“I tried already,” Kiron said, rubbing the back of his neck. “The Karag have to approve all applicants who volunteer for the exchanges. They give the assignments. I was accepted into the rider training only because of my background as a soldier. But you…”
“They accepted me already? When you submitted my name?” I asked quietly.
“You would be well suited there,” Kiron continued quietly. “The star apprentice of thepyrokimaster? No one will think twice about why you’re there. You’re more than qualified, and the Karag thought so as well. Even my commander thought it would be a good choice, as long as there was someone I trusted on my behalf in Karak. Blood relations only. And it’s only for a season. Then you’ll be back home.”
“Kiron,” I said, shaking my head. “I really don’t like this. It feels…it feelswrong. Me? A spy? What am I even supposed to do? What are we going to tellLomma? And our father? And what am I going to tell mymrikro? ‘Thank you for training me for all these years as your apprentice, but I’m leaving for Karak at week’s end’? The second birthing season is here. I can’t leave him right now when?—”
“Amaia,” Kiron interrupted.
And with just my name, he struck me silent.
I realized that I was being selfish because the choices were clear: let Kiron risk his life every single day trying to claim a dragon, or go in his place to work, safely, in a hatchery.
To be a spy for my homeland.
I glanced back at the closed door of the home we’d grown up in. I thought of my mother and had the vivid image of her grief if we learned of Kiron’s failure in Karak. I thought of my own grief, knowing I could have done something and hadchosen to turn my back on my only brother when he’d needed me.
Just like the heartstone magic, there was no choice. Only the illusion of one.
I heard heavy footsteps making their way up the wooden stairs. I would recognize the slow and steady thumps anywhere, and when my father finally appeared on the porch landing, seeming surprised to see us there, Kiron went to him.
“Son,” our father said, brow furrowing. He hadn’t known Kiron would be here tonight, evidenced by their tight embrace. My throat burned when I spied my father’s eyelids squeeze tightly together, a male who rarely showed emotion save for his quiet contentment.
“I’m staying for supper tonight,” Kiron told him, pulling back and cutting me a look. “We’re just catching up.”
Our father didn’t say much, merely bobbed his head in a nod. “I’d better go wash up, then. You know how your mother gets,” he said before disappearing through the front door.
The warm, spiced smell ofwrissanstew floated out to us, followed by our mother’s quick exclaim of “Thereyou are! I was beginning to worry. Did you see?—”
The door closed, and it was just me and my brother once again.
“You have a choice in this, Amaia. I know I ask too much of you, but?—”
“There is no choice,” I said, cutting him off. “I’ll go.”
Silence spread between us. It seemed as though Kiron was holding his breath. “You will?”
“Lysi,” I said, feeling that answer settle in my bones. It didn’t feel real. But I had a feeling reality would catch up with me in the morning. I would enjoy tonight, I decided. With my family. “And like you said, it’s only for the season. Mymrikrowill understand. I’ll figure out something to tell him. ButLomma…andPattar…”
“Leave them to me,” Kiron said. “I’ll explain. I can have a missive signed from theDothikkarfor yourmrikroso that he knows you’re going in duty to Dakkar.”
“It’s settled, then,” I said quietly, gazing out over Drukkar’s Sea and Bekkar’s Shield, the mountain range just before it.
“Amaia,” Kiron said, catching my hand when I turned toward the front door. “Kakkira vor. Thank you.”
I pressed my forehead to his when he embraced me. “I missed you too.”
He released me, and I could see a large weight had been lifted off him. I wondered how long he and his group of guardsmen had been discussing me as a potential alternative.
A pressing question rose. “When do I leave?”
“In three days,” Kiron replied.
I swallowed. Hard.
So soon. So much to do before then.
But Kiron was wrong. I wasn’t doing this for Dakkar. Or the king. I was doing this for my brother only. And that was all that mattered.
