A murdered guardian. A stolen sapphire. A raven with opinions.

Brie must gather the Jewels of Tambor—learning courage, cunning, and a strength she never knew she possessed—all while braving a twisted foot, a lack of trust, and impossible odds. Meanwhile, Dogmar, known as Jackal, will do anything to claim the throne…until a stolen jewel begins to unravel everything she believes about strength and survival.

Chapter seven, Jackal

2

Dog Mar.

3

By the jewels.

4

What does he want?

5

Now the man is forever

bellowing about something.

6

I put down the throwing knives I've

been practicing with and walk in.

7

No particular hurry towards

my father's state room.

8

A stiff breeze has come up

causing white caps in the cove.

9

I let my hair fall across my

face, so I can't see the water.

10

if possible.

11

I prefer not to.

12

Remember, I'm on this loathsome ship.

13

The state room door is open.

14

I take one step in, but go no

further layers of dried salt.

15

Encrust the lattice windows

dimming the afternoon light.

16

It smells of a foul substance.

17

My father is always burning in a brazier.

18

There's a squawk and I flinch

looking around, I see the

19

perpetrator perched in the corner.

20

My lips curl in disgust.

21

What's that thing doing here?

22

My father stands rapier

in hand, eyeing a fly.

23

While I prefer knives, my father

favors the sword with a slash.

24

The fly is dead.

25

Looking satisfied, He puts down

the weapon and drops into a chair

26

behind an ornate wooden desk.

27

Shut the door.

28

He says, running jeweled

fingers through his black hair.

29

Hair, which praise pheon is the only

physical characteristic we share.

30

I expect him to be in his usual nasty

temper, but he's got a please expression.

31

I pull the door closed,

but don't step forward.

32

And why are you so happy?

33

I ask.

34

Crossing my arms.

35

Enclosed in this cabin, I

can feel my father's jewels.

36

The myriad of rings on his fingers,

the emeralds in the eyes of the

37

snake on his sword, the box of uncut

crystals he has gathered on this

38

trip a scattering of lesser jewels.

39

I can't identify.

40

And something else, something

new I've never felt before.

41

I'm happy my father says, because

I found what I came for.

42

Come here and I'll show you.

43

I don't trust his mood,

but I approach the desk

44

Just to annoy him, I rest my boot

on a cushion chair elbow on my knee.

45

I play with the piercings that

run along the edge of my ear.

46

My father reaches into a small

chest on the table and pulls

47

out an object as he does.

48

I feel a tug at my heart and know

instantly that he has a new jewel, a

49

strong one I watch as he opens his hand.

50

At the sight of the giant ruby, I

drop my foot and sink into the chair.

51

The force of the stone is intense.

52

I look at my father, surely he can

feel it, but his face is passive.

53

He can't feel a thing.

54

I suspect it's my mother's royal

blood that makes me so sensitive.

55

Unfortunately, despite my father's

inability to feel the vibration of

56

gemstones, he is obsessed with them

and can't seem to get enough subjugate

57

lords by my father's goodwill with

jewels tethered slaves mine, his

58

jewels Skilled craftsmen make a

living, cutting and setting his jewels.

59

I could hardly have been raised

in my father's house and not

60

recognized a precious stone.

61

But this ruby is different.

62

It warms my heart, and while it feels like

a soft blanket wrapped around my soul,

63

all I want to do is get away from it.

64

There is no room in my life for softness.

65

To cover my unease.

66

I attempt a board expression.

67

Who did you steal it from?

68

I ask with a yawn.

69

My father slams his

hand down on the table.

70

It was stolen from me.

71

Good.

72

He's angry.

73

Anger.

74

I know how to handle.

75

It's seeing him happy.

76

That throws me off.

77

Explain father.

78

I say with forced disinterest.

79

This stone and its seven counterparts have

been locked in the castle with the rest

80

of the royal jewels for decades after

our marriage, your mother as heir to the

81

throne, was supposed to gain me access

to them, but in the end, she reneged,

82

claiming my simple request was impossible.

83

I sit up straight.

84

What does my mother have to do with this?

85

I would ask, but I'm afraid

my father will quit talking.

86

Generally, he refuses to speak of

her and has everyone else cowering

87

at the mention of her name.

