Page 35

Losing enough blood, he went still, head slumping, body lax. When there was no more movement I pulled back, cleaning my blade on his shirt and then sheathing it.

Tallu put a hand on my shoulder, squeezing before he turned and opened the door.

The Bemishu twins were a few feet away, staring out at the forest. Pito turned and looked at us.

“Are you going to fight Kacha?” she asked.

“Yes,” I said.

“Are you going to win?” Topi challenged.

“Yes,” I said, knowing it was true in my bones. There was no other option for us.

“And after that, are you going to find our father?” Pito asked.

I nodded. We had two wars and then we would be free. I promised it to myself, holding it in my heart as though it was a charm to ward off bad luck.

We were going to crush the two men who the twins thought responsible for killing their mother. I knew what they were going to ask before Topi spoke.

“Will you take us with you?” Topi asked.

“The Kennelmaster said you were going to be good Dogs,” I said. “Can you help us win this war?”

They didn’t even need to look at each other, nodding in unison. Still, I looked at Tallu, raising my eyebrow in question.

“We will need you.” His movements were smooth as he turned back toward Empress Koque’s house. “We leave in the morning.”

The twins walked behind us, whispering to each other before excusing themselves and turning back toward the Kennelmaster’s dwelling. We continued along the narrow bridge, designed for children more than adults. Around us, the forest was still alive, even at night. Creatures made noises, children whispered, then laughed. I saw them leap from tree to tree.

A large bird flapped through the trees, and I pulled Tallu back from the edge of the bridge as it landed in front of us on the railing. In the dim, filtered light, I recognized it as one of Iradîo’s owls.

“So you are alive?” the owl asked.

“Yes,” I said. There was no need to hide my magic here, not surrounded by the forest magic and with only children to witness it.

“They worry,” the owl said.

“Tell Iradîo we will be back by morning. How are they?” I asked.

“On ships,” the owl said, its tone annoyed.

At least that was one good thing. If most had been able to escape to Namati’s ships, that gave us some time and mobility that Kacha might not have.

“Any sign of General Kacha?” I asked.

“He attacks from shore. They are using the islands to hide.” The owl ruffled his feathers.

“Has anyone else been killed?” I asked.

The owl blinked at me. On the trees, small globes began to brighten, lighting the pathways. I saw children running along them, laughing. Fluorescent insects hovered between the trees, darting through the air.

“No,” the owl said. “No one else has died. But they moan. They are weak now. Prey.”

Tallu squeezed my hand. “We will be back in the morning.”

The owl twisted its neck at a strange angle to look at him, the joint of its neck moving beyond what a human’s could. It made a soft cooing noise, then launched itself into the air.

Empress Koque gave Tallu her bed, insisting when he tried to refuse. She said she would go sleep in Lady Chaliko’s house. Before she left, Prince Hallu tugged at her hand and begged for a moment of his brother’s time.