Page 87 of Grave Situation

Master eyes me critically, like he doesn’t believe me, but nods and backs out of the tent. I crawl after him, blinking as I step outside for the first time since yesterday afternoon.

It’s a gray morning, and the weak winter dawn seems to be mourning Tia just as much as I am. Behind me, Leicht has moved, standing now, his attention on the camp. Not too far away, I see two more dragons, one bigger, one smaller. Both still enormous.

And waiting for me is a cluster of five people. Jaimin seems relieved to see me, but still worried. He half lifts a hand in my direction before letting it drop. Coryn’s eyes are red-rimmed, but his face is hard—he’s scary Coryn still, and I never thought I’d want one of his hugs, but I do. Right now, more than almost anything, I want a squeezy bear hug.

Rider Kanesha’s face is also concerned, her eyes puffy, and she gives me a sympathetic half-smile that’s not a smile at all. Rider Master Hearne, I don’t know, but I remember him from the council meeting when the stone arrived. His no-nonsense manner appealed to me then, and the hard-bitten anger and grief in his expression appeal to me now. Behind them?—

“Get him away from me.” The words tumble from me, and for the first time all night, the stone stirs in my mind, reproach pulsing through me. I don’t care. I’m not ready to see one of those damned priests yet. I don’t care if he is a blameless acolyte and is being forced to come with us.

“Talon,” Jaimin begins, then sighs and turns to look at the acolyte. “Go wait in your tent, Arimen.”

The boy—because heisjust a boy, barely older than my students—flees. The urge to send a fireball after him is strong, but I resist.

Kanesha steps forward. “Talon, I’m so very sorry. This is a great loss to us all.”

I nod but find myself unable to speak—again.

“I didn’t know her well,” Hearne adds, his voice lower and rumblier than I remember, “but I was impressed by what I knew. She was going to go far with the riders, and everyone respected her—even those who didn’t like her.”

That makes me smile, just for a second. “She always says that. She didn’t need the world to be her friend, but she wanted their respect.” I close my eyes. “Said that. Shesaidthat.” It’s wrong to speak of her in past tense like this. It burns my tongue. “Master said you wanted to see her—you should know, I haven’t… I wasn’t able to remove… The arrow is…”

They understand immediately. “Thank you for warning us,” Kanesha says. “Would you like us to take care of that?”

I consider that, but it needs to be me. I owe her that much. So I shake my head. “Please leave it. I understand it’s not your usualpolicy, but I’d like for her pyre ceremony to take place as soon as possible. Today.”

“Today?” Hearne’s startled exclamation is almost a shout, and he clears his throat. “I beg your pardon. Today seems a bit hasty—our dragons are tired, and we’d like them to rest for a while before another flight. It would be late before we got back to the City of Knowledge.”

I prepare to stand firm. “You misunderstand me. I mean for the ceremony to take place here.”

Kanesha looks around at the empty fields, then exchanges a glance with Hearne. “Here?”

“Yes.”

“You wouldn’t rather be back at the City, where your friends and hers could be there to support you?”

“No.”

Hearne looks at Master, who clears his throat. “What Talon means is, he’s unable to return to the City at this time. His mission demands all his attention, especially now, and he’d like to see his sister at rest before he continues.”

The reminder of why we’re even out here in Camblin to start with seems to resolve the issue for them, and Hearne nods soberly. “That’s understandable. It’s not our usual practice, but I suppose an exception can be made.”

One of the knots in my chest loosens slightly.

Jaimin steps forward. “Why don’t you look in on Tia?” he suggests. “Talon hasn’t had a chance to eat yet. We can finish this conversation in a few minutes.”

Wait… he wants me to leave Tia unguarded? To let the riders go into the tent while I’m somewhere else? I open my mouth to protest, but with a sharp glance at me, he continues, “Coryn and I will stay with you while Talon and his master refresh themselves. I’m sure we can answer any questions you might have.”

My mouth closes. I trust Jaimin. He’s earned that, keeping secrets that could end me. He was the one who told me to call Master here. He was the one who managed the priests. If he wanted to betray me, he could have. But it goes deeper than that—IknowI can trust him with everything I am. I just wish I’d trusted him sooner.

He’ll protect Tia—I know he will. And Coryn will back him up. With them both standing guard, plus Leicht, she’ll be safe.

I nod, and Master draws me away from the tent, toward the small fire nearby. There’s another tent set up beside it, but I’m not interested in sleep right now.

“Do you want to wash?” Master asks. “I saw a stream as we were flying in.”

I shake my head but suddenly become aware of a pressing need. “No, but I need a minute.” I gesture toward some scraggly bushes closer to the road, and understanding dawns on his face.

“Go. I’ll make you some tea and find food.”

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