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  Portland spat. “Don’t call me that. I’m not a bloody Councilor anymore and it is all your fault. Why couldn’t you all just leave well enough alone? I wasn’t hurting anyone important. The riffraff of the city were the only victims and who cares about them?”

  Rawiri bowed his head slightly to acknowledge his words. “It’s going to be alright. Why don’t you stay here and have a chat with me and let the boy go?”

  Portland waved the gun around. “I want all your samples of Ambrosia. The concentrated stuff. I know you make it here.”

  They made it in a few places for the people in prison but he wasn’t wrong, her lab did make it as well. She crawled on the floor to the fridge. She brought out the vials and slid them along the floor so they were in front of Rawiri.

  He flicked her a look and she knew she had done the right thing. Anything to keep Portland calm so he didn’t kill Andrew was the game they would be playing. That was until they could figure out how to stop him.

  Rawiri said in a calm voice, “Let the boy go and take what you need.”

  He kicked the small box of drugs towards Portland. The moment Portland looked down at the box Rawiri moved.

  He leapt forward. Grabbing the arm with the gun he wrenched the gun out of Portland’s hands. Portland screamed and struggled but Rawiri soon had him on the ground with one arm behind his back.

  Andrew ran out of the room. Portland was swearing but his struggles stopped for a moment.

  He growled out. “Why couldn’t you just put me out of my misery? I don’t want to go to prison. I made this city what it is today. We wouldn’t even have a Shield if it wasn’t for me. Everyone should bow to me and you ruined it all.”

  Rawiri leaned over and said into his ear, “You deserve to be put into a small cell for the rest of your life. And you do realise that this will garner the attention of the world. You had the Shield Maker killed. Nothing, I mean nothing is going to save you from the world’s wrath over that.”

  Freya asked, “Should I call Agent Harold?”

  Rawiri looked up. “Yeah, thanks. Let’s get him out of here before he does something stupid or get himself killed.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Whatinga: April, 2088

  Rawiri sat with Freya before she was to be called to the stand. He held her hand and squeezed it when they called her name.

  He whispered, “You have this.”

  He didn’t doubt it. The trial was mainly procedure as everyone knew he was guilty. The fact that he had run and all the evidence that had been collected. The only reason they were here at all was because Portland wouldn’t plead guilty.

  He glanced at the media who were here. When the world had found out that the Shield Maker had actually been murdered everyone had clambered for someone to be brought to justice.

  Rawiri leant forward as Freya spoke about the Ambrosia drug and then finally of how Portland had tried to kill them in the lab when he tried to escape.

  She was calm and collected and he couldn’t have been prouder.

  He had given his evidence yesterday as part of the Agents’ hearing. There was no way Portland was going to weasel out of it.

  He looked at the man in the suit at the desk set aside for the defendant. He looked defeated.

  Rawiri wondered if he had been getting enough of the Ambrosia drug. He was a fool to have taken his own merchandise. It had been the downfall of the whole crew. Isabella included.

  Freya sat down next to him and he realised he had missed the end of her testimony. She let out a breath of relief and he put his arm over her shoulders. She leaned in closer and he took a deep breath.

  He liked this. This closeness, they didn’t need words. They didn’t need anything more than being together.

  After a moment she leaned over and whispered, “Do you think they will send him away for life?”

  He nodded. “If there was still the death penalty here, he would have gotten that.”

  He wasn’t disappointed that option was off the table. He thought it was better justice for Portland to live in a tiny box for the rest of his life. And considering that Freya wasn’t sure she would ever find a complete cure for Ambrosia he might have a short life span anyway.

  There was also a sense of right that there was no doubt. Portland was guilty.

  ___

  The outside of the courthouse was crowded with eager spectators. The trial of the Shield Maker murder was always going to be popular with the masses. But everyone was moving off slowly so it was clearing up. They had waited for the crowds to leave before they made their way home.

  Agent Harold came to stand next to them. The lawyer had kept him back for a small chat after the trial.

  Freya glanced at him. “Everything alright?”

  He nodded. “The lawyer was asking my opinion on housing Portland in the same facility as Isabella.”

  Rawiri grumbled. “I hope you told him that was a bad idea.”

  He nodded. “Portland can easily be a symbol for those outside the shields. We wouldn’t want to make him a figurehead or a martyr. Secrecy is better than anything. Portland is about to disappear into a deep black hole and he is never going to be seen again.”

  She let out a breath of relief. This whole thing was an ordeal she was willing to forget at the soonest possible moment.

  One of the Councilors came up to them where they stood watching the crowds slowly disperse. Most of the media and crowds had moved on but a few still hung around.

  The Councilor hesitated before he bowed his head a little. “I don’t know how we can repay you all. This could have been a complete disaster.”

  Agent Harold made a huff sound and shrugged. Rawiri shrugged and added, “It could have been easier if there had been watchdogs put into place on all the Councilors. You all have a lot of power and power can easily corrupt.”

  The Councilor nodded. “We have gone through the books with a fine-tooth comb and already found that four of the Councilors have been skimming off the top. I think we need to make sure nothing like this happens again.”