88

All I remember from my childhood

is that one day my mother was

89

ill, the next she was gone.

90

A month later, my father had the queen,

A null their marriage, so he could

91

conveniently wed my mother's cousin.

92

I recall the new woman being

kind and gentle, but those aren't

93

qualities that help a person survive.

94

In my father's world,

95

She didn't survive and died

a year and a half later.

96

As my father goes on, I wait silently

hoping he will say more about my mother.

97

if the order had granted me access to

the palace coffers years ago, as I asked,

98

all would be well, but they refused.

99

My father's face goes dark with

anger and I want to smirk.

100

It's good to know he can't control

everything, but mention of the order

101

causes such an accurate taste in my mouth.

102

It's impossible to be pleased.

103

I hate the scheming secret members

of the order even more than

104

I hate the mabu of pheon with

their snakes and blood offerings.

105

But at least I know who the mabu are.

106

Not even my father knows all the members

of the order and they are ruthless.

107

If crossed one wrong word, and a

whole family will end up missing.

108

No questions asked.

109

My father leans towards me.

110

Even when the queen made me keep

her, I couldn't get my hands on

111

the jewels of Tambor because the

order forbade it insisting that

112

they were only to be let out of the

coffers when tradition demanded it.

113

My only option was to

arrange a coronation.

114

My father looked smug and I wonder not

for the first time if he had anything

115

to do with the queen's untimely death.

116

With your coronation, eminent.

117

I finally had a reason

to examine the crown.

118

Imagine my surprise when I

found the jewels missing.

119

I roll my eyes.

120

It's ludicrous to think my

father only wants me on the

121

throne to get eight stones.

122

He wants me on the throne for the power.

123

I'll hold Still, there's more

going on here than I understand.

124

Tell me, father, why didn't you

infiltrate the guards around the

125

queen's coffers and steal them yourself?

126

Don't you think the order

has their own spies?

127

What would happen if I were

caught attempting such a ploy?

128

I shrug.

129

Why does the order want

the jewels locked up?

130

Anyway?

131

My father Snickers.

132

They would destroy the jewels if

they could, but since they think

133

it's impossible, they have opted for

the next best option hiding them.

134

But what's the point?

135

I demand.

136

the order knows the jewels.

137

Give the miserable diggers hope

138

makes them think they

are better than they are.

139

Gives them lofty ambitions, but the

people need a firm hand to direct them.

140

This answer is typical of my father,

just like the order he always thinks

141

he knows best to hide my annoyance.

142

I pretend interest in an extremely large

turmo lane that rests on a side table.

143

despite its size, the crystal is of

low quality and the vibration is weak.

144

My father keeps blathering.

145

I suspect the stones have been gone

since your mother crept away to die.

146

I struggled to keep my face imp passive.

147

My mother crept away to die.

148

My father takes a pinch of dried

thorn apple from a bowl on his

149

desk and mixes it with what looks

like powdered bone and dumps the

150

concoction into a smoldering brazier.

151

I don't know how he tolerates the stench.

152

Fortunately, due to my excellent powers

of persuasion, my father continues.

153

I obtained the location of the Ruby.

154

Now it's mine.

155

Well done Father.

156

Does that mean we can go home?

157

No.

158

My father snaps while one

jewel is better than none.

159

I want them all.

160

The raven here snatched the ruby

from the old woman who lives

161

at the top of the Seacliff.

162

I'm convinced she has more or

at least knows where they are.

163

My father frowns.

164

The men have been searching

for several hours to no avail.

165

Soon, I'll have to call them off.

166

It's imperative I get back to ultan.

167

The order must not discover

that anything is amiss.

168

Thus locating the rest of

the jewels is now up to you.

169

My father's eyes bore into mine.

170

Start by finding the

old woman and the girl.

171

I do my best to hold my father's gaze,

but my mind is a jumble of thoughts.

172

Gather the jewels alone.

173

Is he crazy?

174

But he wouldn't send me out

solo if he had any other option.

175

I'm too valuable.

176

I've read his papers in the

library, the secret notes.

177

He keeps locked in a drawer.

178

He needs the power of a monarch.

