“I haven’t called a meeting for this yet, but we’ve gotten more information from Aine. The fanatic. The Zenith seems to be working with Mages. While the Purists want you and your sister dearest dead, the Zenith wants you alive. In fact, theyneedyou alive.”
My gut roils aggressively. I press my hand to my stomach, swallowing back the nausea. Ava doesn’t speak for a while, her lips pressed together, her hands against the desk.
“What are you thinking, Durvla?” she finally asks.
I don’t respond. Living in the Grounds with an ailment and the inability to hear the dangers around me was so difficult. Hiding Taig only added to my vulnerability. I never cared to fightfor justice. Not when I had to cower beneath the injustice to simply stay alive.
But now with Carys off the throne, and the kingdom and all its inhabitants in danger, if I can do even the smallest thing to help, it would be worth the risk.
Ava slams her hand against the desk, disturbing the map. “Speak up!”
I blink at her and draw in a breath. “I spent my whole life hiding,” I tell her. I tug back the sleeve of my tunic to show her my branding scar. “And it got me this.”
Faint surprise flickers on her face.
“I buried my head in the sand and minded my business. I protected Taig from the world, and he still ended up in danger, and I still ended up being arrested. Hiding here in the Verge feels pointless when there’ssomethingthat I may be able to do. It’s terrifying. I’m terrified, for sure, but I’d be terrified just sitting here waiting for the world to end as well.” I tug my sleeve back down. “I have a connection to Carys. Thathasto be important. She’s the one who’s supposed to be on the throne. If we can get her back there—even if it takes learning all we can about the prophecy—then I’m willing to do it.”
Ava nods, clearly sobered. Chiyo gives my shoulder an encouraging squeeze.
“What will we need for this mission, then?” Ava asks.
Suddenly unsure of how to respond, my hands falter. I rub them on my skirt before signing, “Preserved food, fresh clothing, hygiene supplies, and a group of rebels willing to help. But not too many that it’ll draw attention.”
If I’m not mistaken, that’s a mildly impressed look on Ava’s face. A poorly hidden smile twitches on Chiyo’s lips.
“Specifically, what do you need of these rebels? Any particular skill sets?”
“I …”
“Stop hesitating,” Ava berates.
“We’ll need a Healer!” I blurt. “A powerful one who can handle an entire group and … well, me.” It takes a lot of effort not to fidget. “I can travel with tinctures, but they only last so long and are only so strong. Your mother would?—”
Ava’s eyeroll cuts me off. “No,” she signs firmly. “There’s another Healer. Wain. He’s the one who’s been working onherrecovery. In addition to his Mage healing, he’s a Waterweaver.”
I lick my lips and stand straighter. “But Alys knows how to keep my symptoms best handled, and she’s a stronger Healer than Wain.”
An angry muscle twitches in Ava’s cheek before she makes ago on with itgesture. “Healer aside, what else?”
“Fighters. They don’t have to be Mages, but Mages would be helpful in a small group.”
Ava pulls out another parchment and slaps it down on the desk, grabbing a quill and inkwell. She sits, quietly scribbling for a while before putting her supplies away. When she stands again, she hands me the parchment. It lists names and related skills. “I believe Sloan and Isobel in particular will be great for your mission.”
Mymission.
She plucks the daggers off the map and hands them to Chiyo. I focus on Ava’s lips as she rolls the map back up.
“Sloan is level-headed, and Isobel has been waiting for a mission—plus she’s an incredible fighter, loyal, and brave. As you know—you’ve sparred with her after all—they’re both Galemakers. Chiyo, do you?—”
“Hells yes!” Chiyo says.
Ava nods firmly, though something I can’t quite figure out sparks in her eyes. “So, Durvla, you also have an incredibly strong weapon master.”
Now Chiyo’s face goes bright red as she tries and fails to hold back a smile.
Ava continues as if she hasn’t noticed. “I’m sure your lover won’t let his precious partner out of his sight. And then you have me. Leader and Obstructor.”
Obstructor?
