Chapter 9: The Oath, Again

Brianna held out the folder before my feet touched the gravel.

"As promised," she said brightly. "Signed this morning."

I took it.

The paper inside was thick cream stock with the Highridge crest at the top.

At the bottom was Vernon Overton's slanted signature, in blue ink.

I read the paragraph above it twice.

"This release takes effect upon the lighting of the Ridge Oath," I read aloud. "That's not what you said."

"It's just the form, Dev."

"You said a signature."

"It is a signature." Brianna's smile didn't move. "The oath lights, and you're free. It's a formality. We all want the same thing."

Kellan had come around the truck and stood a little behind my left shoulder.

He didn't say anything.

I folded the paper in half and put it in my back pocket.

"I'll walk up with you," I said. "I'm not standing in the ring."

"Dev," Dane started.

"I'm here to watch."

We climbed in the grey light with nobody talking.

At the Point the five stones stood black against the sky.

The fire pit had been swept and the kindling laid.

The cousins took their places at two of the stones without being told.

Emmett came and stood next to me at the edge of the circle instead of at his own.

Nobody commented on that.

Dane stood in the middle with his hands clenched.

He looked worn out and ill.

"Dev," he said. "Please. I need to say something."

"Then say it."

"I didn't mean it. I just didn't think. I thought you'd always be there."