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"Seven confirmed."

Cassian frowns. "Over forty-three days?"

"Confirmed." Nyra repeats. "There are references to others, but no names. Some records contradict each other. Some settlements only recorded population changes annually."

I exhale. "So potentially more."

She nods. "Yes."

I look at Jonas's name in my notes. Then Elara's. "Intervals?"

Nyra shifts several pages. "Variable."

"How variable?"

"Two days between some. Four between others. One gap of almost a week."

Cassian exhales. "No pattern."

"Not yet." Nyra corrects him. That yet settles unpleasantly in my stomach.

"Does Professor Neris know?" I ask.

"Not this part."

"We tell her."

Nyra nods. "And the Chiefs." Cassian adds.

"After we verify it." Nyra says.

He stares at her. "How much verification do you need?"

"Enough that we don't tell the people responsible for defending thousands of lives that an attack is coming in forty days when we have absolutely no evidence an attack is coming in forty days."

Cassian considers that. "Fair."

"Thank you." Nyra smiles proudly.

"Still terrifying."

"I know."

The afternoon training field is easier. Not physically. Nothing about Council training is physically easier. But here, problems have answers. Run faster. Watch your formation. Read the dragon. Listen to your Chief. Don't get anyone killed. Simple. Almost comforting.

Today's joint exercise has no dragons. No smoke. No manifestations. Only people. Rhyven stands at the center of the field with Lyss, Dax, Soren and Maelis while Caelen checks the rear formation. Rhyven's sleeves are rolled. Of course. He waits until everyone is positioned. "Today is simple."

Someone near me whispers, "That's never good." Correct.

"Maintain awareness." Rhyven points toward the marker at the opposite end. "Move your assigned group from here to there."

A student raises her hand. "That's it?"

"Yes." Several people relax. Rhyven continues. "If anyone is left behind, you fail." There it is.

The first group loses someone in thirty seconds. A second-year stops to fix the fastening on his arm guard. No one notices. The formation keeps moving. Rhyven blows the whistle. "Dead." Everyone stops. The student looks embarrassed. Rhyven walks toward the group. "What happened?"

A wolf answers. "We lost awareness."