Page 74 of The Dragon's Promise

Andahai frowned. “What does this have to do with Bandur?”

“I still have the pearl,” I finally admitted. “I’m going to return it to the guardian and free him from Lapzur.” I paused. “Then trap Bandur into taking his place.”

Now I had their attention.

“A clever idea, sister,” said Wandei, “but how will you do it?”

Yotan agreed. “Bandur isn’t exactly someone you can lure onto a ship.”

“Ships won’t take me where I need to go,” I said evasively. I lowered my lashes, staring at my feet and wishing I’d never looked into the Tears of Emuri’en. “I need to fly.”

“Fly?” repeated Reiji.

“Stop uttering nonsense, Shiori,” Andahai chided, not understanding. “You said you needed help. Benkai will lend us his swiftest ship.”

“She knows exactly what she’s saying,” said Hasho, his dark eyes fixed on me. We’d always been close, and he could read what was behind my distress. “The answer is yes, Shiori. Do it. Turn us into cranes again.”

Curse Hasho. My head jerked up, same as my brothers’, and a feeling of dreadful inevitability churned in my gut. I knew it was the only way, and yet I couldn’t bear putting my brothers through such a curse again. “No—”

“Wherever it is you need to go, we’ll take you,” he said firmly. “Won’t we, brothers?”

One by one, my brothers nodded. Even Andahai, though he was last.

“But to turn you into cranes again…” I inhaled. I looked up at them, voicing what worried me most. “What if I can’t turn you all back?”

Hasho smiled wanly. “Life as a crane wouldn’t be the worst fate. I’ve missed being able to talk to the birds.”

“I quite enjoyed the flying,” added Yotan. “Not the eating of worms and mice, though.”

“Raikama wouldn’t have given you the pearl if she didn’t believe in you,” Benkai told me. “We have faith in you too. Now stop chewing on your lip. Let us help you.”

I glanced at my eldest brother, who gave a grim nod. “We’re taking you,” Andahai confirmed, “a week of worms and all. Only answer me this: How do we bring Bandur? You have thought that out, haven’t you?”

“We’ll need his amulet in order to coax him out of Kiata,” I replied. “Gen says it’s inside the Holy Mountains.”

“You’re listening to the boy sorcerer now?” said Reiji. “How old is he, twelve?”

“Thirteen,” I corrected. “He knows more about demons than any of us. He can help.”

A hint of skepticism clouded Andahai’s expression, but he nodded. “If you trust him, then so will we,” he said. “Tomorrow, Benkai will have his men investigate. Hasho and I will go too. Reiji will deal with the A’landans, and Yotan and Wandei will devise a way to carry Shiori and Takkan to Lapzur.”

I suppressed a flinch at the mention of Takkan. I hadn’t exactly invited him. “When will you leave for the breach?” I asked. “Gen is still there, and I can—”

“You?” Benkai laughed. “You’re not coming, sister—or have you forgotten that your betrothal ceremony is in two days? You’ll have much to prepare tomorrow. Unless you plan on missing it for a second time.”

Nine Hells of Sharima’en, I had forgotten about my betrothal ceremony.

I bit down on my lip again. “Maybe I could ask Father to postpone it.”

“And break Takkan’s heart?” Yotan teased. “He’s been waiting months for you. He’d probably have waited for years if he had to.”

“He could wait a little longer,” I said weakly. “Distract Father and the council, maybe. Until we get back.”

Andahai frowned. “Isn’t he coming to Lapzur? You aren’t having second thoughts about him, are you?”

My cheeks heated. “It isn’t that. It’s just…Takkan can’t come. The six of you can’t carry us both anyway.”

“I’m sure the twins will come up with something sturdy enough for two,” said Hasho wryly. “We’re not putting you on a blanket again, you know.”

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