“Dark hair, patchy beard. Was riding a horse bareback, and most of his gear was beat, but he had a real nice pair of goggles.” Reed’s gaze flicks to the pair propped on my forehead.

This is an impeccable description—exactly how I remember that trader looking as well, and I never spoke of him to anyone. There’s no way Reed could be making this up.

“Our father suspected that the General would become dangerous,” he says, “and that you would be the key to finding the Verdant. He said I should help you, but only so long as I never lost the General’s trust. That part was key, and it’s why I didn’t help as much as I could have when I first realized who you were. Bedrock’s water is drying. I thought finding the Verdant would save humanity. I tried to help you while also helping the General understand the map. I’m sorry. But I’m here now, and it’s just like our father wanted. The General still thinks I’m loyal to him. He thinks I’m a faithful spy, watching you, waiting. But I’m here to help.”

This is too much. That washed-up trader who gave me my lodestone was my father. Reed’s father, too. We’re half-siblings. I stare at him. I feel like I can see the resemblance now. We have similar noses—our father’s nose.

Suddenly I’m furious at this man I never knew. For abandoning us. For leaving. If he suspected that the General would become so dangerous, why did he seek us out only to give us lodestones and disappear? If he knew we’d need help, why didn’t he stay to provide it?

“Do you know how to find the Verdant?” Reed asks.

I nod.

“You can read the map?”

I nod again.

“Where is it? How far from here?” His eyes gleam with hope.

“This is a lot to take in, Reed. I’ll keep those answers to myself for now.”

“What about your friend? Does he know?”

“Asher?”

“Ash . . .” Reed glances toward the door, understanding flickering on his face. “Rust and rot. We thought he died when he ran. Are there more of you? Branded with the map?”

“Just us two,” I say.

“How did you figure out how to read it?”

“I’m not telling you that either.” Show it to no one. Unless you trust them with your own life, keep it hidden.

“I have no way of communicating with Bedrock, Delta. You slaughtered my falcon.”

“You’d have done the same in my position.”

“Probably. But I’m unarmed now. Rune is dead. I have a lodestone. I’m your brother.”

“Half brother.”