my mind, I take a deep breath and add my own charge just below the others.
I’ve only Winter as witness to Bristol’s crimes against me and I don’t imagine judge or jury would welcome her in their courtroom. But if anyone will hold Bristol accountable for what he did all those years ago, maybe it’ll be the rebels.
And maybe I’ll get to see it.
CHAPTER 30
Seated around a table in the gathering hall is a somber group. Mars and Kyn are there, and Lenore. They’re joined by three others I haven’t met: an elderly woman and two men—one of whom is decidedly Kerce. His left eye is marked with a flake of kol. Bowls of stew and a heaping tray of crusty rolls steam into the air.
Mars introduces everyone, but I’m tired and the names don’t stick.
Kyn slides down so I can sit, handing me a mug of something hot. Boiled chocolate, smells like.
“How is Hyla’s husband?” I ask.
“Devastated,” Kyn says. “It was awful, Sylvi. But you, yeah, you know.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Dakk will mourn her,” Mars says. “There is no doubt. But he’s strong. He’ll pull through. He’s telling the girls now.”
I swallow down my tears. “They’re so young.”
“No one forced Hyla’s hand, Miss Quine. You can be sure of that. She chose her service to Paradyia and she chose this particular battle with her family in mind. Everything she did, she did for them.”
“But why are they here?” I can’t fathom why they’ve come. This Paradyian family could have stayed on their own island and been happy and safe. Why take up the rebel cause?
“Hyla and Dakk were our greatest allies in Paradyia,” the elderly woman says, “but with the letters gone, I fear we are adrift.”
“We are not adrift,” Mars says.
“Rayna’s letters?” I ask. “The ones in her satchel?”
“We’d been told there was a stack of letters,” Mars explains, “correspondence between someone in the Paradyian high court and a Majority councilman in Glas. It was Rayna’s brother who told us they existed. The letters gave every indication that Paradyia had a traitor. A highly ranked official who was trading state secrets to the Majority for stores of kol. Hyla and Dakk had long been friends of mine and have intimate connections to the king. I approached them on my last visit to Paradyia and they agreed to take these letters to the court once we had acquired them. In exchange for proof of treason against one of his own, we hoped the king would offer his services to us.”
“What services did you expect the king of Paradyia to offer you?” I ask.
“Soldiers,” Lenore says, very matter-of-fact. “To make war on the Majority.”
A wave of revelation washes over me. It’s so simple. He practically told me.
“Your army,” I say, remembering the conversation Mars and I had while trucking the Cages.
“Indeed.”
“It was brilliant plan,” Lenore says, “and I’m sorry to see it wasted, but Mars is right, we’re not adrift. Sylvi’s here now. Though I don’t understand why you hauled a trailer out here so close to the Flux. Surely it slowed you down.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, sipping the chocolate.
“Sylvi,” Kyn says, his stomach twisting. “Can I talk to you for a sec?”
“No, I’m talking to Lenore,” I say, setting the chocolate aside. It’s too hot against my blistered lips. “What do you mean you don’t understand? You’re the one who asked me to take this job.”
“Miss Quine,” Mars says, pushing his plate away, standing. “I think it’s time you allowed me to tell you that story.”
“What job?” Lenore asks, her brow furrowing. “There was no job. I asked you to help the rebels. And you refused. But you’re here now, so you must have changed your mind.”
My mind flails, fights to pin down the details of our original conversation. The conversation where she said Mars needed me. That I was the only one who could—
I’m on my feet now, kicking my way off the bench, flying toward the door.
“Sylvi,” Kyn says. “Wait!”
Mars pushes away from the table, reaching out an arm. “Miss Quine.”
But I dodge it and slam outside. The fire pit hisses and spits as rain continues to fall. Winter’s building up to something. I can feel it.
“Miss Quine, please.”
“Sylvi,” Kyn says jogging to my side. “Why don’t we take a walk, yeah? Over here. We can talk about . . . there are some things we should explain. Mars really. Mars should explain.”
Kyn steps in front of me, cutting off my path to the Dragon. His