Another sad smile. “No. Many have now met their end and most others I don’t speak with that way anymore. Their minds need space to make a bond elsewhere, if they so choose.”
“Do you not want to bond with anyone?” I ask, stopping as we reach the top of the wall where Ninon has been spending most of her days.
She opens her mouth, then closes it before giving me another one of those long, sad smiles. “It’s complicated.”
Before I can probe further, she nods toward the watch-chamber. “There they are now.”
I look inside and see Ninon bent over some parchment, pen in hand frantically writing or drawing out something while Issa looks over her shoulder, nodding thoughtfully.
Issa sees us first. “Well, well, if it isn’t trouble.”
Ninon looks up, her face brightening. “Kaisa, come. I have something to show you.”
With one firm squeeze on my shoulder, Atlanta turns and leaves. I watch her move away, my heart heavy for her and the burden she carries. Maybe she’s stronger for it, but I can’t help wondering how strong and exceptional she would be if she didn’t have to fight so hard for every ounce she has now. I wonder how strongIwould be.
I settle down beside Ninon and she shows me all that she’s been working on with Issa. Most of it goes over my head, but from what I glean, Ninon has been able to track a series of patterns Dyeus uses that follow the stars, dependent on the type of clouds visible in the sky that day. According to Issa, if they can accurately place where Dyeus will be on any given night, they can calculate the furthest distance from those posts to create entry and exit points in the barrier.
“She’s a genius, this one,” Issa tells me, clapping a hand on Ninon’s shoulder. Ninon comes as close to blushing as I’ve ever seen, the light inside her practically beaming.
After that, Issa sends us off to prepare for sundown. As Ninon and I walk towards the enclosures for the night, I wait for her to tell me to stop following her, to go and explore my draconem abilities as she’s done every night since we’ve both gotten through the savagery. And maybe I should. If Zhoric doesn’t ever show again, I might only have my strength to rely on when the time comes.
“No pushback tonight?” I inquire when we make it to the enclosures without her saying a word.
“Hm?” She seems surprised to hear my voice, a bleariness in her eyes. “Oh…right. Of course you should fly.”
I bend to catch her eye, my concern an arrow piercing my heart. “Are you all right?”
“I’m tired. I’ve been working hard with Issa.”
I hum, rubbing my mark, far more faded than hers, my brows pinched with worry. “Make sure you’re resting during the day, too. Maybe it would help you in the nighttime?”
She reaches up and drags her thumb between my wrinkled brow. “You sound like Issa.” When I rear back to give her look of mock offense, a weary smile tips up her lips. She drops her hand. “Your meaning, not how you say it. She uses much more colorful language than you,” she says, though it’s with fondness that lights up her eyes.
“Issa seems to like you, an amazing feat of accomplishment since she doesn’t seem to likeanyone,” I joke.
Ninon’s smile unfurls, slow and gentle. “She’s a hard one, but I like her.”
“She seems like a hard worker, too. I can appreciate that.”
Ninon nods, joy lingering on her face.
Sheistired, but happy, too—happier than she’s ever been at home these last few years. I wrap one arm around her upper back and give her a solid squeeze.
“I haven’t been able to read much,” she says with a yawn.
“I told you not to worry about it.”
She goes on, pretending she doesn’t hear me. “But I did read something fascinating. Apparently, if your bond dies before you, you keep any magic or elahi they had in life.”
Thatisinteresting. “Oh, so after I bond with Zhoric, then kill him, I’ll get to keep his power?”
“Oh, no. If you’re the one to kill them, you lose it all.”
Oh.The air in my lungs all but leaves me.
“So, probably best not to go killing him,” she says.
I wonder why Ozias didn’t tell me that when I mentioned killing Zhoric when I first agreed to all this. I want to ask her for more, but her blinks are long and her steps are short. I hope tonight is the last time exhaustion takes her so deeply. I hope that tomorrow she will be awake and alert and we can take to the skies together.
