from where he sat near the front. Roric radiated pure pride. Tauran smiled back at him.
“But,” Falka said, quieting the crowd. “This beautiful little titan wouldn’t have been with us today if not for our new archivist, Kalai Ro-Ani.” He gestured to Kalai, who looked startled by the sudden attention. Falka gestured for him to stand. Kalai stood, slowly at first, but then he pushed out his chest, corners of his eyes creasing. He had clearly tried to tame his hair into a classic back-sweep for the occasion, but a few rebellious strands near his temple had other ideas.
“Kalai Ro-Ani fell into our laps at exactly the right moment, possessing an expansive knowledge of dragons that saved this hatchling’s life while she was still in the egg. The Sky Guard owes you a great thanks, Mister Ro-Ani.”
A deep blush crept over Kalai’s face as he bowed deep to the applause of the crowd. He didn’t correct Falka’s misaddress.
Falka was about to speak again when a quiet rumble announced a tremor in the ground. For a moment, it grew stronger, the oil lamps hanging on hooks above their heads swinging faintly. People looked around, some making to get up from their seats, but as quickly as it had begun, it stopped.
“Earthquake?” Tauran asked.
“Seems as if our dear Mother Earth wants to congratulate you, too,” Falka said, earning him laughter from the crowd. He let a few moments pass, but when nothing else happened, he spread his arms and announced, “Let us eat and celebrate!”
* * *
The feast and celebrations lasted until the late afternoon. They lit lanterns and played music, and despite his fatigue, Tauran felt better than he had in a long time. Before the ceremony, he had been worried. Worried his leg would buckle. Worried he would fall into one of his fits of panic, and worried it would ruin it all, worried they would all see how pathetic he could be.
But none of those things had happened.
He ate with people he hadn’t seen in years. They talked about old times, and not once did those memories sting. Halfway through the evening, Roric tumbled into him, drunk as a skunk. He took Tauran by the shoulders and shook him. “I’m so fucking proud of you, brother,” he barked, patted Tauran’s cheeks and made the whole table toast in Tauran’s honor. Afterward, Tauran sat with Kalai by the soldiers’ table and listened to them bombard Kalai with questions about dragons, eggs and the Sharoani. Kalai was withdrawn at first. He had clearly never faced such a curious crowd, but Tauran’s casual arm on his shoulder seemed to calm him. After that, they all urged Tauran to tell the story about how he’d been kicked out of the Ground Guard, which filled the hall with laughter.
Eventually, he lost Kalai in the crowd, but if there was anywhere Tauran would feel safe to lose him, it was here. Amongst family.
Stepping out of the hall, Tauran took deep breaths of the cool evening air as the party slowly broke up around him. The sky was tinted lavender from the approaching sunset.
“Sir?” A young man in a ground guard uniform approached.
“Yes, soldier?” Tauran asked.
“There’s a messenger boy at the gate asking for you.”
“Thank you.”
The soldier nodded and stepped out of Tauran’s way. When Tauran made it to the gate, the guard on watch pulled it open for him.
Alone on the pavement outside stood Sparrow, the messenger boy he’d sent to fetch Kalai’s lunch. He smiled when he saw Tauran, displaying three empty sockets where teeth should have been. “There’s a note for you, sir,” Sparrow said, and held the folded paper out to him. “You weren’t at your apartment, so I thought I would find you here.”
Tauran took the note, flipping it open. It had no message. Only a name. Albinus Coile. The saddle maker. Written in the man’s own handwriting. Arrow’s saddle was done.
Tauran stuck the note inside his uniform and bent to look Sparrow in the eye. Lowering his voice, he said, “Next time, look for me only at my apartment. And if I’m not there, don’t leave the note, but return later. All right?”
Sparrow nodded, looking serious, as if afraid his misstep had cost him his tip.
Tauran smiled. “I have no cash on me tonight, kid. But listen.” He straightened and waved at the guard inside the gate. The man came forward. “Take this boy inside and let him fill a plate with as much food as he can fit on