  He hesitated and it was obvious he wanted to say something more.

  Eventually, he shifted his feet. “We cannot officially give you anything for the parts you have played in this but we have put together a fund for the Mission.”

  Freya was surprised. She had assumed that the organization was clandestine. After all, they were breaking Whatinga law by bringing children who didn’t have any legal guardians in the city.

  Rawiri seemed surprised as well and cleared his throat before he could speak, “I’m sure they would appreciate that.”

  The Councilor nodded and left.

  Rawiri turned to Agent Harold. “Should I worry about that?”

  Agent Harold shook his head. “The Mission might work around the law but they are not harming the city. The Councilors know that. I’ve already spoken to some of them about putting in a caveat that only state institutions can import orphans. That will allow others to start up organizations as well.”

  They waited a little while longer. Standing in silence. It was a little strange to think it was all over. The fear Portland had instilled in her seemed to linger despite his conviction. She wondered how long it would last.

  ___

  “I think that is the last of it.” Freya placed a box on the counter in the kitchen. She didn’t have a lot to move in as most of it had burned in her old house. But her parents had found a few of her old things in some boxes and so when she had moved into Rawiri’s place, she had brought those as well.

  Her clothes were already unpacked and hanging in his closet.

  It was a strange feeling, living in someone else’s house and yet it still surprised her how so much it was hers. Once she had put her things out, she knew it would lose that feeling altogether.

  Rawiri placed the carry case on the floor. “Are you ready to release the hounds?”

  She smiled at him. “It is a cat not a hound.”

  He shrugged. “Close eno
ugh.”

  She crouched down and coaxed out the kitten. It sniffed and moved around the room cautiously. But soon it found a spot in the sun and curled up asleep.

  Rawiri came up behind her and wrapped his around her as she watched the cat.

  He asked, “Are you alright? I mean it is a big move coming here.”

  She looked over her shoulder. “I would have married you if you had asked.”

  She thought she had made a huge mistake when he went very still.

  Eventually he breathed out a guttural, “Yes.”

  She frowned at him. “What do you mean, yes?”

  He smiled at her and kissed her lips. “Yes, I will marry you.”

  He kissed her again and she melted into the embrace. But his words finally got through.

  She pushed at his chest until there was some space between them. “Hey, you aren’t allowed to cop out like that. I want a proper proposal. With candles and roses and dinner.”

  He tugged on her hands and grinned at her. She let him pull her along. He opened the door to the balcony and she gasped. Her hand went to her heart and tears pricked her eyes.

  There was a small patio table. With candles, glasses and a bottle in a bucket of ice. Tears actually came to her eyes and she turned to Rawiri.

  “This is just perfect.” Her voice broke as she spoke.

  He smiled at her. “Because you are.”

  She shook her head. “But maybe with you I can be.”

  His eyes darkened. “That is how I feel with you.”

  He pulled her into his arms. “You make me want to sing for joy, Freya. I couldn’t have asked for anyone better than you.”

  He kissed her and she hoped he never stopped.

  Epilogue

  Whatinga: June 2088

  Rawiri stood in the crowd with Freya. Misha and Hal were at the front of the crowd where Misha tried to convince Hal that she should cut the ribbon.

  They were whispering to each other so most wouldn’t be able to hear them. But there were more and more people in the crowd who had the atramento. And all of them were smiling amused at the small argument.

  Freya chuckled at the disagreement. Rawiri glanced down at her. She didn’t deal well with arguments in general so he was happy to see her relaxed about this one.

  He tipped her chin up and kissed her. Her eyes danced with mirth. “Do you think we will be like that one day?”

  His voice was warm as she answered, “I hope so.”

  She laughed at that. He motioned his head towards Misha and Hal. “Should we go save them?”

  Before they could decide if they would Professor Nasser pushed up to the couple and said in a hushed voice, “Both of you do it.”

  He motioned at the ribbon and at the pair of scissors they were trying to shove into each other hands. Misha and Hal looked at each other and then at the ribbon. They laughed and blushed when they realised everybody had been watching them argue. Hal glanced at them and it must have been when she realised with the senses atramento that all those with it would be able to hear them.

  She shook it off and turned to her husband. The two of them put their hands on the scissors and cut the ribbon.

  The crowd clapped and rushed forward. All of them eager to see the new community center that Misha had commissioned.

  Rawiri tucked Freya in at his side as they moved through the building.

  They were looking in one of the treatment rooms set aside for doctors when Hal said at their elbow, “Neat, huh? You can take this one if you want.”

  Freya chuckled. “I said I would do one day a week. That doesn’t mean I’m going to be here all the time.”

  Hal snorted. “You will change your mind when you see the people. They really need people like you.”

  Rawiri said, “I’ve seen them and I think the person they need is you and Misha.”

  Hal shrugged but she didn’t disagree. Freya said, “I see you have completely shed your university skin.”

  Hal wrinkled her nose and waved it off. “Who would want to be a complete snob like those idiots? They can’t even see their noses in front of them. No, this is better. Whatinga is more than just the academics and people need to realise that.”

