Page 135 of Under Restless Skies

Part of the knots in my chest untangle. “Thanks.”

From across the table, he points a threatening finger at me. “Do not mention this to anyone. Not even to the bastard prince. He’ll try to stop you if he finds out you want to leave.”

“I won’t mention it.”

His eyebrows then crease. “Now tell me something. What happened to your mother? I always thought she died.”

“Does it make a difference?”

“I just wanted to know.”

I shrug. “She left. Told me she had the same right to happiness as my father, that she had raised us long enough. We were a burden to her. Always a burden.”

“Not a burden. You’re very brave. Had this been a decent place, I could envision great things for you.”

“Yes, because all you hoped for me was that I’d remain a cook.”

“A restaurant owner. It’s a very decent profession, better than serving an academy meant to feed an insatiable dragon.”

“But we also have to defend our kingdom, don’t we? From the invaders?”

“Oh, sure. But do you really think that jumping in the sky in our flimsy gliders does anything? Do you think a glider can stop a dragon? Obviously not. We only do it to increase our body count.”

Despite everything, I still can’t believe his words. “That can’t be.”

“Use your reasoning, and you’ll see it’s obvious.”

“What else is a lie? Katrine, she doesn’t care about dragons, does she?”

“She cares about killing them, so her class is useful. Again, more food for Auranius.”

“What about our classes on the Kingdom of the Riders?”

Mallor snorts. “Have you read that book? Do you think any of us actually went to our neighboring kingdom to study it? The point of that class is to strengthen our recruits’ resolve, make them willing to kill. That’s it. This place wants you stupid, naive, and obedient. Even the few books they let you read are nothing but pointless drivel.”

“And yet you work here.”

“I’m just trying to stay alive. Maybe I tell myself that I’m here to save some recruits. Maybe I’m too comfortable with the privileged lifestyle the academy provides. It doesn’t mean I agree with it.”

“Are there books anywhere? Real books? I wanted to understand what happened when I encountered that rider’s magic.”

“Books are written about knowledge they want to share. We don’t care about the riders’ magic, and the few people privy to it have no wish to pass on the knowledge. There’s nothing. Don’t try to look. Don’t try to ask. You’ll only paint a target on your back. The only thing you can do now is escape.”

I swallow and nod, my chest strangled with anguish, when I remember something else. “The letters. From Marcus. You⁠—”

“Yes. I intercepted and destroyed them, hoping you wouldn’t be tempted to join this place. Yes, it was wrong. You have no idea how much regret gnaws at me. I’m sorry.”

I shake my head. In the guise of protection, this man ruined one of the few beautiful things in my life. My chest burns with so much anger there’s no room for anything else.

When I don’t reply, he says, “I’ll come look for you when I have news. Either directly or I’ll send a messenger. Don’t try to contact me. Nobody can know I’m helping you, or it will ruin my plans. And don’t call attention to yourself, at least no more than you already got with this silly betrothal.”

I snort. “Easy for you to call it silly.”

“Very hard, actually. Quite painful. But the important thing is that you’ll survive. Your brother too.”

Survive. That’s all it is to this man. I don’t think he sees me and my brother as people, let alone as his children. And yet I’m still grateful that he’s offering me protection, and even more grateful that he’ll get my brother far from this academy, away from this kingdom.

“Thank you.” The words come between gritted teeth, but there’s truth in the sentiment.