Page 164 of Phoenix's Fire

"Yeah, we just grow up together," Saveah said.

I heard her, but I was still thinking about that. About my mother being in quarantine, and how children from quarantine couldn't marry, but Tobias was courting Callah. I'd always thought that wasn't allowed, but it seemed there were exceptions for everything a man wanted. But as my mind spun around it, I suddenly realized why it wasn't allowed.

"They don't know if we're related," I breathed, making Saveah's head twitch.

"What? Who?" she asked.

I waved her off, realizing half of that had been in my head. "The women they take," I explained. "They don't know if they're related, so they don't let the children of quarantined mothers marry each other. We could be cousins! They always said it was because our mothers were possessed, but..."

"Shit," Saveah breathed. "Yeah, and that means they're intentionally hiding it."

"And Tobias is Jerlis's nephew!" I hissed.

"Who?"

"The man helping us," I clarified. "His mother was Jerlis's little sister. Ione. I don't know Callah's mother's name. We didn't talk about the women in quarantine. It was considered shameful. I mean, Callah and I talked about our moms, but not by name. What if..."

"Ask," Saveah told me. "The next time you see that man, you ask for her name and we'll figure it out."

"But if they're letting Tobias court another child from quarantine, what about the others?" I pressed. "We don't even know how many are down there. Callah's and my mother are both dead. I think Tobias's is as well, but the last time they attacked Lorsa, a hunter was trying to convince a woman he was saving her. They'restilltaking women, Saveah!"

She nodded slowly. "I know. When you said Mom was down there, I realized she wouldn't be the only one."

"But..."

"And we can't do anything about it," she went on. "Stopping them is what matters most. Those women have already been mourned. What we need to focus on is making sure no more are taken."

"Or both," I realized.

"Yeah, or both," she agreed.

Fifty-One

Ayla

Tamin's squeal of delight snapped me out of my spiraling thoughts. It seemed Holly had stolen the toy and was now running around shaking it like she wanted to kill the thing. Tamin was trying to get it back, but my dog kept bowing down - and running when Tamin was almost close enough to touch her.

"Oh, he's going to sleep so good tonight," Saveah told me.

"Lansin said she's just a puppy," I explained, "so she's got a lot of energy too. I don't mind if Tamin wants to play with her."

She gave me a knowing smile. "And I'm sure you'd be running around with her if we weren't here."

"Well, yes, but - "

"Nope," Saveah said, smiling to show that wasn't meant to be mean. "Ayla, I don't know much about your life before you got here, but it sounds like you never got to play. That means you deserve it."

"I do play," I promised. "I get to read all the time, and every night Zasen takes me hunting. I go see Meri when I can, and I'm learning how to use the bow..."

"Those things sound like responsibilities," she countered.

"But Ilikethem."

"And what do you do just for yourself?" she asked.

"All of it!"

She grunted, clearly not impressed. "You read to learn things and catch up. You hunt so you can fight back against the Moles. You check up on Meri because she needs you, and you're worried about her. None of that is completely selfish."

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