Riley folded the piece of paper in half again.
‘The Fifth Story’, was written on the outside of his letter.
I hope he found what he was looking for.
She rose from her father’s throne.
My throne, she reminded herself. My father in the crypt and my mother strewn ash.
She made her way through Ariland castle. Past the hateful dining hall’s barred doors. Walking up the stairs, she made her way to Cora’s tower.
Riley addressed the posted guard, “At ease.” She pointed at the one on the right. “Coleman? How is your wife adjusting?”
Coleman sputtered, “She was upset for a while, if I may speak plain, all the soldier’s wives were.” He rubbed his eyes with his fingers and thumb. “Giving up the kitchen was a fight.”
Riley shrugged, “We all do things we don’t want to, but you can get used to anything. How many families did your lot take in from Terndowns?”
The guard started counting on his fingers. He reminded her of her father, and not just because had been one of his men. She waited, meeting the tall guard’s eye until he replied, “Well it’s hard to say, because they aren’t any whole families and they’re not just from Terndowns. We have six staying with us.”
“You’re doing your community a service, and I appreciate your sacrifices. Without them, Terndowns is truly lost.” Riley saluted the soldier. “They couldn’t all stay on the Plains.”
The man made a vague sound and pushed the door open to Cora’s lab. He announced, “Lady Llanarth.”
Riley’s heart jumped; that name belonged to her traitorous mother.
Cora didn’t look up from the table covered in schematics and maps as she spoke. “Have you heard from Lissie?”
A handful of white-clad engineers turned to Riley.
“Tlaso’s runner told me that Lissie took the Problem Cases west. The other Dust Women tried to stop her.” Riley’s voice cracked. “When I asked him to explain, the runner told me he’s afraid there’s going to be another Dust War.”
Cora’s head snapped up. “When was the last Dust War?”
Pacing, Riley didn’t answer. “The runner didn’t even get off of his horse. You know how Nomads ride when they’re scared. He was scared.”
Fear catches, and I can see it spreading.
Cora left the table. She was spinning her pencil in her three-fingered hand. “I’ll get her a message; communication is the highest priority.”
Riley tried not to look at the injured hand. “No. Your priority is finishing the design for the mobile cannons.”
Cora rushed away from the table. “Lissie is my priority.” She pulled Riley into a tight hug. “You are my priority.”
“You should have let me kill Gavin.” Riley cried, and buried her face in her friend’s red hair.
“Shhh, it’s okay. He needed to get some fresh air. You saw what he turned into.” Cora soothed her. “I couldn’t see anyone else hurt because of him. Not even Gavin.”
He doesn’t have a shirt to himself. The temple keeps him like a slave.
Out loud, she said, “Gallia started this. Not my mother and not Gavin.”
Cora pulled away from her and looked deep into her eyes. “Remember the rabbits.”