298) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 62 — Even Stupider than all of the Other Stupidest-things-they’ve-ever-done

“So, logically speaking, if we wanted to, we could steal this sword,” Lenny concluded, folding her hands behind her head and laying back on the rough stone. “Nice.”

“What do you mean, ‘Nice?!’” Kohra whispered harshly. “There is NO WAY we are even thinking about this! Forget it! No way in all the Hells!”

Gorb put his hand on her shoulder. “It could be d’will o’ d’light, Kohrrra. We 'ave t' considerrr it.”

Devona nodded, eyes glittering. “The most powerful weapon in the worlds! Come on Kohra, even you have to admit it’s pretty tempting!”

Reilly stayed silent. She felt guilty for not telling them about Kryndine’s “surprise” and the secret command word she hadn’t been able to hear. But what good would it do anyway? It’d just make everyone more nervous.

Besides, Reilly really, really wanted to steal it.

Dominic spoke up. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but this MIGHT be the most important thing we do in our entire lives.”

Kohra’s gaze could have melted a brick.

Dominic continued gamely. “I mean, Kohra normally I would agree with you. This is incredibly risky, but…just think about it — We could change the worlds! And I mean…well, even if we die, fighting to save the worlds, well, I don’t know…what nobler death could we have?”

He paused, letting it sink in. “Maybe this is it, Kohra; maybe THIS is how we make a difference. For EVERYONE! For our parents, and Col, for Ms. B, for all the rest of her kids! For Juanita! And Galen! For the good people of the Borderlands! THIS is how we stand up for Eden!”

He took a deep breath. “Besides, Kohra, what IS life, if there is nothing to live for?”

Kohra scowled, but she also felt her body betraying her, her heart pounding excitedly, her legs shaking. Yes Kohra, that’s just fear. It’s intelligent, wise, life-saving fear.

She exhaled through pursed lips, blowing air out forcefully. Everyone was looking at her, like she was the only one going against the group. Which she was. As usual.

This is suicide.

Of all the stupidest-things-we’ve-ever-done, this takes the cake.

They were still looking at her.

Well…I have to admit, maybe Dom’s right. This might be the most important thing we ever do. Or this might just kill us all.

She thought back to the apple trees behind her house. The forest they played in. The little spring that only they knew about in all the worlds. The “wax cave”. Ms B. The skyflows. Butterflies. Waking up to birdsong. The smell of rain.

Oh gods. Okay then, for Ms B, for Col, for this damned beautiful world. If this is what my life is for, then…blast it all to the Hells, this is what my life is for.

“Okay.” Her voice shook. Everyone’s eyes lit up. And perhaps moreso than ever in her life, up to this point, she felt…like she belonged.

She took a deep breath. “So how the Hells do we pull this off?”

* * * * *

From what Reilly had overheard, the ritual and exchange were to take place the following evening, after the negotiations had concluded. It was ancient custom that particularly important deals be sealed precisely with the extinguishing of daylight, that hushed time when dusk became night. Although the old man, Kryndine, hadn’t known why it was like that, Graxia was, as he’d said, a stickler for the Old Ways.

In any case, this was to their advantage, Kohra realized. They had one night — tonight — in which to steal the most powerful weapon in all the worlds, and escape.

Sure, no problem.

As they planned, and planned, and got increasingly confused, and disagreed with each other about practically everything, it started to dawn on them — this wasn't going to work. There was just no way they could all sneak in, undetected, and sneak out. This was a highly guarded military encampment, and the night before the biggest business deal in all the worlds went down, they could be certain that the entire valley would be on High Alert.

There was only one “solution”, although it was insane.  One person had to do it.

Then they argued about who that should be. Squirrelly was the best choice to get in, but she wouldn’t be able to physically steal the sword, and she couldn’t exactly knock herself out in the middle of the encampment trying to transform back.

Melkorn immediately volunteered, and everyone very politely persuaded him that he would be needed as the back-up-plan.

Gorb said the Light would protect him, but it wasn’t exactly convincing, given the Light had entirely left him since Devona’s kidnapping way back in the old hermit’s cave.

Lenny said she was the most likely to be able to lie her way out of trouble if she was caught. Or she could just blow everything up. But that was exactly the problem; Lenny would, invariably, end up with the entire valley up in flames, and surely they would all get caught.

Finally, Dominic, reluctant but determined, said it had to be him. He was the stealthiest. And if he had to, he could take people out with his bow, and run.

Everybody agreed. Except Kohra.

“It's me. It has to be me.”
They all started talking at once. She waited for them to quiet down, shaking her head. She knew she was right. “Listen Dominic, if ANYTHING goes wrong, and you get attacked, then not only is there am entire bloody army down there, there’s also several highly-skilled, professional bodyguards. Not to mention Graxia! And the Hooded Man, wherever he is. You would never be able to shoot everyone. You would never get out. It has to be me.”

* * * * *

In the end, when she had finished explaining, the others had no choice but to admit she was right. Lenny was the first to agree, claiming it was far more logical than any other idea they’d had come up with. The others were resistant, Dominic most of all, but even he relented eventually. She WAS right; it had to be her.

Then Lenny realized it didn’t have to be one person after all; it just had to be people who either wouldn’t be seen, or were guaranteed to be able to get away. With multiple people, if anything went wrong they could help each other, and as long as they could all get away, this was the best solution.

In the final reckoning, it was agreed that three of them fulfilled these criteria — Kohra, Lenny, and Squirrelly.  The three of them would steal the sword.