Page 77 of Of Flame and Fury

Sirens blared overhead, signaling the looming race. Kel struggled to breathe around a fresh wave of nerves.

Rahn appeared to Kel’s right, stumbling beneath the weight of a duffel bag. “Ready to gear up?”

Her heart jittered. With only a few days to train on Sav, she most definitelywasn’tready. Kel quickly tugged the duffel bag from Rahn, easing it onto the ground. She tried to ignore Dira’s and Coup’s heated whispers in the furthest corner of the tent.

Rahn quickly began rummaging through the bag. She nestled an upgraded comms device in Kel’s ear, helped Kel adjust Savita’s latest saddle, and checked the new full-body airbags threaded into the riding leathers. The last wouldn’t protect Kel if Savita heated up like she had during the previous race, but at least she could jump from the saddle and not break every bone in her body.

Rahn’s fingers traced Kel’s gear with light, precise movements, and she hummed absently as she worked. Kel was surprised to recognize the tune.

“What’s got you smiling?” Rahn asked.

Kel hadn’t realized she’d been smiling. “My father used to sing me that lullaby. He was terrible—off-key and croaky—but I loved the song.”

“The Gilded Lullaby” was one of her favorites. The lyrics snuck into the fissures of her skull, echoing in her father’s raspy voice. It sang the legend of Ryker’s fatal injury: torn apart by a sea monster he’d swam too close to, and then reborn through Deja’s shared magic.

For two years, Kel had rarely let herself think of such stories. But after seeing Coup so burned and broken, she wondered if, instead of ignoring the pain, she should let it envelop her. Maybe it would work through her, bit by bit, until she’d drained the pain from her memories like pus from a wound. Until she could think of her father and smile instead of cry.

Rahn’s eyes sparked. “I’d never heard the song until I came to Cendor, but it’s oddly comforting.”

Kel watched as Rahn checked the CAPR equipment with hardly a glance. Rahn might not have been born in Cendor—but, like Dira, she was born for it.

“Are you glad you left Ebrait?” Kel asked.

Rahn gave an instant nod. “I was terrified at first. But Canen helped me make Vohre my home. My mom was… she’s important in Ebrait. She wanted me to follow in her footsteps. Without someone like Canen vouching for me, I don’t think I would have had the courage to leave,” she added, with a soft chuckle. “He’s given me so much.” She shrugged softly. “And… I guess if the Howlers make aname for ourselves under Cristo’s sponsorship, it’ll show my parents that this was the right choice, too.”

“I get it,” Kel said. “We all have a lot riding on these races.”

Rahn said nothing as she wrapped a thin leather bracelet around Kel’s left wrist. One end bore a metal pin that needled through the other end, locking it in place. The Howlers’ barbed, flaming insignia had been pressed into the leather.

Kel ran a thumb over the bracelet. “What’s this?”

Rahn had already moved on to her next task. “Oh. That’s just a tracker. There’s an emergency button stitched into the underside of the leather, in case you need immediate evacuation mid-race. You have to press down pretty firmly to activate it.” Rahn ducked her head, loose wisps of hair falling over her face. “I had it made after the last race.”

Kel nodded, understanding.After Coup nearly incinerated himself.

The memory sent her heart pounding.

“Thank you,” she said.

“Rahn’s tech will protect you if anything… happens,” Dira cut in, stalking toward them, a tablet in one hand. “I’ll be watching you through your helmet camera. Just stay alive, and we’ll do the rest.”

Kel gave a purse-lipped smile.

Dira’s gaze trailed over Kel, checking her gear. “Did you watch the videos I sent you last night? There are a few competing riders I want you to watch out for, but I found some old race recordings flagging their weaknesses.”

Kel grimaced. “You sent me videos?”

Dira sighed. “If you don’t get some sleep after this race I’m going to start stapling reminders to your forehead.”

Rahn giggled, shifting away—checking a stack of equipment across the tent—and Dira’s eyes followed her, returning to Kel only when Rahn’s back was turned.

“I keep thinking about what you found inThe Prism,” Dira mumbled, too soft for anyone but Kel to hear. “And what we saw in the aviary. I’m sorry for dismissing it. I was just…” Her gaze darted back to Rahn. “If you think something’s strange, I’ll back you up. We’ll figure out what’s going on after this race.”

Kel’s chest ached. Unsure what to say, she reached out to Dira and squeezed her hand.

The warning siren shot through the air before Kel could respond.

Coup marched over to Kel. “You don’t have to do this, tamer.”

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