Page 93 of A Tribute of Fire

She had a knapsack and dumped the contents onto her bed. Several scrolls fell out and one kept rolling right off the bed and over to my feet. I picked it up and turned it over and saw a wax seal with a leaf imprint on one side.

The symbol of the goddess.

Interesting. “What is this?”

Io held out her hand and I gave her back the scroll. “I’ve been promoted. Letter bearer. It’s now my responsibility to collect the letters every morning from Theano and deliver them to the messenger in a few hours.”

“Do you go into her office to get them?” I asked. Did I sound casual? Bored? It was what I was aiming for.

Because even if my instincts were pushing me to bring my sisters in on my plan, I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t risk being wrong and having one of them betray me out of loyalty to the temple.

“No. They’re kept in a basket outside of her office.”

Her words were at first disappointing, and then confusing. “Wait, Theano can read and write?” Wasn’t that forbidden here?

“It’s obviously necessary for the high priestess. She has to run the entire complex.”

“Who taught her?”

Io shrugged. “She’s been here a long time. She could have brought in a tutor to learn.”

“How long has she been high priestess?”

“I’m not certain. I could ask.” Io let out a little laugh. “Do you always question everything?”

“Yes. It’s my nature.”

She was still smiling as she told me, “You don’t have to have all the answers.”

“I’m afraid that I do.”

Io was laughing at my reply as Zalira and Ahyana came into the room. Kunguru landed on the windowsill and announced his presence before flying over to settle on Ahyana’s shoulder.

The others began to greet and chat with one another and I thought about the fact that Io was in charge of sending letters. I had no idea what information my parents had been given, what sorts of lies, half truths, and gossip had already reached the Locrian shore. Did they think both Quynh and I were alive? Both dead? Did they know that one of us had made it? Would they know which one?

I supposed that part didn’t matter. They would be destroyed either way.

My heart ached so hard that I put a hand over my chest. Not only for the loss of my sister, but for the pain that the rest of my family was currently feeling.

And would continue to feel for a long time.

I wanted to get word to them that I had lived. That might bring them some comfort. But I had no idea how to do it.

Io’s new position had initially made me think that maybe I could take advantage of it—sneak a letter in with the others.

But there would be too many risks there. Io might notice. I did not have wax or a seal—it would stand out.

And if it was addressed to the royal palace in Locris? I might as well paint a giant sign on the side of the temple announcing my lineage to the entire world.

Especially since Theano was the one who hired the messenger. It would be obvious where his loyalties would lie.

No, the best course of action for getting in touch with my parents would be to travel back to the docks and find a Locrian sailor that I could entrust with a message. Nothing could be written down where it might possibly be traced back to me.

“Do you ever go into the city?” I asked abruptly, interrupting the conversation where Ahyana and Zalira had been teasing Io about her new job.

“Why would we?” Ahyana asked. “It isn’t safe.”

“But you said that you went out with Daphne to work on some burned trees,” I said directly to Io. Was I misremembering that?

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