I felt her hands resting atop mine, a feeling I wish to savor. Then the thought lands heavily on me, She made me a promise,
A promise she would have to keep.
I didn't get to walk freely into my village since breaking my oath. Everyone in the village will have been given my father's direction to sever ties with me. Even if it means killing me.
Panic drags itself up my throat, and Sahora is there to catch it. She pulls on the bond. If they want you, they will have to go through me.
It was comforting, and I knew she would succeed even if there was blood in her teeth.
I looked around us, the waterfall so loud that for a moment, it’s all I heard. Ami and Cyrus sat together, huddled over a map and a book. While Briar and Castor lingered nearby, looking like they were having a silent conversation.
My eyes met Sahora’s again. For an impossible minute, I studied her face.
“Why does your father have the life shard?” Her question hung in the air between us.
“It has been passed down in my family for generations; one of my distant ancestors worked with the Goddess Ilina as a maiden of hers.” I cleared my throat; it burned from the secrets I wasn’t supposed to share. “I grew up around it. We have it on an altar. I don’t know how we are going to get it from him.”
“We will figure it out,” She told me. She was holding on to that certainty like it was everything she had. “Together.”
“Okay,” I said, though my hands shook, “Together.”
“No,” I heard Ami yell, and I quickly look over to see someone wearing my village's armor. I would recognize the gold lining anywhere; they are attacking Cyrus and Ami. Ami moves quickly, trying to protect him.
My blood went cold as I recognized the man that was attacking.
My brother; Milo
Before I could respond, Sahora is up and moving, walking in a straighter, more confident way. As if she is ready to walk onto a battlefield. That wasn’t how Sahora moved, this was Kathera. The stormhound settled next to me.