Not the scholars. Noam. My sister made it clear that they were relying on Noam for information. If the scholars had a clue of what to do about the disease, the sentinels wouldn’t have gone looking for a deserter. But why don’t they share that with us? We’ve already been tasked to keep one secret. What’s one more? Leaving Noam out of this conversation is a choice.

My curiosity nags at me as Renna continues with the instructions. “Once found, you will carefully gather them. From there, teams of warriors will take the bodies and bury them on Balmora. That is your mission.”

At least we’ll have something to do, I tell myself. I know it should be happy to serve, but wandering around the city doesn’t feel like enough. Sentinel Renna takes questions, and my heart drums as some warriors in the front speak up.

“Do you know how long the disease takes from first signs until death?” asks a blond-haired warrior I don’t recognize.

“Ten days, according to the scholars,” answers Sentinel Renna.

One of the younger trainees goes next. “And is there no other medicine? Nothing works?”

“The healers are doing everything they can to keep the children’s symptoms at bay,” the sentinel replies. “But the scholars are confident in the cure from Balmora.”

One after another, Sentinel Renna’s answers lean on the knowledge of our scholars. I keep waiting for her to mention Noam, or to mention at least that we got help from outside the Heliana …

But the moment never comes. Renna dismisses us to get our assignments. My peers rise around me, but I am frozen to the ground as if a frost has seized my limbs. Something isn’t right. I press my fingertips harder into the floor as my body tingles with uncertainty and doubt.

The sentinels are lying to us. And I’m the only one who knows.

I wait with the others to hear what section of the city I am to search. I’m matched with Bel and another warrior of our cohort whom I don’t know as well. Before I go, I let Sentinel Carrick know of the bird I found yesterday.

“Thank you, Warrior-Elect,” he says. “I will let that group know.” Something in my gut roots me to the spot, and when Carrick puts his tired eyes back to me, he raises a brow in question. “Yes, Warrior-Elect Rowan?”

“Sorry, sir,” I say. “I’m just wondering how the scholars determined it was a human disease if it’s never been seen before on the Heliana.”

Carrick scratches his ruddy-colored hair and gives me an almost imperceptible shrug before regaining his composure. “The scholars’ libraries are extensive. Thank the skies they found any answer.”