, Haode felt as if his old strength were returning. Whatever Sothyrion had done brought clarity to his mind, clarity that Haode had long lacked. Most of what carried him, though, was the fact he had defeated Channei. That Styzian filth was almost certainly dead now, or at the very least, suffering immensely.

It served Channei right, Haode thought. Anyone who thought they could tear his boys from his side and deny him his only hope deserved agony.

Haode had made it to the Wash with his head held high. He'd found Pileated Woodpecker and her children again. They had taken up refuge in the lodge of a young councilman named Staffen. Haode joined them there after passing himself off as another lost traveler. Now he and Peck sat at the upstairs window and watched the children play outside.

"Quite a snowball battle they've got going." Peck chuckled and took a sip of steaming tea. "Looks like Wren's winning."

Haode tried to smile. "Ido and Dakko used to play like that when they were smaller." He leaned back in his chair. "Nowadays, Dakko is usually in too much pain."

"He's the one who walks funny?" Peck asked. "Sorry. I only met them briefly."

"Mm-hm." Haode folded one leg over his lap. "Dakko gets ice crystals in his joints. His feet are all mangled, too. He gives himself frostbite. Poor boy's fighting for his life every day." He cast his eyes down. "Always in pain."

Peck gave him a grave look. "Why are you forcing him to go on, then?"

Haode shifted in his chair. "Because it's what he wants."

"When we get your boys back," said Peck, "Dakko needs an end to his misery. It's not fair to him or to Ido to prolong his suffering any longer."

Haode glowered. "You have no right to be talking about Dakko like he's some sick dog."

The woman set her cup down. "All I'm saying is..."

"Imagine if he were your child," he interrupted. "Then you wouldn't even consider it, would you?"

"I suppose you have a point." Peck stretched her arms. Then the children started yelling outside. "Bah, what's their problem now? If you'll excuse me, I'll be back."

Haode watched her leave the room and felt slight relief at being left alone. He let out his breath in a long sigh and let his eyes close for a moment. Right as he started to relax, though, the back of his neck itched. When he scratched it, it intensified to pins and needles that crawled down to his shoulders.

Irritated, Haode opened his eyes. Then he had to cover his mouth with both hands to stop himself from screaming. He was back in that dark room with the lantern. With Xigon staring down at him.

Haode bared his teeth. "What in freezing hell are you doing here?"

Xigon's eyebrows rose. He looked around and blinked a few times, as if trying to wake from a dream. "Why do I keep seeing you when I sleep?" The tall man crouched in front of Haode. "You seem to be in less pain, at least."

"I'm cured." Haode straightened. "Sothyrion cured me."

Xigon shook his head. "Sothyrion's blessing is only temporary, I'm afraid." He gave Haode a grave look. "I can only hope it will last as long as you live."

"Bold of you to assume I'll be dying anytime soon." Haode's voice cracked mid-sentence. His heart was beating faster. He swallowed hard. "Remember what happened to Channei when she thought she could cross me?"

Xigon gave a calm, cold nod. "Channei is recovering, but you nearly killing her is what solidified my decision. Should we ever cross paths, I cannot allow you to live."

Haode stiffened. Shivers ripped through him. Fear and pain returned with a cruel vengeance. Visions of every possible horrific end cycled through his mind. He was so terrified all of a sudden that he couldn't move or make a sound.

Then Xigon caught his arm. His enemy's touch was deeply soothing, even if they were not truly touching. Were they? He couldn't understand what was happening. The alarm in his mind disintegrated as his head seemed to fill with cold sand.

"How fascinating." Xigon ran his hand along Haode's quivering wasted muscles, draining the tension from him. "My touch still seems to work here. Do you feel calmer?"

Haode gave a shaky nod. What scared him the most was how he didn't feel afraid.

"Good." Xigon's tone softened. "Contrary to what you might believe, Haode, I don't wish you any suffering." His fingers dug into Haode's arm ever so slightly, but enough to make him flinch. "With that being said, I also don't want you alive."

