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Back The Endless Skies
Chapters (57)
  1. Copyright Notice
  2. Dedication
  3. Map
  4. PROLOGUE
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. 20
  25. 21
  26. 22
  27. 23
  28. 24
  29. 25
  30. 26
  31. 27
  32. 28
  33. 29
  34. 30
  35. 31
  36. 32
  37. 33
  38. 34
  39. 35
  40. 36
  41. 37
  42. 38
  43. 39
  44. 40
  45. 41
  46. 42
  47. 43
  48. 44
  49. 45
  50. 46
  51. 47
  52. 48
  53. EPILOGUE
  54. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  55. Also by Shannon Price
  56. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  57. Newsletter Sign-up

Closing my eyes, I go through everyone I know, trying to find some clarity. Seth would never entertain the thought of leaving. Callen would take time to think it out, considering every angle. Ox would rally someone else, or at least have someone agreeing with him before deciding. But I’m not any of them. I’m not even a warrior.

I am Rowan An’Talla, and I have to decide on my own.

I go over the facts in my mind. I am the only one who knows of the children’s worsening illness and of Prince Tabrol’s. If I leave now, I will still be serving my city in a way. To find the teams and renew the urgency of the mission is, in a way, doing my part. But selfishly, I know if I leave, it also means I get what I want. Can I live with that? Will my intention be enough to absolve me of a charge of desertion when I return? I don’t know.

What I do know is that the sound of my mother’s crying will haunt me until the end of my days. If I can spare her any amount of pain, I will.

Mind spinning, I take to the skies. Warm sunlight makes the gold of my wings shine, and I stretch them out, farther and farther until I’m straining to hold the position. I need the sunlight to give me courage. A lot of courage.

I have to make a choice, but in the pit of my stomach, I know that I already have.

“Skies keep me,” I say to no one. Maybe to the first king and queen, or to my father watching over me. Maybe to the Endless Skies themselves.

I am going to help my city, and I am going to do it on my own terms. Even if it means disobeying the king. Even if it means risking my dream. It is the right thing to do, and it is what I want to do.

Now I just have to hope the risk will be worth it in the end.

16

ROWAN

It takes me until sixth bell to gather my armor and my wits. Along with my knives, I choose a lightweight shortsword and set it on my left side. I run by the dining hall and pack as many dry foods as I can, ignoring any curious looks. I sling my now-heavy pack over my shoulder and head for one of the exits, but a tug in my gut makes me pause.