Chapter 471

“Has Ella looked her over?” Hank asks, his professional demeanor returning now as he studies Marigold from a few feet away. Maryam turns, hearing the shift in her father’s voice and bringing Marigold back over. “Is she healthy, besides being malnourished?”

“Oh, she’s fine,” mom says, clearly overhearing her name and coming over. “I did a scan last night after we fed her. As you say, Hank, she’s malnourished and going to need some feeding up – but I cleared up some bumps and bruises and a little viral bug she was carrying. But beyond that she’s a perfectly healthy little four-year-old girl.”

“She’s not four,” Maryam says, laughing a little and coming close.

Marigold whips her head to Maryam with a frown. “Four!” she says, quite definitive, holding up four fingers.

“What?” Mom asks, confused, looking between the pair.

“Oh, little baby liar,” Maryam says, laughing and wrinkling her nose at Marigold, who blushes, caught. My mouth falls open in surprise.

“She – she knows how to lie?” Jackson whispers, his eyes wide. “I didn’t know…they could do that…”

“Well, apparently this is a crafty, clever little rabbit,” Maryam says on a laugh, turning to grin at the rest of us. “Food was distributed according to age, with children 1-3 allotted a slightly smaller amount than the 4-8 year olds. This one has been telling me that she’s four since she was barely big enough to walk into my aid tent.”

“Four,” Marigold growls, her brow lowering, quite definitive.

We all laugh, imagining the hungry little girl making her bold bluff for more food. Jackson grins, sensing an affinity with his daughter and reaching for her. Maryam laughs and hands her over to her dad.

“It’s true,” Jackson says with a sigh. “Timeline-wise, she’s closer to three and a half. I guess you could round up to four, if it makes you happy, Marigold.”

She nods, sharp and definitive. “Four,” she says, resting her head on her dad’s shoulder.

We all grin and nod, giving into it.

“Is there any way to know her birthday?” Mom asks, excited, turning to Hank. I smile at her, knowing immediately the direction of her thoughts. Mom loves birthdays.

But suddenly I frown, snapping my face up to Jackson. “When’s your birthday?”

He just shrugs, looking down at me, clearly at a loss. My mouth drops open, appalled.

“No way of knowing,” Hank says, shrugging. “You’ll just have to pick a date.”

“Is this really our best use of time?” Rafe asks, frowning as he comes over, Jesse at his side. I look around for Mark but see that he’s already gone. “Planning Marigold’s birthday party?”

“Yes!” Mom says, quite appalled at her son for suggesting that it’s not.

“Rafe’s just pissed his birthday go skipped this year,” Jesse says with a shrug and a wicked little grin. “Since me and Juniper and Ariel were all kidnapped.”

I gasp as I realize that Jesse’s right, that we completely skipped his birthday. And I didn’t even realize it!

Twice! Twice now, this year, I’ve forgotten my sibling’s birthdays!

“Rafe!” I gasp, stumbling a few steps towards him, apology and horror all over my face.

“I’ll never forgive you,” he says, quite loftly, raising his face to the ceiling in mock tragedy.

I squeak in agony, feeling like the absolutely worst sister on earth, wrapping my arms around his waist and giving him a squeeze. “I’m so sorry, Rafe, I’ll get you any present you want – what do you want? Anything –“

Rafe just laughs, low and deep, giving me a hug in return. “I want you to stop squeezing me so hard, Ari, for heaven’s sake – I don’t need a girdle –“

“You sure about that?” Jesse asks, dry, looking Rafe consideringly up and down.

Rafe snarls at our cousin and I laugh, stepping away. To my surprise, Maryam just watches us with a considering expression, like we are…not at all what she expected us to be. I turn my head a little to the side, wondering what the surprise is here. After all, she knew us as kids. And I honestly don’t think we’ve changed at all.

Still, she studies us, clearly curious and confused.

“All right,” dad says, coming over with Roger and Cora, his face stern and business-like. We all straighten, turning towards him, responding immediately to his authority and his need for our attention.

Well, Maryam turns slightly slower than the rest of us and emits a huffy little sigh. But I just grin, liking her all the more for it.

“I’ve managed to call in enough of the Committee for an emergency forum,” dad says, looking around at all of us, quite serious. “Anyone here would be welcome to attend and give your perspective. Hank, will you be able to delay your travel?”

“Yes,” Hank says, glancing at Maryam before giving a definitive nod. “We can take a later train.”

“Good,” dad says, taking a deep breath, getting ready to give more orders.