A deep chill spiked through Haode. Then he blinked and he was back in the room where Pileated Woodpecker had left him a moment ago. Nothing in the room had changed. Xigon wasn't there, and judging from the fact that Peck was outside with the children, and it was still daylight, not much time could have passed.

He heard someone downstairs, though. The young councilman had come home and was talking to someone at the door, from the sound of it. Haode didn't recognize the other voice. Still, he cupped a hand around his ear and tried to eavesdrop.

"...sorry if it's a bad time." He caught an unfamiliar woman's voice. "Our masters said it's important."

"I'm sure it is, then." Staffen sounded out of breath. "Thank you, Lalek. Is that all?"

"Yes. Again, sorry for interrupting your meeting. I'll be on my way."

Haode heard the door close. Then another man spoke up. "Another letter from Styzia? What's it about this time?"

Haode got up from his chair and crept toward the stairs.

"Says they're planning for Kolo's second ascension ceremony next full moon." The floor creaked with Staffen's footsteps as he paced. "Channei was attacked by an outsider Ferash Therall, but she's recovering. Be on the lookout for a man called Haode. They attached Channei's sketch of him."

Haode covered his mouth and tried not to react in a way anyone could hear.

"Also, they say they've taken two boys into custody for safety reasons. Ido and Dakko. Dakko has an affliction that will likely prove lethal, so they intend to..."

Unable to hold himself back any longer, Haode stormed down the stairs. "They intend to do what?!"

Everyone in the room turned to stare at him.

"Hm. It seems they left something rather important out of that letter," Haode growled. "Dakko and Ido are my children. The only reason I targeted their little shapeshifting vermin is because she kidnapped them."

Staffen looked at the letter, then at everyone else, then at Haode. "Why would she...?"

"Why would she abduct them?" Haode had a sudden urge to laugh. "Don't you know? It's what they do. Capture the young ones and manipulate them into obedient little weapons."

Staffen looked troubled. He glanced at an older woman sitting across the room. "Do they really do that?"

"Thought you knew, Staffen." She crossed her legs and chuckled. "It's unfortunate, but it's how it is. Just like we can't eat meat without killing animals."

A few others nodded in agreement. Staffen looked down and clenched his jaw.

"You'd do best not to question it too much," said the woman. "Don't think too hard about it. It'll eat you up."

Haode stepped into the middle of the room. "Right. Because you all have the privilege of turning a blind eye to blatant cruelty."

"You shouldn't even be at this meeting," someone grumbled. "Get out."

"Hold on." Staffen raised his hand. "Let's hear what he has to say."

"Imagine if they were your children." Haode clenched his hands into fists. "If your children were born with the Iron God's gift, does that give Styzia any right to take them from you?"

"They're not our children, though," someone interrupted.

"Oh, but who's to say yours aren't next?" Haode shot him a glare. "I doubt Kolo ran happily into their arms. I know for a fact that my boys didn't. It's not a fate anyone deserves. But by all means, keep looking the other way." He paced back and forth. "Pay no attention to the stolen lives. After all, you're not the ones suffering. Maybe you even profit from it."

"Look." The woman stood up. "Even if we did object to it, we don't stand a chance against them. They're too powerful."

"There are only...what, ten of them? If even that many." Haode pointed out. "They're only powerful because you make them so."

"Would you fight them, then?" she snapped.

Haode swallowed hard and pushed his fear down. "I don't have the luxury of standing by and doing nothing." He looked up. "You won't either. Not forever. So, will you help me, or will you keep turning the other cheek to their atrocities?" He took a deep breath. "You decide. But don't lose sight of what's at stake here."

He swore to himself that even if none of them lent their support, he would pull Dakko and Ido from those monsters' clutches no matter what it took. Kolo too, if he could. Haode could only hope he had time to fight before his fear devoured him again.

[28] Haode: The Luxury of Looking the Other Way

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