Free The Poet Heroic (The Kota Series) by Sunshine Somerville Page A

morning,” the reporter went on. “We haven’t received much news yet except that she is a healthy, seven-year-old girl and that Cruelthor is absolutely thrilled to have her home.”
    “Shit,” said Evant.
    The newsfeed switched stories, and Babbitt reached forward and deactivated the system.
    Vale took a step back and leaned on the counter.
    She’s alive, he thought. All this time, I thought maybe Cruelthor lied to me and wanted me to find her so he could kill her. Thank God she’s alright.
    He turned and rested his head on the cool marble counter, tuned out the others, and cried in relief.
    But where is Mom? he thought suddenly. How did Cruelthor get our sister away from her? I don’t think he killed Mom – if he’d killed her, he would’ve bragged about it with a public announcement. Mom must still be out there somewhere. I guess there’s nothing more I can do. Wherever she is, she’s always managed to protect herself before. And now at least I know where my sister is. I can stop worrying…
    Finally, Nocturna’s hand on his back couldn’t be ignored. “Beathabane?”
    He stood up and faced his friends. He gave them a smile, not quite of happiness but certainly of relief. “She’s alive.”
    Nocturna nodded with a sympathetic smile. “What do you want us to do? She’s your sister. If you want, we’ll go back with you. We’ll find a way to the Northern Continent so we can rescue her.”
    Vale looked around at his team. At his family.
    We’d never be able to break into the Capitol compound, he thought. I’d get them all killed – and I’ve certainly learned my lesson about risking their lives for my personal vendettas.
    He took a deep breath. “No, we’re not going to rescue her.”
    Nocturna made a face. “Are you sure?”
    “If we somehow did manage to rescue her, Cruelthor would just keep hunting until he found her. For whatever reason, he really wants her with him. Besides, she’s only a little kid – she’d never be safe living like we do. She’s safer where she is, at least for now.”
    Nocturna accepted this. “You’re right. If we brought her to live with us, Cruelthor would probably consider her an enemy too.”
    Evant agreed. “That’d put her in even more danger.”
    Vale pulled his hood over his head. He smiled at Nocturna and told the group, “We’d better get out of here. Someone wake up Tat and let her take all the chocolate she can carry.”
     
     
     

Dominion Newsfeed
    07/08/69 22:00
    Paris, Crow’s Region, Mainland-Euro
    – ALERT:  Unauthorized Streaming Video Upload
    …Tracking coordinates…
     
    The dark room is silent for a moment as Beathabane appears to be thinking over the reporter’s question. Kaytrine glances at the camera nervously, no doubt hoping she hasn’t upset her important interviewee.
    “Sir,” she says for his attention. “I’m sorry if this is too personal, but a lot of people are wondering. What are you going to do about your sister? Why haven’t you attempted to rescue her?”
    Finally, Beathabane says, “It’s the greatest regret of my life that I couldn’t find my sister before Cruelthor found her. But everything I do is for her. I’ve said that I hope to set an example that will prompt others to join us in this fight. I hope to set that example for my sister also. I have to be her good example – I have to show her a better way to live than what my brother shows her. A better alternative.” He looks into the camera, and he grows more confident. “The most important thing I can do is save as many people as I can from the evils of my brother. I try to do my part, but we must all work together to fight for a better world. A world where people are free. A world where people aren’t condemned by the government to live a hell on Earth as factors. We rebels must stop fighting amongst ourselves. Those of us who’ve escaped the Dominion – and I pray my sister joins us someday – are not the enemy. We rebels must unite to bring