“Stop saying my name like that!”

I’m being unfair. I know this. But I hurt, and I want everyone else to hurt, too.

“I’ve misled you all,” Petrik says quietly.

“We know you did,” Kellyn says. “Hard to miss what with the warlord—”

“No,” Petrik corrects. “I mean yes. I obviously didn’t tell you who I really was. But I was referring to something else.”

“There’s more!” Kellyn says. “You’ve got some nerve.”

Petrik ignores him. “When you asked me about other magic users, Ziva, I was careful with my words. I let you believe that I only knew of two, but that’s not true. I know someone who can save Temra.”

I blink away my tears to try to see Petrik’s face.

“Back in Skiro,” he continues, “there’s a magically gifted healer. I promised her I wouldn’t reveal her identity to anyone. But this is Temra. We need to take her to the capital immediately.”

“She’d never survive the journey,” Kellyn says. “It’s too far, and the road is rough.”

For just once can he be helpful and positive? Just this one time when it’s concerning my Temra?

“Let’s go,” I say. “Why are we still talking about it? If there’s a chance to save her, then we’re taking it.”

“We’re not leaving Kymora alone with my family,” Kellyn says, and though he doesn’t raise his voice, his tone is firm.

“You’ll stay with her,” I say, “while Petrik and I take Temra.”

“No, he should come with us,” Petrik says. “He can bring Kymora. We’ll turn her over to Prince Skiro. The royal family has been wanting to pull her from power since the realm was split.”

I don’t hide the distaste from my face.

“Kellyn will protect us on the road as well,” Petrik says in his defense, “now that—”

Now that Temra can’t do it.

“Fine, he can come. We leave within the hour.”

Petrik tries to offer up apologies while we get ready, but I silence him. “You came through when it mattered. That’s good enough for me. Quick thinking to put the tools in the smithy’s kiln for me.”

“I never betrayed you,” he says. “I hope you know that. I wasn’t in contact with my mother. We’re not close at all. I never gave her any information about you or your sister. I would never do that.”

“I know.”

While he collects food and supplies, the healer offers up the use of her cart. Though I know she believes we can’t save my sister, she takes pity on me.

The cart itself is wood, but the wheels and axle are metal. I magic both to help Temra have a smooth journey on the road. Let the wheels absorb any bumps.

We help ourselves to the smithy’s horses. He doesn’t need them anymore, and we attach two to the head of the cart, lie Temra bundled in blankets in the back.

Then the healer hands me a vial. “This will keep her under while you’re on the road. You have to administer it every day. Give her too much, and you will kill her; not enough and she will wake and be in agony and maybe become injured further.”