“I know it would be an enormous sacrifice to ask that First Daughter Zara join me on the battlefield,” General Isa continued, “but I believe that only a few demonstrations of her power will change the tide of the war. We have never been able to fight back at this level. And without their aerial assaults on us, the Zephyrian soldiers would be easily defeated by our riders.” Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes shone.
“I’m willing to risk everything to save our people,” I said when neither queen said anything. “I don’t know the limits of this power, but I think it’s enough to finally gain the upper hand on the Eagle Riders—or, at least, make them think it’s enough to defeat them. To maybe even force a treaty. To bring an end to this terrible war.”
“What is the cost of this power?” Ama asked, her tone and expression much calmer than I would have thought. Didn’t we just tell them we had the key to defeating our enemies?
“It weakens me significantly and hurts my ability to communicate with Shazeera,” I admitted. “The first time I used this power—” I faltered in my speech for a moment when Ama gave me a shocked look and then glanced at General Isa accusingly. “It was when an Eagle Rider attacked Shazeera and me on our own when we had fled camp. I should have told you about it, but I was scared of what it could mean. That first time, I couldn’t hear her in my mind for a full twenty-four hours. But that was only one rider…I don’t know what will happen this time.”
Shazeera looked at me, and I wished I could hear what she was thinking. Though I didn’t have to read her mind to know thatshe, too, would be willing to risk our bond to save everyone else. Horses always put the good of the herd first.
Ama stood and walked over to Shazeera. I held my breath when she rested her forehead against Shazeera’s. They both closed their eyes. After a few painful moments where the silence seemed interminable, she finally said, “The link between you is still there—I feel it. It’s only been suppressed, not broken, so I’m confident it will be restored once again.” But before I could smile with relief, Ama met my gaze. “But it’s weaker than it was, like a fraying rope. Each time you use this new power, you risk breaking your link permanently.”
Shazeera’s head and tail dropped, and my shoulders slumped. Mariyah scooted closer and linked her arm with mine. It hurt to hear what I had suspected to be true from the moment I first used the power.
Ama turned to General Isa. “And you would ask her to risk her bond with Shazeera?”
To her credit, the general didn’t even flinch. “We have all made sacrifices in this war, Majesty. Shielding us with your wards is draining your very life. Soon, your body will give out, and you will die. There have been many of us who have already given up our lives—or the lives of our horses—for the good of our people. I think First Daughter Zara understands what a ruler must do for her people.”
“Do not put words in her mouth, General,” Ama admonished. “Do you understand that using this power again can destroy your bond with Shazeera permanently? And I cannot predict when that will happen. It could be the next time, or the time after…but based on the way the thread between you has already deteriorated, it won’t survive many more times.”
I could feel the color drain from my face at her words. When my eyes sought out Shazeera, she gave a little bob of her head.
But before I could respond, General Isa interrupted. “As terrible as that would be, comparing the loss of a bond to the annihilation of our people is no contest. Look back at history!” she said, her eyes flashing. “Half of our tribal nations fell to the Zephyrians. There are only three of us left, and we are hanging on by a thread. We will not last a month. The Zephyrians will conquer us, kill those who stood against them, and crush the rest. So forgive me if I don’t hesitate to recommend that First Daughter uses this wind magic no matter the price.”
The tension in the room was so heavy it felt like a storm had descended upon us. Ama and Queen Jazela had matching murderous looks on their faces.
“Tread carefully, General,” Ama warned.
“I’m only asking that you give your daughter the chance to make up her own mind for the good of her people, just asmydaughter willingly gave up her life in this war.”
“Your daughter was a hero,” Ama said, her expression somber, “and we will never forget her sacrifice. However, she wasn’t First Daughter with the responsibility of carrying on the Sorayan line.”
“You’re not listening to me, my queen! Soon, there won’t be a line to continue. We will all be dead or enslaved.”
Ama’s eyes flashed. “You overstep, General. How dare you talk down to me.”
General Isa closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Forgive me, it certainly isn’t my intention to talk down to you, my queen. I just want First Daughter to be given the chance to choose for herself.”
“I will do anything to save our people,” I interrupted, forcing my voice to sound strong despite the fact that my hands were shaking, “even risk my bond with Shazeera.”
“Surely the Earth Mother wouldn’t be that cruel,” Mariyah said, her own eyes shining with tears at my distress. “Why would earth magic hurt a bond between a daughter and her horse?”
Ama and Queen Jazela had only to look at each other for me to know the answer, but it still made my chest constrict painfully.
“Because this isn’t earth magic,” Ama said.
Mariyah’s mouth dropped open, and even General Isa recoiled slightly.
“Summoning the strength of the wind has nothing to do with the earth,” Ama said. “It is magic of the sky.”
Queen Jazela nodded slowly when Mariyah glanced at her for confirmation.
“Where did it come from?” I asked, heartbeat loud in my ears.
“Not from the Earth Mother,” Queen Jazela said.
“Earth magic can only be passed from mother to daughter,” Ama said with an admonishing glance at her sister. “All the First Daughters have abilities that can be traced back to the Earth Mother. It’s part of their royal inheritance.”
“I know all that,” I said with more than a little frustration leaking into my tone. “What are you trying to say? I’m not really a First Daughter?”
