“That’s ridiculous. The way everyone is talking about it, it’s like the Red Masks weren’t even there and we destroyed those buildings ourselves.”

“Welcome to being a minority in Kinkadia.”

She was just so tired. So, so tired. No matter what happened, the blame befell them. And they could try and try to dig themselves out, but they were still always seen as the problem.

“I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”

Fordham rose to his feet. “Not at all.”

Audria shot Kerrigan a knowing look. “Time for our first day of flying.”

Kerrigan groaned and pulled her pillow over her face.

“What’s wrong with her?”

“She’s grounded. No flying for a month.”

“What?” Audria gasped. “That’s absurd. We just started flying. She’s going to be behind. How do they expect us to be a unit without her?”

Kerrigan shot Fordham a look, and he ushered Audria out of the room and explained in a whisper. She was glad that she didn’t have to be the one to do it.

The first thing she’d done when she got out of the cell was send a letter to Dozan, asking about Clover, and one to Fallon’s residence in Central to ask over Hadrian. She hadn’t received any word back yet, but she couldn’t exactly leave to go find out if they were okay. Even sending the letters had felt risky with her probation hanging over her head. But she had to know.

It hung over her head as she got ready and headed out to training early. Alura eyed her without a trace of pity. She hadn’t expected any from the trainer, but it was still frustrating. None of this was her fault.

Tieran was waiting when she arrived. What did you do?

“I’m sorry,” she said at once. “You’ll still be able to practice the maneuvers.”

Little good it does me without you.

She winced. “Look, Lorian is gunning for me. This wasn’t my fault. I get you being angry, but keep your condescension to yourself.”

Fine, he snapped and then flew off.

She glared at his retreating back. She couldn’t even call him back to have this out. If he wanted to be petulant about it, then fine. She couldn’t change the outcome, and she didn’t regret going.

The worst part was sitting in the arena and observing the flying lessons. All she wanted to do was get on Tieran’s back and put the work in. Flying was her favorite thing in all the world. Bastian had probably known she’d feel cut out for missing these lessons, but he couldn’t have known that it would feel like she’d lost a limb. Flying was the one thing about all of this that had always made perfect sense. And now that she finally could do it whenever she wanted, she was barred.