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"The Silent Archive may be sealed." Saying it makes me uneasy.

"Your involvement ends." Rhyven's expression says he does not believe that. Caelen notices. "Corvell."

"What?"

Caelen's face hardens. "You're not taking her into anything else without telling me." Rhyven looks toward me instead of answering him. Caelen's jaw tightens. "You're doing it again."

"It isn't my decision." Rhyven reminds him.

"Gods, you are infuriating." Caelen is up again, pacing.

"I've heard."

The familiarity of the exchange almost softens the room. Caelen points toward him. "I'm still angry." He bites out.

"I know."

"With both of you."

"I know," I say.

He looks at me. "I'm more hurt than angry."

That is harder to hear. "I know."

He breathes out slowly. Then glances between us. "What do you need?"

The question changes everything. Not forgiveness. Not yet. Participation. Rhyven moves toward the maps. "The other Chiefs need to prepare their Wings."

Caelen nods reluctantly. "Dax, Lyss, Soren and Maelis." He stands and approaches the wall. "We can't tell them everything without Neris' permission." "No," Rhyven agrees. "But we can tell them enough." Caelen sits again. "Magical interruptions, ward instability. Disorientation. Possible threat inside Varethia." He lists.

"Intensify training," Rhyven adds. "Without creating panic."

Caelen studies the marked patrol routes. "When?"

"Tomorrow." Rhyven answers.

"You already planned this."

"Yes."

Caelen looks at him. "I hate you."

"No, you don't."

His mouth tightens. The anger remains. So does the friendship beneath it. Both things can be true. Caelen looks toward me. "Blood Echo." I wait. "How much can you actually see?" The question carries none of Father's calculation.

Still, I tense. "More than Professor Neris expected."

"How much?"

I look at Rhyven. He nods once. "Emotion. Memory fragments. Sometimes years."

His face changes. Not fear of me. Fear for me. "And the Council doesn't know?"

"Not yet."

"Keep it that way."