Page 68 of The Verdant Cage
I inhale sharply. “Recreated it?” My hand finds Lucky Bunny in my pocket at the same time Reatha’s eyes seek the Heavens.
She whispers her next words. “Forgive me, Hen. She needs to know.” Reatha holds herself. “Jarek discovered a cache of Before Times items somewhere inside the Wall.”
The secret room in the Record Keeper vault, the horror that keeps on giving.
“It included a bottle marked ‘herbicide,’” Reatha continues. “Jarek brought it to me to replicate, said he needed more to protect the Valley. He gathered it was something the Founders considered crucial to our continued survival. I followed his orders at first, fearing what he’d do to my children if I didn’t. But then, a month ago, I stopped.”
My blood feels thick. “Why?”
Her eyes slide away. “Your mother figured out what the herbicide was causing.”
“The Vex,” I say.
Reatha’s eyes widen, and she nods. “The Vex.”
“Why would Jarek poison his own people?” I ask.
Reatha shakes her head. “I don’t know, and neither did your mother. Possibly to weaken us, or to stir up panic and give himself an excuse to consolidate power.”
“Butwhy?” I repeat. “We have all the tools for paradise inside the Wall. Why would someone use them to destroy rather than build?”
She holds her hands out, palms up. “Only Jarek knows. He’s the source of our evil.”
Frustration crashes over me. “Why didn’t you stand up to him, then?”
Her grimace deepens. “We tried, those of us who met here. But by the time we realized Jarek and Misia were no longer following the rules of the Valley, it was too late. They took away our freedom so slowly at first that it hadn’t occurred to us to fight back; now they wield too much power, coming after our families if they see us as a threat.”
“So you fled to the caves,” I say softly. “You hide out here.”
“We hide and we hope.”
“For what?”
“Rebellion. Led by your generation.” Her mouth ribbons to a thin line. “There was a time when we believed our community was only as strong as its weakest member. When we took care of each other. We can find our way back to that, with the help of those of you who train.”
“You drop your problems on our shoulders without even telling us what we’re up against!” I can’t contain my reaction, my voice rising at the unfairness of it. “Meanwhile, you’re hiding out in a cave.Yourfamily is safe.” It’s an unkind thing to say, but I can’t help myself. She’s feeding my anger without providing an outlet.
She reels back as if I’ve struck her. “Something big is coming. You have no idea.”
I throw up my hands. “So tell me!”
“Mom?” Marie peeks out from the cave, her brown eyes wide with fear.
I’ve upset her. “I’m sorry,” I say, before returning my focus to Reatha, preparing to convince her of something—anything—and, if that doesn’t work, to make her feel ashamed for what she’s allowed to happen. A warmth inside my hand startles me back to myself. It’s Marie, lacing her fingers through mine.
Her buck-toothed smile is tentative. “I saw you fight today. You’re so quick and strong.”
I try to return her smile. “Thank you. I like it.” I inhale a trembling breath. “The combat, that is.”
“Gryphon said he’d teach me. When I’m older. Do you think he will?”
She looks so hopeful. “If he said he would, he’d be a terrible person not to.”
Marie wrinkles her nose. “That’s not an answer.”
My laugh surprises me, releasing some of my steam. “You’re right.” I crouch down so she can look me in the eye. “Here’s what I think. If Gryphon promised he’d teach you, then he will. It’s important to him that we all know how to defend ourselves.”
She nods happily. “That’s what he said, too. Rose?”
