“What?” she gasped.

“She decided to return to Concha.”

“But what about Avirix?” she asked about Noda’s dragon.

Roake shook his head. “They sent her back to wherever she came from.”

“Gods,” she whispered.

Fordham finally looked up at her. “Her bond was weakening, and she didn’t think that she could keep doing it. When she made the decision not to stay, it broke the bond. They wouldn’t let either of them stay after that.”

Kerrigan swallowed. Right. No one was allowed in the Society without a bonded dragon.

“That’s terrible.”

“They said one in three can’t hack it,” Roake said. He looked between us. “They guessed two would be gone.”

They all gulped.

Audria shook her head. “Noda has been frazzled for months. Think about what she said—that she wasn’t good enough. She could have made it if she had confidence. We all said we’d make it at the beginning, and we are all going to make it.” Audria said it with such veracity, as if just by proclaiming it, it would make it true.

No one argued with her regardless. No one wanted to be next.

It was late, and Kerrigan was at her desk, taking notes on her latest history assignment when there was a knock on the door.

“Come in.”

To her surprise, Valia appeared.

“Valia!” Kerrigan gushed, rising to her feet. “I haven’t seen you in ages. How was your holiday?”

“Hi, Kerrigan. My holiday was relatively boring. Everyone was out of the mountain on Geivhrea, and I had the run of the place.”

Kerrigan frowned. “I’m sorry to hear that. It must have been lonely.”

“I’ve grown accustomed to my own company. I did see several of the other stewards, and we exchanged gifts. Nothing big and extravagant like the Season party at Belcourt Palace,” Valia said with a wink.

“Oh, it was… nothing really. I wasn’t even there long.”

“Don’t downplay it. It sounded amazing.”

Kerrigan laughed. “Thanks. What brings you my way?”

“Helly,” Valia said as if it were obvious. “She said that she received a missive regarding you and to fetch you. Any idea what that’s about?”

Kerrigan winced. She certainly did. It had been two weeks since she’d been back. She’d been back to flying every day, and she’d had no other blackouts. But she should have gone straight to Helly about what had happened at court. She’d just been so busy.

“Afraid I do.”

“Well, let’s go then. She doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”

Kerrigan looked longingly back at her history assignment. She’d be up all night to finish this, if she went to see Helly now. But if she didn’t go to see her, it would only be worse.

She sighed and nodded. “All right.”