The Stormlord had forgotten their meal in his long speech, and now he went back to it, offering her another piece of food with a shrewd, narrow-eyed look.

“That is what I am here to discover. You are like me. I felt you from the day you approached the city. I have been waiting, watching to see what the goddess would have you do. When I felt you pull one of my souls in the forest, I could wait no longer. What brought you here?”

Aurora swallowed, knowing she had a careful line to walk. “The same thing as you. I have been working with the rebellion to overthrow the Lockes. That is why we were in the wilds, gathering magic. We were preparing for an attack.”

His head tilted to the side, his eyes sliding off to stare somewhere over her shoulder, and she knew that he was having another one of those conversations.

“Why not use your abilities?” he asked, turning to face her directly again.

“I-I was. But by sending magic to the rebellion, more people can do the goddess’s work. Don’t you see? Even now, ungifted humans could be attacking the Lockes without me, because I gave them the means.”

His lips flattened into a line, and she knew she had to do more to sell her story. “I am not as advanced as you. I only recently discovered my abilities. I have only skyfire at my command right now. I am dependent on Stormhearts to call any other kind of storm.”

He tore off a large chunk of meat with his teeth as he stood. He walked back over to the fire, chewing, his expression unreadable. Once he had laid the stick down next to the fire, he turned and looked her over again. His eyes flicked to a few spots in the air around her, before he finally shrugged. “I suppose I could teach you. There must be a reason the goddess sent you. She means for us to work together in this mission.”

Aurora nodded emphatically. “Yes, that has to be it. How else would two people with such rare abilities end up in the same place?”

“True. I had planned to attack again tonight. Perhaps, you can join me, and show me what skill you have with skyfire.”

Aurora’s heart beat so hard, it felt like it took up her entire chest.

“Remember, though, what I said about the rebellion? There are people in Pavan who hate the Stormlings as much as you. We do not need to hurt them to get to the Lockes. In fact, I already know for a fact that the rebellion has kidnapped Casimir Locke with the intent to hand him over to you.”

His face turned hard, the scar on his face pulling taut.

“Is that so? And how might I reach this rebellion of yours?”