Much to Alara’s annoyance, Runeo insisted on tying her up before they set off.

“Believe it or not, I don’t trust you.”

“I’m not going to run,” she snapped as he jerked her shoulders again, tying the knot tighter.

“And the last time you said that, a bruya got killed and three more got captured.” His voice cracked. “Three who very well may be dead soon.”

“We don’t kill bruyas.”

“Tell that to Cava,” he said, motioning to the dead bruya.

And then it hit again. The guilt. She said nothing as the boy pushed her forward, rope tied off. She could only watch him as he kneeled down again, gently lifting Cava’s body from the ground.

They walked in silence for over an hour. Alara’s shoulders ached, but she didn’t complain as Runeo trudged behind her at a steady gait, holding Cava aloft.

After what felt like an eternity, Alara broke the silence, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’ve never seen the councilguards act like that.”

“I’ve never seen them act any different.”

“The councilguards are supposed to protect… us…” She cleared her throat. “To protect the people of Sombria.”

“To protect them from who? The big bad bruyas?” Runeo’s voice was icy. “All we want is to be left alone. To be free from the Council’s rule. Everything we do is for self-preservation. And yet, your people keep hunting us.”

She shook her head again, trying to clear the fog of confusion from her brain. “Not hunting. Saving. We’re trained not to kill. I’ve been on several missions, and that’s the one thing that’s drilled into us from day one.”

“You said you’re a magite, right?” Runeo said. “That makes you a mage-in-training, right? How many of those missions were supervised?”

Alara said nothing.

“You really are a sheltered flower.”

“If the Council knew how those councilguards had been acting, they would have been demoted immediately,” Alara said, the image of Emaru’s steeled expression in her mind. “In fact, when I get home, I’ll make sure of that.”

Runeo scoffed. “Well, this is the reality that we live in out here. Welcome to the real world, magite.”

***

Hours later, they had made it back to Arbol. Runeo’s face had lost some color by the time they made it to the lift, and as he handed Cava’s body to another bruya, Alara noticed a growing stain of blood that marred his stomach. He shook her off when she tried to note it, pulling away from her touch. When the lift reached the top of the canopy, he stepped forward, grabbing her by the shoulder and dragging her through the city at a quick pace. As they crossed bridges, making their way toward the main chamber, Alara felt a strange sense of déjà vu.

This time, she recognized the young boy who sat outside the main hall, who ducked inside without a word upon seeing them approach. She felt a twinge of dread when they entered, seeing Quil’la and the two older male bruyas waiting in the chamber. A handful of others sat scattered around the room on small cushions.

She stood in silence, head down, as Runeo explained what had happened. Alara had made eye contact with Quil’la on her way in, but the look of sadness and mistrust that darkened the bruya’s eyes twisted her stomach.

Partway through the debrief, Quenti and Lili rushed in, a small group of bruyas in tow. Clearly, news of what had happened was already spreading. Alara watched Quenti in the corner, fighting the urge to plant her gaze to the ground. The girl’s face was gray as Runeo described Khuno’s capture, her shoulders shaking with every word. Lili lay a comforting hand on Quenti’s arm.

“Who helped you escape?” A silence followed, and Alara realized Quil’la was looking at her, lips tight.

She hesitated, resisting the urge to look over at Quenti and Lili. “No one.”

Quil’la’s lip twitched at this answer, but she didn’t argue. “And why did you run?”

She raised her chin, meeting her eye. “There were rumors of a plan to kill me. I feared for my safety.”

Quil’la’s eyes narrowed. “And I should believe this why?”

“I—”

“It’s true,” Runeo said beside her. “Zinita spoke of killing her in retaliation for Puka’s death.”

“Why did no one tell me?”

It was Runeo’s turn to look uncomfortable. “I was hoping to convince her otherwise before anything happened. I didn’t want… I didn’t want another Utu.”

Quil’la’s face softened at his words, though Alara didn’t follow.

“I’m sorry both of you had so little faith in my ability to rule.” She paused. “Perhaps your actions were justified, but now I must explain to my people why their sons and daughters are dead or missing.”

