“But Crystal Hollow is new to the fight.” Gisa looks back at Zan, then at me. “The Order will not learn any more about you from us. And if anyone thinks I don’t have the authority to enforce that...” She bares her teeth at the room. “Reconsider how many of your secrets this old woman knows.”
My wrath twines with fierce satisfaction. Gods, I knew I liked her.
And I can see how she used to lead this community in how far ahead she’s thinking: She must realize that withthe Sage of Wrathand adragonworking together, we can go anywhere in Kameya—in theworld—and kill whomever we choose.
(In theory. In practice, it is more complicated than that—anti-dragon defenses exist. But it’s a lot more possible than any of our enemies will be comfortable with.)
Our main vulnerability is if Crystal Hollow leads or allows our enemies to find us when we’re at rest. Which means if Zan and I—and Teren, and Nomi, and anyone else who for whatever reason cannot have the current Order in their business—are to stay here, Crystal Hollowmustbe willing to hold the line for any threat Zan and I offer to matter.
And, of course, we are also vulnerable when the people we are close to are threatened.
But the answer to that is solidarity, not division.
Not sacrifice for convenience, because as soon as you cede the line, you will keep ceding it.
That’s why the Order is always so desperate for my skills, after all. My ability to cause people to break their own boundaries is unparalleled.
Wouldn’t it be a wonder, if I could do it the other way too, and help people hold their boundaries against threats instead?
I am absolutely forcing the issue, but they do still have a choice here, and Zan was right, before: I need to let them make it.
But that isn’t the same as quitting the field.
“Hey, Sunani,” I say.
She blinks up at me, wide-eyed.
“Want to share a table with me at the market?” I ask. “My ice cream is melting, and I could use some help setting Teren’s blankets up.”
What I actually need help with is a reason for people to still be willing to come talk to me now that my secret is out.
If she agrees I’ll confess that to her once we’re away—I don’t want to use her under false pretenses like apparently so many want from her—
“You’re leavingnow?” Romasa asks. “With this mess you’ve made—”
“Yora didn’t make it,” Nomi snaps. “People who are targeted for simply being born do not bear blame for it. And she’s offering to fix a problem for us that she doesn’t have to—”
“Two problems she doesn’t have to,” Haben points out. “Priestsandice. And who even are we in Crystal Hollow if we’ll lose out on a chance for ice cream?”
The tension pops with some startled chuckles.
Teren wasn’t kidding about ice cream being special in Crystal Hollow, apparently.
Sunani stands. “I’d be happy to. Who needs bread when there is ice cream, anyway?”
More laughs as she makes her way out of the crowd toward me while Waten blusters.
«Let Sunani have the last word,» Zan’s voice advises in my mind.
I don’t startle, only barely. Since when can he do that while in human form?
But I don’t argue with him, Sunani and I walking side-by-side back out the door without another word even as chatter erupts again behind us.
Chapter 24
“Isthatnew?”Imurmur to Zan.
He shrugs.
