Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 235897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1179(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 786(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 235897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1179(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 786(@300wpm)
He nods. “You’ll have it by Monday morning.”
For better or worse, my fate rests in the hands of Dain Aetos.
My brightest light, I meant to prepare you but only had time for half the lessons you need, half the history, half the truth, and now time runs short. I failed Brennan the day I watched him walk the parapet, failed Mira when I could not stop her from following, but I fear my death will fail you. Your mother and I trust no one, and neither can you.
—Recovered Correspondence of Lieutenant Colonel Asher Sorrengail to Violet Sorrengail
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“Thadeus Netien,” Captain Fitzgibbons reads from the dais the next morning, his voice carrying over the formation in the snow-packed courtyard as he holds the death roll in front of him. “Nadia Aksel. Karessa Tomney.”
Hearing the names of every member in active service who has died the previous day takes longer than the typical quadrant death roll, but I appreciate the change. It feels right to honor those losing their lives. It also serves to remind me that though Major Devera has called a moratorium on killing one another within our walls, there’s an enemy just waiting to do so the second we leave.
There’s an enemy who thinks I’m going to come to her.
“Melyna Chalston,” Captain Fitzgibbons continues as the icy wind gusts, tearing at the scroll and stinging the tips of my nose and ears. “And Ruford Sharna.”
I blink.
“From Third Wing?” Ridoc’s head swings left, as do Quinn’s and Imogen’s in front of us.
“Fell from his seat during maneuvers yesterday,” Aaric says from behind us. “According to their Tail Section, Haem couldn’t see to catch him in the snow.”
It was an accident. Somehow that makes it feel even worse.
“We commend their souls to Malek,” Captain Fitzgibbons says, and a few announcements later, formation breaks.
We all head toward the dormitory wing, and Sloane grabs my elbow as we reach the door.
“I need to give you something,” she says, staring at the ground. “Follow me?”
“Sure.” Talking to me is at least a start.
She leads me through the rotunda, up into commons and to our small quadrant library on the right. It’s empty this time of morning, and I wait at the last group of study tables as she quickly ducks behind the first set of tall bookshelves.
“You can look at me, you know.” I unbutton my flight jacket. “My mother made her choice. You didn’t.”
“Not exactly.” Sloane pushes a loaded library cart out of the aisle. “I felt her power. I could have rejected it. Stopped it, even.” She rolls the cart directly in front of me. “But I wanted the wards up, wanted to live, so I let it happen.” She ends on a whisper.
“That’s a pretty valid emotion.” Especially considering that my mother had overseen the execution of hers. “And I’m not angry—”
“Did you know that I have Archives duty?” she interrupts, crouching down to the bottom shelf of the cart. “I thought it was kind of fitting, seeing as Liam always went with you when you had it.”
“Do you like it?” I manage to ask as my throat squeezes in on itself.
“Well, this morning it gave me a chance to see Jesinia.” She stands, pulling a large black canvas bag with her.
“Thank you.” I sling the straps of the bag over my shoulder, noting its exceptional weight.
She nods, then finally drags her gaze to meet mine. “It wasn’t out of revenge, I swear. I’m sorry I didn’t stop her.”
My hands clasp around the thick canvas straps, knowing she isn’t talking about Jesinia. “I’m glad you didn’t. Powering the stone was going to take someone’s life. If I had succeeded, Xaden, Tairn, Sgaeyl, and I would all be dead. The world needs Brennan, Aaric is…irreplaceable, and I wouldn’t trade you for any ward, Sloane. My mother made the choice she had to. You were the tool, but she gave her own life.”
Her next breath shakes. “Anyway, Jesinia said to tell you that two of the tomes were her selection and the other was passed along to her from leadership first thing this morning.”
Dain. A smile spreads across my face. Not only did he come through, but he did it in a way that no one potentially watching either of us would suspect. I hold the bag tighter. This could be my father’s final body of work. “Thank you.”
“Rumor is you’re headed northward.” Sloane folds her arms.
“Unfortunately, that rumor may be true.” I grimace.
Her face puckers. “Seems an odd place to search, given how cold it is. Don’t know about Tairn, but Thoirt hates the cold.”
I nod. “Makes sense, since Thoirt is a red. Many of their line’s ancestral hatching grounds were along the limestone cliffs at the edge of the Dunness River. My gut tells me north is the wrong direction, but Tairn doesn’t mind the cold, and most browns prefer it, so maybe Grady is onto something.” Andarna isn’t a big fan of snow, either, but maybe she isn’t stereotypical of her kind.