Augur Clari said in a kind voice. “And if you do not return, she will continue to be cared for.”
Tamra reeled back as if she’d been slapped. “I will return!”
Augur Clari smiled soothingly. “Of course you will.”
Tamra squeezed her hands into fists, digging her nails into the flesh of her palms, as she willed herself to control her emotions. “With your permission, I’d like to take Shalla home tonight, so I can explain.”
Standing, Augur Clari swept to the doorway, her robes brushing against the stone floor. “Have the student Shalla prepare herself,” she told the temple guard. “Her mother is here to take her home for the night.” The guard disappeared down the hall, and Augur Clari turned back to Tamra with her hands clasped in front of her. “I know you think ill of us, but we truly want only what is best for your daughter. I hope someday you understand that. We are not your enemy. The sooner you understand that, the more peace your soul will feel.”
Tamra bit back her usual response: What’s best for her is to be with someone who loves her. But how could she say that when she was leaving? By the time she got back, Shalla could have grown another quarter inch, learned countless more things, had a thousand more thoughts and moments that Tamra wouldn’t share. . . . Instead, she bottled that all up as she thanked Augur Clari, then returned to wait outside, back by the gate, for Shalla to appear.
Only a few minutes later, Tamra saw her walking sedately at first and then breaking into a huge grin when she saw her mother. She practically flew out of the gate and into Tamra’s arms. “Did Raia win?”
Of course that was her first question. She couldn’t have known everything that had happened after the race. “Third. But it was enough to pay for tuition. All is well.”
“Knew she’d be fast!” Shalla crowed. Looping her arm through Tamra’s, she half walked, half skipped away from the temple. Tamra let herself be tugged along through the lantern-lit streets. “Is she at our house?”
“She’ll be there by the time we are. She had some things to finish up first. Shalla, my sweet star . . .” She couldn’t find the words to tell her, not just yet. Instead, she let Shalla chatter about her day and all her lessons while they walked home. They paused at a bakery just about to close, and Tamra bought a bag of sweets, which Shalla guessed were to celebrate the race. “Have one.”
“Now?” Shalla said. “Before bed?”
“Okay, fine, have two.”
Shalla laughed but didn’t argue, popping one of the sugary sweets into her mouth.
As they drew closer to their house, Tamra knew she was running out of time. She’d planned to tell Shalla at the start of the walk, so she’d have time to react before seeing anyone else. She also wasn’t convinced that she’d stay unemotional, and she didn’t want Raia to see that and blame herself for this mess. “Shalla . . .”
“Can you just tell me whatever awful thing you have to tell me?” Shalla asked. “You’ve been acting melodramatically tortured the entire way home.”
Tamra smiled in spite of herself. “I’m that obvious?”
“Really obvious. Did someone”—she lowered her voice—“die?”
“Yes, but we didn’t like him so it’s okay.”
“Mama! That’s terrible!” She tucked the sweet into her cheek, making it bulge. “You know that’s not a nice thing to say, and Augur Clari says—”
“I need to leave,” Tamra blurted out. “For the racing season. You’ll need to stay at the temple while I’m gone. But I promise at the end of the season, I’ll be back, and everything will be better.”
Shalla tried not to cry—Tamra could see her trying so hard—but in the end, she sobbed against Tamra’s shoulder, just outside their front door, while Raia watched through the window.
The next morning, Raia did her best to avoid cartwheeling with joy on the road to the training grounds. She knew how hard it had been for Trainer Verlas to say goodbye to her daughter, but Raia felt stuffed full with hope and light and also Shalla’s ludicrously sugary jam.
Her mood crashed, though, as soon as she saw her parents at the dock. Several travel cases were stacked next to them. Clearly, they intended to join them on the trip to the Heart of Becar. Slowing, she felt as if her brain were stuttering to a halt.
Seeing them, Trainer Verlas ordered Raia, “Get the kehok ready.”