Iwoke up in the guest quarters. The bed was too narrow. The room was too quiet. My body ached in places that had nothing to do with physical injury and everything to do with the shitshow going on in my head.
I rolled over and stared at the wall, forcing myself not to cryagain. I’d done enough of that last night.
“You’re awake.” Mierva’s voice was gentle from her bed across the room. “How are you feeling?”
“Like shit,” I said honestly. “But functional.”
“That’s something, at least.”
Baleck stirred on his bed near the window. “What time is it?”
“Early.” I sat up, running my hands through my tangled hair. “Sun’s barely up.”
We’d stayed up late the night before, after I’d stormedback to the guest quarters with a shattered heart. They’d asked questions. I’d given short answers. Eventually, exhaustion had claimed us all.
But now, in the gray light of morning, I could feel them both watching me with concern.
“So,” Baleck said carefully. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“Not particularly.”
“Too bad.” Mierva swung her legs out of bed, her healed arm moving easily now. “You came back here clearly upset and we both know that a convoy came that contained our crew. We’re your friends and we’re also upset. So we’re going to talk about it.”
I wanted to argue, but the truth was, I needed to talk to someone who wasn’t Rezor. Someone who might actually understand.
“Yeah, our crew was here,” I said, the words coming out flat. “Yesterday. Right outside the valley. And Rezor met them without telling us. He sent them away without letting us see them.”
Mierva’s eyes closed, briefly. “I’m glad they’re alive. That, at least, is positive.”
“Yes. We don’t know how, but it seems the weather towers that were causing the storms have been disabled.” I pulled my knees up to my chest. “I’d like to ask Zara about it, since she probably played a role.”
“Did Rezor say why he didn’t tell you until after they left?” Baleck asked.
“There seemed to be a lot of reasons.” The bitterness in myvoice surprised even me. “Because the council decided we’re too valuable to let go. Because of that damn prophecy about sky people bringing renewal, and they think if we leave, the storms will come back.”
“Ah, that prophecy,” Mierva repeated slowly. “They’ve been stuck here so long, their prophecies have taken on an outsized role in their decision making.”
“Three people crash-land and suddenly we’re their saviors or destroyers.” I laughed without humor. “Congratulations to us. We’re hostages to a fucking prophecy.”
Baleck stood and moved to the small table where someone had left food from the night before. He picked at a piece of bread, his expression thoughtful. “What did Rezor say when you confronted him?”
“That he was trying to protect me. That he needed to verify their identities before letting strangers into the valley. That he couldn’t just overturn thousands of sun-cycles of isolation on faith alone.” I pressed my palms against my eyes. “And maybe he’s not entirely wrong. But he still made that choice for us. He still decided we didn’t get to know our own crew was here.”
“Did he say if they’d come back?” Mierva asked.
“Yes. Zara apparently threatened to return with an armada. Rezor seemed to think that was funny.” I dropped my hands. “He told me when they come back with proof of who they are, we can do what we’d like. Leave. Stay. The choice will be ours.”
“Do you believe him?” Baleck asked.
“I don’t know what to believe anymore.” I stood andpaced to the window, looking out at the valley bathed in early morning light. “I thought… I thought we had something real. But how can it be real if he sees me as something to protect rather than someone to stand beside?”
Mierva was quiet for a long moment. When she spoke, her voice was measured. “I understand why you’re hurt. Why you feel betrayed. But I also see where Rezor is coming from.”
I turned to stare at her. “Seriously? You’re defending him?”
“I’m not defending his actions. I’m saying I understand his reasoning.” She gestured at the window, at the lush valley beyond. “This place is extraordinary, Cleo. Do you know how rare it is? How many species exist here that are extinct everywhere else on this planet?”
“What does that have to do with—”
