“If only we all had the courage it takes to yell at a god,” Sofia said bitterly, chewing on the goat meat. It was smoked perfectly and delicious, but she could hardly appreciate it. Her mind was spinning.
“I can’t blame them for wanting to know.Iwant to know.”
“And you’ve asked. Plenty of times. I’ve seen the way Chalia reacts. One of these days, she’s going to fly off and not come back.”
Flor rested her head on her hand, looking just as defeated as Sofia felt.
“She just can’t betray her family,” Sofia said. “I get that.”
Her stomach twisted at the thought of her own family. She’d tasked Fox with finding them. Had he by now? Were they okay?
She couldn’t dwell on it. She needed something she could control. Something she could do to help.
“I think it’s time to read!” Sofia declared.
Flor gave her a blank stare. “Reading? Seriously?”
“I stole every book on dragons I could find from Harlow’s stash. Maybe there’s something in there.”
“You don’t think if those books gave away the location of the dragons’ hiding place, Harlow wouldn’t have already raided the damned place?”
“You’re assuming that man could find his own ass without the help of others.”
Flor only raised an eyebrow, and Sofia conceded with an exhausted sigh.
“It’s a long shot,” she continued, “but there’s a chance something is in there that we will understand. Something that he couldn’t. At the very least, perhaps I can learn enough to tease new information out of Chalia. Something to appease the others into leaving her alone.”
Flor threw up her hands, pushing herself up from the clay bench. “Fine. Let’s go read. At least it’s illegal.”
“See,” Sofia said, standing up and hooking her arm with Flor’s, “you’re seeing the fun in it.”
“Perhaps we’ll take the entire kingdom down by reading.”
“Why else would they keep it from us, if not to keep us compliant and ignorant? Let’s go commit some treason.”
It was justafter daybreak the next day when Chalia sent Sofia a message that Lumi had returned. She was bent over a set of books, trying to organize them by time period and authorship, a quill between her lips. Her neck ached, and her hair was loose around her shoulders, occasionally falling in her eyes as she strained to understand the text.
Sofia had to stop herself from rushing up to the forest floor, though it would get her the news no sooner. Instead, she passed the message on to Flor and Javi who were half-helping, half-napping beside her, and the three of them went to wait next to the lake. Chalia had clearly told the others, because a moment later Micael, Jacinta, and Clarita emerged from the kitchens.
The shapeshifter swept down from the sky and into the cenote, their wings spread wide. They weren’t a very large hawk, but Sofia felt herself flinch, as if the bird might attack. Instead, Lumi dove with a flourish and twist, landing gracefully in their human form. Sofia was getting used to their frequent nudity.
Micael and Javi were stone-faced, their eyes both focused high on the shapeshifter’s body, trying their best to stay neutral. Jacinta, on the other hand, didn’t hold back her apparent admiration as she took in Lumi’s naked figure. Flor, for her part, scowled, eyes cast to the ground as if Lumi had personally offended her. Sofia had never known her to be prudish.
“What’s the news?” Clarita said, preempting any chitchat.
Lumi shivered, as Sofia realized it was early enough that the night’s chill lingered, the cold season’s sun doing little to warm the air. She opened her mouth to say something, but before she could, Flor haphazardly tossed her own cloak at Lumi.
“Put on some damned clothes before we talk,” she said, not quite looking at the shapeshifter.
Clarita nodded. “Flor’s right. We should make a fire and tea. This is a discussion to be slowed.”
Sofia bit her lip. This wasn’t a time to slow the conversation. She needed to know exactly what Lumi knew. But the rest of the group dispersed before Sofia could argue, acting on Clarita’s orders.
Twenty overlong minutes later, the fire was crackling merrily as the group sat around it, hot tea steaming from warm mugs. Sofia took hers in her hands, begrudgingly grateful for the heat of the clay as she sat between Flor and Javi.
“So, what are the updates?” Sofia said once everyone was seated. No one else was asking, and she didn’t want to wait around any longer. Clarita threw a light glower her way. Sofia knew she was being rude, but she didn’t care.
Lumi only gave a small smirk before they set their tea down. “I found Vato,” Lumi said, their smirk turning to a soft frown, “but it’s worse than we expected. They’ve tightened the leash on the Dragonborn, and the city is in full lockdown. No one is allowed on the streets at night, and anyone moving between neighborhoods during the day needs a stamped pass from a Dereyan family. The king’s men are sweeping through every house, looking for books, papers—anything written.” Lumi turned their eyes to Sofia, staring her down. “They’re looking for information on the dragons. Your little fox works directly with the chief commander. They’re looking for how to control them.”