179

The power I will soon hold,

plus the power of a priest.

180

He'll use the presiding mabu of

pheon to reach an ultimate glory.

181

A thing he refers to as the Corvex Corona.

182

my father has been engaged

in this work for years.

183

He must truly fear the order

or he would stay here and

184

ensure the job is done himself.

185

I scowl while I'll do just about

anything to get off this rat infested

186

ship Being sent out in search of

some old woman the dragons can't

187

find, Wouldn't be my first choice.

188

Untrusting of my father's motives.

189

I narrow my eyes.

190

The bird could have picked the stone

up off a shipwreck or a banjara sulk.

191

Why do you think he snatched

it from the old woman?

192

Because I embarked on this

journey, especially to find her.

193

Unfortunately, I didn't recognize

the wretched crone when we first met.

194

I thought she would be older, and I

never expected her to wield a staff.

195

But it's her.

196

The Ruby proves it.

197

I click my nails on the arm of the chair.

198

There's something I'm not being

told, and as usual, my father

199

won't say, and what's in it for me?

200

I ask.

201

My father snorts my pet.

202

You are so predictable.

203

I cringe at the name.

204

I'll tell you exactly

what's in it for you.

205

He says, in a honeyed voice, well, you are

the most direct heir to the throne because

206

your mother died without being crowned,

your rights can and have been challenged.

207

I shrug.

208

all of this.

209

I know, but my only competition has such

flimsy ties to the throne that my father

210

has been able to thwart them easily.

211

He needs me crowned.

212

And here's the irony.

213

My father won't get the power he covets

unless he puts me on the throne and

214

I won't get the power I need to be

rid of him unless his plan succeeds.

215

Ultimately, we both want the

same thing for a different end.

216

Thus, I am left a prisoner

to my father's whims.

217

No doubt he has a scheme to keep

me under his control, but I am

218

determined to win my freedom.

219

One way or another, I'll be queen.

220

After all, how difficult could it be?

221

Don't look so smug, my father says,

as if reading my mind, you need those

222

jewels or you'll never be queen.

223

I don't believe him.

224

There isn't a stone or even a

group of stones that could stop

225

my father from having me crowned.

226

He covets the power too much.

227

You need me on the throne, I say with

confidence and you'll get me there.

228

My father snorts.

229

You don't understand my pet.

230

It doesn't matter who's on the throne.

231

If we are both dead,

232

chapter eight, jackal, They would kill us.

233

The thought makes my hand twitch towards

the knife tucked at the small of my back,

234

but I curb the instinct to defend myself.

235

Instead, I glare at my father as I

try to comprehend what he's saying.

236

Slowly, I piece it together.

237

For reasons I don't fully understand.

238

The order wants the jewels locked away,

but they are missing and my father will

239

be blamed as he has no way to prove that

they were taken before he was appointed.

240

Keeper.

241

The queen's keeper of the jewels

is supposed to keep the jewels

242

safe, not allow them to be stolen.

243

The fact that they are missing

puts both our necks at risk.

244

The only thing preventing our immediate

execution is that the order doesn't know.

245

Now that the ruby has been found,

the immediate danger must be over,

246

or my father wouldn't be so pleased.

247

He must have a plan of some sort.

248

I check his face, but his

icy eyes give nothing away.

249

He holds the ruby up to the window.

250

Even in the meager light,

the stone radiates fire.

251

I feel the need to shield myself

from its vibrations and pull my knees

252

up, placing my feet on the chair.

253

It is not unusual for me to get a

twinge or a pull from any given stone.

254

When a gem is exceptional, the effect

is stronger, but the strength of

255

this ruby is beyond my experience.

256

You have no idea the power this gem holds.

257

My father says in the wrong

hands, it could be catastrophic.

258

Judging by how the ruby makes me feel.

259

I don't doubt it.

260

My father frowns clearly

misunderstanding my expression.

261

If you don't believe me,

he says with a sneer.

262

Believe the legends

263

You've heard of the golden city, the

one that rose to power but was destroyed

264

when it couldn't handle its own wealth.

265

That's where the jewels come from.

266

I consider his words.

267

There are different

versions of this story.

268

Clearly, he prefers the one that suits his

purpose, but that's not the point You want

269

me to believe a children's tail I snort.

