After several minutes of going through different motions, Kellyn says, “Even I have trouble being outnumbered. When that happens, you have to intimidate or outthink your opponents. That’s harder to teach.”

Eventually they raise their swords and take swings at each other. Listening to Temra’s explanation of what happened has made my chest grow tight. She must have been so scared and alone. I never should have left her.

Petrik doesn’t take his attention off his books. I think he’s trying very hard not to cry anymore. “Thousand-year-old books, and I let them fall in a lake.” His voice cracks at the end. “I’ve never felt more of a failure.”

“No, Petrik. You didn’t fail. You saved Temra. Thank you for coming to get me the moment you knew she was in danger.”

“I know I set out on this journey for my book, but we’re friends now. Of course I’ll look out for her. For you both. I know I’m not good for much, but I’ll be here as long as you want me.”

He looks over at the sparring pair then, and as I watch him watching my sister, one thing becomes perfectly clear.

He likes her. He’s never let Temra see it, but right now I can tell clear as day.

Does he know that the second he shows interest, she’ll stop flirting with him? She’ll get her victory and become bored. Is that why he holds back in front of her?

He’s more clever than I gave him credit for.

When I’m alone again with my thoughts, I can’t help but think of my father, since I just left his family for good. I miss him. The sound of his deep voice. His big arms around me. I don’t remember much of anything he said to me. But I remember how he made me feel safe.

And I realize now just how much he must have loved my mother to leave everything he knew behind and start a new life with her.

I wonder if that life caught up with him.

Was it religious zealots who broke into our home that night and killed my parents? Did Volanna lie about never knowing what became of her son?

I might be plagued with unanswered questions forever.

That night, Petrik stays up writing in his book by the fire while the rest of us go to sleep. I think he’s tracing all the notes he’s made, reinforcing the watered ink so it won’t fade. No matter how much I tried to convince him to get some rest, he said he’d go to bed when he was ready.

I lie on the hard ground, missing the blankets and bedrolls and tents that were abandoned at the Sotheran estate. My feet are pointed toward the fire, and Temra is curled up against me. My thoughts usually keep me awake, but tonight I feel myself drifting until Temra rises and leaves my side exposed to the night air.

After a few beats of silence, I hear her voice over the top of the crackling fire. “I didn’t get a chance to thank you, Petrik.”