“I’ll do it.” I meet Vaduin’s gaze with conviction. “I’ll find whatyou’re missing for the ink, and then I’ll make the vessel so we can remake the world.”
Vaduin’s face lights up. “Good. Very good. We can continue to look after your sister while you’re back at the academy searching.”
“No.” The word comes out so fast and sharp that it nearly cuts him off. “She’s coming with me. She won’t be far from my side ever again. Gregor can be our go-between as needed since he’ll continue to work with you. Or I’ll give you updates myself, as we will both be in the academy.”
“It won’t be as if you can just stroll into my office.”
“If I can move around secretly, then I can find a way to get to you.”
Shock is written across Gregor’s features throughout this whole exchange. He was clearly trying to stay silent but can’t. “Not only are you going back to the academy, but you want to bringherback to the academy? To the man who broke you both?”
“That wasnotKaelis,” I say firmly. “He had nothing to do with Arina’s torture. That was Ravin and Naethor. It’s always been them.”
“Clara—”
“And Kaelis will be none the wiser she’s there,” I continue, cutting off Gregor’s protest. “I’ll make sure of it.”
Gregor seems unconvinced. I can tell when he wants to say something more because he literally chews on his words. Something in my expression must convince him to hold his tongue as he finally gives a reluctant nod.
“Take her, then.” Vaduin shrugs, as if it’s of little concern to him. “But if something happens to her—remember that you made that choice.”
It’s clear he thinks this is a bad decision, as well. But I find myself unable to care what he thinks.
“There is something else I need your help with,” I say to Vaduin. Gregor mentioning the Majors yesterday reminded me of something. “I need you to help find Silas’s family.” I assume Vaduin knows who Silas is via Bristara, and he proves me right.
“We are already stretched thin,” Vaduin says warily.
“They’ve been tortured by Ravin, and their time is probably running out now that Silas is dead and they’ve outlived their usefulness to the prince.”
Vaduin frowns. “There are many people that Ravin and his sycophants are torturing. I’m sorry, but they aren’t our priority.”
Something in me deflates, and I struggle for a second to keep my posture. He’s right. I swore to Silas I’d protect his family, right before I got him killed…But my personal oaths don’t matter to the Worldkeepers and I’m not sure if I’m going to be able to do it myself while also taking on everything else.
“I’ll do it.” Gregor steps forward.
I meet his eyes, and we share a wordless exchange. One second, he can be fighting me on something, the next, he’s stepping up on my behalf.
“That…might work.” Vaduin strokes his chin in thought. “We usually give all our pages a task before they become full knights in our order. This could be yours. Find Silas’s family, rescue them, prove your skills, and we’ll make you a Worldkeeper.”
Gregor beams brightly, looking from Vaduin to me. As if I’ve somehow handed him something he was looking for without even knowing it.
“Done.” Gregor nods.
“One last thing,” I say to Vaduin.
“Of course there is,” he murmurs.
I ignore the remark. “If anything happens to my friends, or Silas’s family while Gregor is trying to help them, I will holdyoupersonally responsible.”
Vaduin raises an eyebrow.
“You claim to have resources, contacts. Use them. Keep Ravin distracted while Gregor works, if you must. I don’t care how you do it, just make sure those I care about stay alive.”
“Clara,” Twino starts to protest, but I cut him off with a look.
“This is not negotiable,” I tell Vaduin. “You want my cooperation? Then you keep the people who matter most to me safe.”
Vaduin considers this for a long moment. “Very well. We’ll do what we can.”