270

My father raises a brow and

looks at me as if I'm stupid.

271

fine.

272

I say putting my feet

down and leaning forward.

273

If the jewels are that strong,

why wasn't the queen all powerful?

274

She had access to them.

275

My father takes a deep breath

and looks as if he's trying to

276

explain something to a small child.

277

Not everyone.

278

He waves a hand in a circular motion, has

the fortitude for such power, and you do.

279

Yes, his eyes drill into mine.

280

My strength has been honed by the order.

281

If you don't believe me, ask the mabu.

282

They know my power pheon the king of

the snake, gods is under my control.

283

I'm shocked by his blasphemy.

284

I don't like the snake

gods, but I respect them.

285

And pheon as the great constrictor

is the mightiest of them all.

286

There are more venomous gods

to be sure, but for strength

287

and power, pheon dominates.

288

I'm not sure I'd be so quick to

call down Ion's Wrath if I were you.

289

My father spits his reply.

290

Ion has no real power.

291

I am confused.

292

My father was the one who led the crusade

to banish the last of the hesperian

293

priestesses, along with a smattering

of other trivial religious orders.

294

Then he established worship of the snake

gods as the official religion of tambor.

295

And because snakes like dragons

are known to protect jewels, the

296

people offer them endless tributes.

297

They believe that the more accolades

proffered, the stronger the gods become.

298

I know I'm playing with the sharp

end of a blade, but I get to my

299

feet and lean towards my father.

300

How can you deny the power of pheon?

301

My father's upper lip twitches.

302

I deny it, because when

I was a boy, I asked, no.

303

I begged for the mighty

Ian's help, but no help came.

304

His voice is harsh.

305

My mother died like an ordinary

wench with no aid or relief.

306

Don't talk to me about worthless gods.

307

They only have a place in this

country because I made it for them.

308

I'm astonished by his words.

309

What would the mabu say if they heard you?

310

His voice drops to a hiss.

311

Don't show your ignorance.

312

The mabu are my pawns and

through me pawns of the order.

313

I merely use them to control the people.

314

I think of all the rituals my father

has forced me to sit through the

315

rights I was expected to perform.

316

Was it all for show?

317

I can't believe it yet.

318

I have the sickening feeling.

319

It's true.

320

Why are you just now telling me all this?

321

Because this is the first time it has

ever been important for you to know.

322

There's a knock at the state room

door with a flurry of ringed fingers.

323

My father pockets the ruby.

324

I'm afraid this is the

end of our discussion.

325

I have things to attend to

before starting back to Ultan.

326

Find the old woman and be quick about it.

327

Your coronation is rapidly approaching.

328

I expected to be crammed one week

after the queen was entuned, but my

329

father insisted the coronation take

place during some celestial spectacle.

330

He calls a blood moon.

331

At the time, it was six weeks away and

seemed like an insufferable weight.

332

Now, with only four weeks left and seven

jewels defined, it's precariously close.

333

You'll have to pick a different date.

334

If I don't make it back.

335

I say my father shakes

his head with a sad smile.

336

It won't happen.

337

My pet, the date is non-negotiable.

338

I don't understand.

339

How can the coronation

continue if I'm not there?

340

What about his precious corvex Corona?

341

He needs me on the throne.

342

then.

343

I know he's afraid enough of the order

that if it comes to it, he'll give up

344

his plans and put someone else on the

throne just to save his own precious neck.

345

I thought I was indispensable.

346

It seems that I was wrong.

347

Get going.

348

My father says If you want your throne,

you better find the rest of the jewels

349

and get back to ultan in good time.

350

With my grasp on the throne

slipping through my fingers,

351

I feel a hot panic rise inside.

352

If the stones are so important, why

aren't you sending out a squad of dragons?

353

My father answers in a whisper.

354

Because you and I are the only

ones who can know they are missing.

355

If the word gets out, the order is

sure to hear, making a slicing sound.

356

He runs a finger across my throat

before starting for the door almost.

357

There he stops.

358

Dog Mar, get me those jewels.

359

His face is hard as steel

He's just through the door.

360

When I call to him, father, he turns

I need some shackles for the journey.