Alara’s eyes burned, but she kept her chin high. “I am deeply sorry for Cava’s death.” Someone behind her let out a soft sob and her eyes darted down as she tried to push back her own tears. “But they will absorb the captured bruyas into the school. They won’t kill them.”

“Few bruyas that go into the Haven make it out. And none come out the same.” Quil’la’s voice was matter-of-fact.

Alara heard another sharp sob and looked over to see Quenti folded into Lili’s chest, her shoulders shaking.

“Quenti and I made it out,” she said.

“Sure, Quenti made it out,” Quil’la said. “Quenti, who was a new and trusted magite. Who they shephereded into the school after discovering her abilities. It is the so-called ‘savage bruyas’ the Council fears.”

“Then they’ll need a little help.” Alara’s voice was growing in confidence and she squared her shoulders, the rope around her wrists pulling tight.

“What about the underground network?” Alara said, remembering an earlier exchange between Khuno and Quenti. “The one you worked with to help smuggle Quenti out.”

“We don’t risk the lives of many to save the lives of a few. Smuggling one person out is a far cry from the infiltration you speak of.”

“We need to try,” Alara insisted.

“Out of the question. We survive because we play it safe. Going into the Haven is a suicide mission, and not just for those involved, but for everyone here,” Quil’la said with finality.

“It’d be suicide if you didn’t have us,” Quenti said. Alara’s attention snapped to the other girl. Her eyes were red rimmed and puffy, but her face set in grim determination. “Alara and I both know the tunnels. Okay, well, Alara does. I know them a bit. Sort of. But she knows them better than some Councilmembers, I’d say. And I know the tunnel out.”

“You would get caught.”

Alara bit her lip and took a deep breath. “I’d be able to warn of any nearby mages.”

Quil’la’s eyes darted back to Alara and her eyebrows arched. “You’re a mind-stalker. A strong one.”

It was a statement and not a question, but Alara nodded anyway. She felt Runeo stiffen beside her at this.

“And do you and Quenti plan to storm the Haven alone?”

Alara didn’t know what to say to this. The idea sounded ridiculous, despite how confident she had been just a moment before.

“Well, we—”

“Will have help.” Lili’s voice was firm as she step forward.

“Quil’la, you can’t be considering this,” Runeo said. “I will not place Micos’s life in the hands of this fuegen who can’t even light a fire.”

“Are you volunteering?” Quil’la raised an eyebrow at Runeo, and his face reddened.

“You are considering it.”

“For the sake of those lost, yes.”

He looked between Alara and Quil’la, debating with himself. Alara glimpsed pain in his eyes, the same pain as when he watched get Micos dragged away.

Finally, he spoke. “Fine.”

Quil’la’s lips twitched in surprise, almost imperceptibly.

“Well then,” Quil’la said with a nod, “Untie your new partner.”

Runeo scowled at this, but Alara felt him tug at the ropes around her wrists and they dropped away. She gave a small shudder as she rubbed her shoulders, trying to bring feeling back to her numb limbs. She glanced up at Runeo, but he was scowling, taking care to not make eye contact.

The chamber erupted in conversation, and Alara even noticed the other elders whispering in Quil’la’s ear with what Alara was sure wasn’t praise.

Quil’la held up her hand, and to Alara’s surprise, silence followed.

“The four of you have my permission to retrieve those lost, but know that this is not an official mission. Arbol will not interfere if anything happens. We will not jeopardize the safety of our people. You do this on your own volition.”

“Then why let them go to begin with?” the older man next to Quil’la said, though she silenced him with a swift glare.

Quil’la turned back to the small group that had gathered at the center of the chamber. “Do you accept these terms? Should you return with the Council nipping at your heels, we will not welcome you into the city. Is that understood?”

Alara bit her lip, but nodded. Runeo gave a stiff nod, and Lili and Quenti’s heads bobbed in unison.

Quil’la gave a small sigh. “So be it.” She looked almost tired as she looked between the four of them. “Good luck, and Sol keep you.”