  Freya surprised him when she said, “This place makes you happy. It does the same for Rawiri.”

  He glanced at her. He wondered where she had got that idea. Though he had to admit she wasn’t wrong.

  She continued. “You both need to help people. I’m lucky.” She glanced up at him and love swam slowly through her eyes. “I’m lucky that I’m part of this as well.”

  Hal snorted. “Wait until I have you seeing patients a dozen at a time and tell me you feel lucky being part of this.”

  Misha came around the corner. “Come along everybody. There are snacks in the gym.”

  He pulled Hal closer to him and tucked her under his arm as the two of them wandered further into the community center.

  Rawiri caught her as she went to leave. “Do you really think you are lucky? Maybe even happy.”

  He knew she was like him in that she hid what she was feeling. He wanted to make sure he knew where she was at.

  She gave him a soft smile. “I’m more than happy.”

  She went on her toes and kissed him. She tugged on his arm. “Come on. I saw some strawberries when they were setting up and I want one before they all disappear.”

  ___

  Portland sat across from Jephry in the transport truck. They had been bouncing along for the last hour or so. They hadn’t spoken in that time though Jephry was tempted to ask him why he had done it. Only he knew that Portland really didn’t have an answer that would satisfy him. It was better not to know at all.

  Portland had the shakes. He rubbed his hands together to try hide the withdrawal symptoms. The truck came to a stop and there was a rattle as the driver opened the door.

  Jephry reached into his pocket and offered Portland something. He angrily took the small packet of Ambrosia that Jephry gave him. He snorted it back with no finesse and sighed as his body shuddered. Jephry raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything.

  After a moment Portland asked, “What are you going to do with me? Take me off somewhere and kill me?”

  Jephry caught his arm and directed him out of the prison truck. Portland blinked at the sunlight that was naked outside the Weather Shield. He looked around himself and realised they were at the port at Edge.

  Jephry wasn’t surprised by his confusion. They had travelled here by truck instead of the train which would have been faster but now everyone thought he was going to be imprisoned somewhere close.

  That was as far from reality as possible. They had parked near the harbour and it was strangely empty. Edge was a small town but rather industrious. He had asked Natasha to make sure that no one was around to see Portland put on a ship.

  There was a large ship in the harbour. Jephry guided Portland onto the ship. Portland grumbled but he complied. It was probably the grey jump suit and cuffs around his wrists that made him comply without much fuss.

  The Captain greeted them as they boarded. He was a large man, over six feet. He looked grizzled and worn by the sea.

  When he spoke, his Russian accent was deep. “Is this the man?”

  Jephry nodded. What Portland didn’t know was that the captain had served with Alexei in the navy.

  Jephry had told him how they had finally caught the man that had killed him and the Captain had offered to take him on.

  Jephry passed the metal box that housed a decent supply of the Ambrosia. Portland’s eyes followed the box in a manner that said he understood what was in the box. A fool to use his own merchandise.

  Someone further on the ship called for the Captain and he excused himself.

  Portland turned to Jephry. “Are you going to throw me into the sea?”

  He shrugged but answered honestly, “I don’t think there is any need to kill you. I think your days are numbered and you only have yourself to blame. N
o, what you are here for is to work. Maybe you can appreciate what you have done when your body is tired and all you can do is lie down and think.”

  Portland grunted. “So, hard labour?”

  It wasn’t a question but Jephry answered, “Yes.”

  That was his own little twist to Portland’s justice. And he knew the Captain agreed with him. Portland looked further into the ship. “What about the Ambrosia?”

  Ah, the bastard knew all the angles. “Of course you will have access to that as long as you are well behaved.”

  Portland hissed but he didn’t care about the man’s feelings on it. He was the fool who had brought a city to its knees just for power and profit. The world had been once through the same thing and he had been stupid enough to repeat history’s mistakes and then be surprised when it all came home to roost.

  A sailor came towards them with some heavy metal manacles. He wasn’t sure where they had procured them but it gave him a satisfying feeling to see Portland led away in chains.

  Jephry pulled out his phone and called the professor.

  Nasser answered the phone with, “Is it done?”

  Jephry’s voice was steel as he answered, “Yes.” There was a long silence and Nasser answered, “Good.”

  And hung up.

  ___

  Isabella was posed on the bed but jumped up when she saw Jephry was accompanied by doctors.

  She glanced from him to the doctor. “What is this about?”

  Jephry motioned to the doctor who placed his case on the table and started rummaging through it and setting up.

  Isabella came to stand by him. She asked, “You aren’t putting me out of my misery, are you?”

  He shook his head. “Freya has found a cure. She had the vaccine months ago but she has now found a way to neutralise the Ambrosia enzyme. You will be cured and no longer dependent on the drug.”

  She snorted. “That was the only fun part of being in here.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest. A clear sign that she was uncomfortable with the doctors.

  Interesting. Isabella was actually another victim of Portland though no one would see that. She would spend her days in here and maybe one day she would be out and she could get on with her life.