361

Very well.

362

He pulls a pouch from the belt around

his waist and tosses it in my direction

363

I reach, but it falls short landing

on the floor without caring or

364

even bothering to notice, my father

closes the door behind him, the man's

365

arrogance and my own helplessness.

366

Send me into a fury.

367

I grab the bag and throw

it against the bulkhead.

368

The strings aren't tied

and the coins spill out.

369

The raven startled by the noise begins

to flap his wings, and squawk I want to

370

pull out my hair in frustration, all my

work at controlling my emotions, and my

371

father can throw me into an instant rage.

372

I'm not sure who I hate more.

373

My father or myself refusing to act like

the man I fight to regain my composure.

374

A clack in the corner of

the cabin makes me look up.

375

I'm not the only prisoner here am I?

376

I say to the bird, the Raven Blinks.

377

I move across the state room

and open the lattice window.

378

a stiff breeze brings with

it the smell of brine.

379

The Raven watches my every action.

380

I step away and he hops to the seal

After a quick tilt of his head as

381

if appraising me, he spreads his

wings and swoops from the window.

382

I watch him flap towards land.

383

I thought setting the bird free would

make me feel better, but it only

384

makes my own bonds feel tighter as I

gather the coins, I determine to find

385

the jewels and get to ultan before

the coronation, no matter the cost.

386

If the stones are so powerful, they'll

ensure my crown and my freedom.

387

I tie the pouch of shekels to the belt

at my waist and feel for my knives.

388

There's a dagger in each boot

and a throwing knife tucked

389

in the small of my back.

390

satisfied.

391

I flip up the hood of my black

coat and stock from the state room.

392

I'm on the hunt and my prey is waiting.

393

Brie.

394

I feel like a tree cat.

395

As Reagan thorn's, men

search the forest at 1.2

396

soldiers stop right beneath our tree.

397

Do you suppose the old woman's a witch

and that's why we can't find her?

398

Nah.

399

More likely a banjara, you know how

they believe they're kind, can speak

400

to those black birds all magical like.

401

The first man scratches his chin.

402

You might have something there.

403

It would explain her

skills with the staff.

404

The sun is about to sink into

the sea before Nona motions

405

me to climb out of the tree.

406

The forest around us has been silent

for some time, and while I doubt the

407

men have quit their search, they have

at least moved off to other locations.

408

When I hit the ground, my foot

buckles and I drop to my knees.

409

Nona is by my side instantly.

410

I'm all right.

411

I hiss through the pain.

412

It's just stiff from my

trip to Vitas this morning.

413

Do your best.

414

No, no whispers.

415

We head northeast and I wonder

what JUUL is in this direction.

416

I would ask, but there isn't time.

417

As we go, the smoke gets thicker and

my heart aches for the burned forest.

418

We haven't traveled far.

419

When we hear a man's voice holler in the

distance, Hey, someone's on the trail.

420

in alarm.

421

I grab Nona's cloak.

422

I forgot to tell you, big Zach and

Gray are coming to dig Fremont's grave.

423

They'll walk right into the dragons.

424

Chapter nine, Brie at the mention of

Big Zach and Gray, known as face pales.

425

Find a place to hide.

426

She whispers and don't

come out no matter what.

427

before I've completely

registered her words.

428

She thrusts her bundle into

my arm and pulls her staff.

429

No, I'm going with you.

430

She spins on me.

431

Do as I say now.

432

But the look on her

face is so determined.

433

I stop mid protest.

434

Trust me.

435

She says, I'll be all right.

436

I nod just as a gruff.

437

Voice calls you there.

438

What are you doing?

439

The answer is faint, but I know it's gray.

440

I'm just here to dig a grave.

441

Nona motions me to get going.

442

Then she moves silently towards the

voices with a quick glance around.

443

I remember a hollowed

oak tree not far away.

444

It takes a minute to find quickly.

445

I toss in the bundles

and climb in behind them.

446

Before wriggling out of sight, I

strain to hear what's happening.

447

The only sound is the Twitter of birds

until there's a thump and a shout.

448

Nona has struck, straining.

449

I spy her through the trees.

450

When I see the dragon she has

attacked, I slumped down in the

451

hollow and squeeze my eyes shut.

