Page 115 of A Tribute of Fire

“It’s just hard to imagine that someone can be human one moment and then an animal the next. But I’ve seen a water dragon in real life, so who am I to question whether or not strange monsters exist?”

A bird called out. Io’s back stiffened and then she suddenly turned, depositing a big armful of squashes and melons into my arms. “Would you mind taking those to the refuse pile?”

I nodded and carried them to the pile located not far from the kitchens. I spotted Zalira and Ahyana in one of the storage rooms throwing bits of food at each other, laughing. I shook my head and smiled as I returned to the courtyard.

When I got there, I saw Suri studiously sweeping at the far end, but Io was gone. I approached Suri and asked if she knew where Io was.

No.

I crossed the length of the courtyard and found Io on the opposite end, on the side of the temple. She was standing on a bench next to the stone fence, peering over the top.

“Io?”

She startled and then whirled around. “Lia! You scared me.”

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing.” She quickly climbed down. “I thought I saw a bird.”

And she had climbed up onto a bench to look at it? A flower I might have believed, but not a bird.

“We should get back to work,” she said. She hurried off, and even though I berated myself for being far too suspicious, I still climbed up on the bench to look over the wall.

The alley was empty in both directions. There wasn’t anyone there.

But my instincts warned me that I was being watched. I continued to scan the buildings across the way, the rooftops. Nothing.

Uneasy, I jumped down and headed for the courtyard.

It reminded me that I wasn’t the only one keeping secrets.

My adelphia stayed up with me long past curfew. Kunguru joined us while we kept watch at the window.

I started muttering the names of the guards that I saw. “Isidora. Megiste. Phaedre. Cybele. Metis.” I knew exactly which routes they would take.

My pulse beat quickly in my wrists but I had to admit that a part of me was secretly excited. I’d wanted this for so long and I was finally going to be able to let my family know that I had survived.

I had already decided that I wouldn’t tell them anything about Quynh yet. I wanted to deliver that devastating news in person. Not to mention that her heritage and name were unique enough that if the wrong person intercepted my messenger, they might be able to piece together my true identity.

My heart twisted as I thought of my sister. The passing of time had helped some, but not nearly enough. I still missed her every single day.

“When?” Zalira asked in a whisper, rapidly shifting her weight back and forth on the balls of her feet. She was excited, too. Like she was the one sneaking out instead of me.

“Soon.”

Another guard came into view, but I didn’t know her. She had never patrolled before. I let out a groan.

“What is it?” Io asked, still exuding anxiety and concern.

“A new guard. I don’t know what her path will be.” I wanted to kick something. I was out of time. I had to let my family know right away to delay the prince as long as possible.

“I could contact your parents,” Io said. “I’ll speak to the temple messenger and ask him to write a letter on your behalf. I would just need their names and where your home is located.”

I nearly choked at her suggestion. “Thank you, but this is my responsibility and I can handle it myself. I wouldn’t want you to get in trouble.”

Although that hadn’t been specifically spelled out to me as a rule, I saw from her face that it was. It meant a lot that Io was willing to break rules for me. I squeezed her shoulder to let her know.

She patted my hand and then I released her.

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