“If I may,” Hank says, crossing his arms over his chest and looking seriously at his King, his voice grim.

Dad pauses for a moment and then turns to the smaller man, deferring to him. I grin at this too, loving my dad very much for his willingness to listen.

“Whatever assault on the Community you’re planning should seek to provide as much humanitarian aid as it does military force,” Hank says, sure and clear. “The goal should not merely to be to defeat whoever is in charge but to bring help to those who are suffering. I will only participate in this council if those are joint goals – otherwise, I will aim my time and efforts elsewhere.”

Dad pauses for a moment, considering this, and then turns to my mother, deferring to her in turn. “Ella? Are we prepared to offer that kind of aid?”

“Oh, yes,” she says, nodding eagerly, tucking her hands under her chin, her eyes wide and bright. “Cora and I have been working on our ability to expand quickly – we’ve got some resources in place. I mean, we’ll need a minute to requisition supplies and personnel but…yes, Dominic, I think we’re ready.”

“Good,” dad says, turning back to Hank, giving him a nod that signifies his agreement to the plan. Hank works hard to keep a smile from his face but Maryam doesn’t bother, well pleased to see their priorities go forward.

“But the military will be the ones directing the missions and the aid,” dad continues, looking to Roger for confirmation. He nods, agreeing to the plan. “We will need a significant tactical force as well as our Espionage and Scouting units to go in first and give us the information we need to plan our engagement.”

To my surprise and delight, dad shifts his eyes to me here.

“This suggests significant commitment from Alpha Academy, as many of our actual spies are currently…missing. Or otherwise engaged in Atalaxia. So, we’ll have to go to the recruits.”

My wolf howls with excitement, because am I mistaking it? Or is dad asking me to put my Espionage skills to the test!? I bite my lip, excited at the prospect, and do my best to contain my excitement, just giving a little nod.

“I’m in,” Rafe says, crossing his arms solidly over his chest. “I’m sure many Cadets from the academy will be as well.” Jesse raises his hand slightly, showing his support. “I can –“

“I’m going to help too,” Maryam says, raising her chin, her voice ringing out. “On the humanitarian side, of course, as it’s far more important.”

We all turn to her in surprise and after a beat she frowns around at all of us.

“What?” Maryam bites out. “I have medical experience. I know these people way better than most of you. I’ll be an asset!”

“Maryam,” Rafe growls, slowly shaking his head in absolute refusal. “It is far too dangerous for you –“

“You’re letting blondie go!” She shouts, pointing directly at me. A smile bursts onto my face.

“Ariel is a trained spy,” Rafe snaps, leaning forward towards Maryam, anger rising in him like a quick tide. “She knows how to handle herself in –“

“Oh whatever,” Maryam says, giving what I’m coming to understand as her habitual dismissive eye roll. “Just try to stop me, you big brute.” With that she strides for the door, clearly intent on heading to the meeting whether or not he wants her to.

“Maryam!” Rafe shouts, enraged, storming after her towards the door.

“Don’t you pick me up again!” Maryam shouts back, her voice echoing back into the room as she starts to stride down the hall. “Just because you’re bigger than me doesn’t mean that you -!”

“God damn it, Maryam! Would you listen to sense!?”

“All right,” Dad says, fighting a little smile as he turns his eyes back to the rest of us, clearly letting Maryam and Rafe handle their own business. Hank sighs and closes his eyes, already exhausted by the drama. “Everyone take a few minutes to gather what you need – we’ll meet in the Conference room in five minutes.”

Everyone bustles around, getting things sorted before the meeting, and I turn, slipping my hand into Jackson’s and looking up at him. “You want to go to that meeting?”

“Yes,” he says on a sigh, looking down at me. “I really, really do.”

“Okay, give me the baby,” I say, quite happy, reaching for her.

“What?” he breathes. “Ariel, no, you have to come too –“

“Oh, you can fill me in,” I say, laughing a little as I take a very happy little Marigold into my arms. “Me and Goldie are gonna go sample some candy, aren’t we?”

Marigold laughs and nods to me, probably not understanding what I mean but happy to be on board with the plan.

“Um, actually,” a voice says from the door. I turn, surprised to see Elias there. “Actually could…could I ask some of you to come with me? Cora, Ella? Ariel?”

I gasp a little, realizing that his face is pale and anxious for a reason.

He locks eyes with me as mom and Cora likewise turn towards him with concern. “Yes,” he says, swallowing, giving me an anxious nod. “Yes, please come – she’s asking for you. It’s time.”