452

for the first time.

453

I wish I believed in the whisper.

454

Jackal, I curse my father.

455

How am I supposed to find any clues about

the old woman with the dugout torn apart?

456

Still, I'll find something.

457

That's the way of it.

458

There are stronger and faster dragons

to be sure, but I have a unique

459

ability for getting what I want.

460

I rummage through a startling number

of books, strewn about the yard.

461

It's hard to believe they've

all come from the dugout.

462

I flip open a leather bound volume and

realize, to my surprise, that it's a

463

journal written in the ancient language.

464

Plenty of diggers can't read

and only a few scholars have the

465

learning to decipher such a text.

466

Clearly, this isn't an

ordinary woman I'm looking for.

467

Just despite my father, I take

the journal inside the dugout

468

and place it on a high shelf.

469

No point in letting

him destroy everything.

470

I am stepping back outside when

I hear a shout in the distance.

471

I hope it isn't what I think.

472

If the old woman is caught with the

jewels, it'll be tough getting my

473

hands on them before some high-minded

dragon delivers them to my father.

474

I sprint in the direction of the shout.

475

Soon I see a dragon

engaged with a small woman.

476

She spins and smashes him with her staff.

477

On one side of his heavy armor.

478

A moment later, she

bashes him on the other.

479

She's a blur of gray hair and brown skirt.

480

The dragon looks like he's trying

unsuccessfully to swat a fly.

481

Then I see a lean, sleek dragon.

482

Knock an arrow.

483

No, I yell.

484

With a smooth motion.

485

I grabbed the knife tucked in my

back and hurl it at the dragon.

486

It embeds in his shoulder,

but I'm too late.

487

The arrow has hit its mark and the woman

is on the ground in a pile of rags.

488

A swell of rage surges through me.

489

The dragon glances up.

490

I know by the look in his

eyes that he realizes his

491

mistake with a grimace of pain.

492

He pulls the blade from his shoulder

and slumps to the ground, and what

493

I hope is a great deal of pain.

494

Brie perched in the hollow of the tree.

495

I notice that the wind has

changed direction and the woods

496

are growing dense with smoke.

497

I listen for the sound of Nona staff,

but everything has gone silent.

498

There are no chattering

squirrels, no buzzing bees.

499

Even the air has stilled.

500

Rising ever so slightly.

501

I peek from the hollow through the haze.

502

I see a dragon looking down at

something on the forest floor.

503

There's an arrow protruding

from what looks like.

504

I can't breathe.

505

It isn't Nona.

506

It can't be Nona.

507

I squeeze my eyes shut and

slumped down on the bundles.

508

She told me to trust her.

509

She'll be fine.

510

She's got to be fine

511

and jackal.

512

There is no movement from the rags as

I bend over the figure on the ground.

513

She smells of herbs and goats,

the same smell as the dugout.

514

It's the old woman, no doubt, but

she's dead or soon will be curse

515

the dragon for being such a good

shot after searching her person.

516

I find nothing of value.

517

My anger rages to a boil

as I stalk to the dragon.

518

Sitting with his hand over the gash

in his arm, I pluck my knife from

519

the ground where he dropped it.

520

My father wanted the woman alive.

521

I hiss wiping the blade on his pants.

522

You better hope he's still in a good mood

when you get back to the ship or that

523

wound will be the least of your worries.

524

A cluster of silent men gather around.

525

I give them a hard look.

526

There is still a girl out there somewhere.

527

Find her.

528

I say with a snarl.

529

I don't have to tell you to

bring her in alive, do I?

530

The men shake their heads and disperse

531

Brie.

532

I sit on the bundles wedged

in the heart of the giant oak.

533

The space is so tight.

534

I can't move

535

Termites creep over my

skin, my face, my hair.

536

I want to scream and throw them off.

537

Instead, I sit motionless.

538

The chill of autumn air surrounds me.

539

Gruff voices echo in the woods.

540

The smell of smoke gets stronger.

541

I strain for Nona's voice, willing

her to be alive, silent, tears

542

stream down my face as heavy

boots, tramp around the tree.

543

It's just a girl.

544

She couldn't have gone far.

545

Could be anywhere though.

