road was as still as a graveyard until Kira spoke. “If that’s true, why didn’t anyone tell us?”
“Because you don’t know how to keep a secret, Frizz.” Tekkyn wagged a finger at her. “You shouldn’t have told me anything about Ryon since you thought I was a Malaano soldier. If I really was, I’d report to Sa’alu, and he would be targeted as an enemy scout and confidant of the chieftess. Do you have any idea what they would have done to him in the barracks in Navarro if I hadn’t released him in our barn?”
His words split Kira like a sword. She didn’t want to imagine anything worse than what had happened to Ryon in the hay barn, but images flashed through her mind unsummoned.
She shook her head to clear it. “So you really did let him go?” She thought Ryon had just said that to try and win her over.
Tekkyn tipped his head at Lee. “And you have no control over your anger. If you knew what the Malaano were really up to, you’d try to stop them yourself and get caught. And if either Dad or I were discovered, our entire family would never be heard from again. And it wouldn’t be as merciful as a house fire, either.”
“You’re full of it,” Lee snarled. “You expect me to believe you’re a spy? The Resistance is like five guys in a root cellar. And Dad is a Malaano officer, for crying out loud. He’s no traitor.”
A wide smile trailed across Tekkyn’s face. “I’m glad you think so.”
“Wait, wait. Hold up.” Kira pointed at the floral emblem in the middle of Tekkyn’s tabard. “If you’re with this Resistance, why are you running around with a Malaano unit?”
“To get proof of the emperor’s crimes: murdering his own citizens, conspiring to raze Jadenvive, and manipulating a war between the tribes. We need hard evidence.” Tekkyn reached into a satchel on his belt and withdrew a sealed envelope. “Like this.”
Kira took a step forward, squinting at the folded paper between his fingers. “And that is . . . ?”
“A letter from Sa’alu requesting explosives from Navarro. He didn’t send me out just to escort you home.” Tekkyn gestured to their eastbound cart. “You know the man who makes the fireworks for the Waterdance Festival? With this order, he’d deliver materials that would enable the Emberhawk to launch a serious attack on Jadenvive.”
By the tails. Kira’s throat tightened. If he’s telling the truth . . .
“What are you going to do with it?” Lee asked in a low voice.
“Give it to Dad instead of the firework vendor.” Tekkyn slipped the letter back in his satchel. “He and the other leaders will use it to solidify the Navakovrae Resistance. We’ll gain more strength, and soon we’ll be able to declare our independence from the Empire.”
Independence? Kira’s knees felt weak. Freedom from the Empire was something everyone whispered about, but no one actually believed it could happen. Wasn’t there enough fighting already?
“Well, that sounds pretty good, but . . .” Lee flicked a fallen dreadlock from his face. “What about Jadenvive?”
“It’ll be fine; the attack won’t happen.” Tekkyn strode forward to close the distance between them. “The explosives are a big part of their plan, but of course they’ll never get them. The Emberhawk don’t have the resources to attack Jadenvive alone, and the Malaano can’t do anything outright, or it would be an act of war their citizens wouldn’t support.”
Kira’s tired mind raced through the possibilities. “Are you sure Sa’alu didn’t send any other letters?”
“He didn’t—he trusts me. I’ve worked for two years just to land some hard evidence like this love-forsaken letter.” Tekkyn walked past them and headed back toward the cart. “I’m sorry I had to lie to you—”
“Wait,” Kira said. “Shouldn’t we warn Jadenvive anyway?”
Tekkyn nodded. “Of course. Once this letter is safe, the Resistance leaders will contact the Katrosi chieftess. We’re going to want the Alliance as our allies when we declare independence.”
But Zamara . . . A thin layer of sweat chilled Kira’s forehead despite the breeze. There were too many whispers of threats to the treetop village. Ryon needed to know all of this.
“We should turn back and warn them now,” Kira said. “Sa’alu needs to be thrown out of the city.”
Tekkyn stopped and turned back. “Yes, but this evidence is priceless. I have to get it to Dad immediately.”
“You take the cart, then.” Kira whirled on her heel and started for Lee’s xavi.
Tekkyn caught her arm. “It