I had to hatch the egg, before Rhodaire passed the point of saving.

Yet even as I had the thought, it felt distant and detached, as if it’d come from another person. Trying to hold on to it was like trying to hold smoke with my bare hands. I knew what I needed to do, but working up the will to do it felt like trying to fight my way above water in a depthless ocean.

It was so hard not to drown.

* * *

Kiva and I stopped outside a small tavern in the Brynth Wing to get a late lunch, leaving our horses tied out front. It was small and cozy, with rosewood tables built into alcoves along the walls and carved figurines atop a mantel that encircled the room’s edge. The low murmur of voices filled the air, and I leaned back against the bar with my hood up while we waited for our food. I didn’t feel like eating, but I wouldn’t hear the end of it from Kiva if I didn’t.

People talked, even laughed, huddled over tables of cheese and bread, fruit and cakes. Glasses of fruit juice and jugs of beer sat interspersed among the food, and in one corner, a group of girls played a game of dice.

This was the Aris I remembered, the one Illucia had nearly destroyed.

As the barmaid set two large goblets of mango talcé on the counter, the sharp whinny of a horse cut through the genteel atmosphere. I stiffened, and Kiva’s hand went to her sword hilt. Through the front window, I saw a man pulling my horse out of view.

I shot for the door, Kiva on my heel. We stepped out in time to see him disappear down the alley beside the tavern.

“Stop!” I shouted, bolting for the alley.

He did.

I froze a few steps into the alley. The man released the horse, slapping it on the rear to send it trotting to the next street over. Then he faced me, a slim knife in hand. My mind tumbled, expecting pale Illucian skin and black fighting leathers. But the man was Jin, from the eastern kingdom of Jindae.

Kiva stepped between us. “Go back inside. I’ll cover your back.”

I started to argue, but she shot me a sharp glare, and I fell silent, nodding. The shrill ring of Kiva drawing her sword followed me as I bounded for the mouth of the alley. Metal clanged, and I glanced back as Kiva swung her sword at the man. Snapping my head forward, I ground to a halt.

Another Jin man blocked the exit.

My mind raced to remember my rider training. I was a good fighter, but it’d been months since I’d practiced.

“What do you want?” I demanded, backing away slowly.