546

I've only been this scared once

before, but Gray was there.

547

He saved me by dropping a rope so

I could climb up the sea cliff.

548

He isn't coming.

549

A SOB rises in my throat,

but I choke it down.

550

Hours pass before the forest

go silent like a mouse hunted

551

by a fox I know to stay put.

552

When I finally emerge, the light of the

full moon struggles to shine through the

553

dense smoke drifting through the forest.

554

I make the sound of a night owl and

wait for Nona's returning whistle.

555

Nothing.

556

I whistle again louder this time.

557

The thud of my heart quickens as I

walk towards the last place I saw her.

558

She's there on the forest floor.

559

I drop to my knees, shake her shoulders.

560

She doesn't move.

561

Her skin is cold and ashen.

562

I know the truth.

563

Nona is gone.

564

With a whimper, I crumpled to the ground

like a wood bug and sob into her cloak.

565

Tears release the smell of her,

the damp earth of our garden,

566

mingled with mint and thyme.

567

I trusted her.

568

Why did she tell me to hide?

569

Maybe together we could have gotten away.

570

Oh, my Nona, I stay on the

ground for what seems like hours.

571

Finally, there's a silent whoosh of air

causing me to glance up a small brown and

572

white owl feather drifts down through the

smoke and lands in my outstretch palm.

573

I look around, but the donor is gone.

574

I hold the feather by its shaft.

575

It's perfect and beautiful.

576

The soft tendrils of down at the

bottom tell me the feather was once

577

tucked close to the owl's body.

578

Perhaps next to the heart.

579

I clutch the feather to my

own heart and cry again.

580

I sit slumped this way until

I know it's time to go.

581

I'm not safe in the open like this.

582

But I don't want to leave.

583

The dragons can kill me if they want.

584

I might even prefer it if they did.

585

But the feather, was it a coincidence

or Nona's way of telling me the old

586

wood owl is still out there, that

there are things she expects of me?

587

I remember Vita.

588

Then she needs to know what's happened.

589

Nona would count on me to tell her

With a lump in my throat the size

590

of a crab, apple, I get to my feet.

591

And I love you Nona.

592

I murmur.

593

I'm sorry I didn't tell you more often.

594

I pause, then add.

595

I'll try not to be reckless and I'll

take care of my foot gathering myself.

596

I pull known as cloak over her face

and rest the feather on her chest.

597

It's only with the greatest

effort that I leave.

598

returning to the tree, I fetch the bundles

599

under their considerable weight.

600

I head through the fire

blackened forest towards Vita's.

601

As I approach her dugout,

the sky is turning dove gray.

602

I'm relieved to find the woods in this

area unburned, but something is wrong.

603

The door is open and blowing in the wind.

604

Household goods are

scattered about the yard.

605

I drop the heavy bundles and stare

and dismay a twig snaps, then a

606

hand comes down over my mouth and

I'm pulled against a solid chest.

607

It's me.

608

Don't scream.

609

I'm held for a second longer

before the fingers loosen.

610

I spin to see the mole.

611

I'm furious at him for sneaking up on me.

612

I'm about to tell him.

613

So when I'm stopped by his bloodshot

eyes, he motions for me to follow him.

614

I do.

615

in a secluded grove along the sea, cliff

Gray halts and blurts out his story.

616

Paul wanted to stay and

help ma close up the house.

617

so I went by myself to

dig Fremont's grave.

618

I was almost there when I came

across a group of soldiers.

619

I ran to that old cave we used to

play in and stayed there until dark.

620

When I got back here,

everything was torn apart.

621

Gray and hails.

622

My ma and paw are gone and

there's blood, lots of blood.

623

He pauses.

624

I found P'S Body on the

rocks below the seacliff.

625

All I found of MA was her shawl.

626

I think her body was

washed out with the tide.

627

At these last words, gray drops

to the ground and rocks forward.

628

I kneel beside him and reach a

hand towards his head, wanting to

629

run my fingers lightly through his

hair to soothe him the way Nona

630

would soothe me the same way I've

learned to soothe injured animals.

631

But I pull back.

632

He's not my friend.

633

Not anymore.

634

We sit silently until I gather the

courage to tell him about Nona,