Page 147 of Under Restless Skies

“Yes, but he doesn’t know I want to save them. I don’t think he’d support me. But… I saw something I shouldn’t see. I know things about the academy, and he thinks I want to leave because of that. He’s offering to get me on a boat to the Sorensen Kingdom, and get Kaio away from here before that happens—just in case.”

“In case they catch you escaping.”

I nod.

The glow from the lumos jar turns eerie, and Laristella’s serious expression betrays her advanced years.

“Let me get this straight. You want to remove two baby dragons from the academy, and nobody knows about your plan. Is that correct?” Her tone is pragmatic like she’s trying to salvage a pot of stew that has too much salt.

“I… don’t fully trust anyone.” The thought hurts, as I wish I could share more with Nelly.

“Once you take the hatchlings, there’s no way back for you, is there?”

The thought is like a chasm opening before me.

No way back. But it’s true. Horrifically true. “They’ll know I’m the one responsible. I don’t think Commander Mallor will be able to protect me. Even now, what he’s suggesting is getting me away from the academy, and it’s because his reach is limited. The prince… I don’t know. I don’t know what he’ll do if he finds out, and I don’t know how much he can protect me.”

She pierces me with her stare. “Are you willing to give up everything for these little dragons?”

I sigh, and even then the knot in my chest only tightens. “What’s the alternative? To live with the guilt for what I’ve done? How can I face Thantos when I die? I know it sounds unreasonable.” A bitter chuckle leaves my lips.

“It’s not unreasonable. Me too, once I found two little ones under my charge. Not dragons, but humans. And I’d do anything for them.”

I stare at her. Disbelief, confusion, so many feelings coursing through my mind. And I see her, see the enormity of her love for us, something I was never able to acknowledge. My eyes sting with strange tears.

“Really?” I mutter.

“Yes, Mayara, except that I never imagined you’d put me in such a tight jar.”

Her words only increase my shame. “I’m sorry, I… You asked me to tell you…”

“As you should! I’m here to help. Let me see if I understand. You want Kaio out of Dracolius before you attempt to save the little dragons because when you do, if something goes wrong, you don’t want him to be hurt.”

“Yes.”

“And you need a boat with people you trust to go to the Riders’ Sea?”

I nod, realizing the enormity of the task ahead of me.

Laristella doesn’t look shaken, though. “All right. There’s only one person I trust for that trip. A small merchant ship, Rosalinda. The captain’s name is Roco. I don’t think they’ve traveled to the Kingdom of the Riders in a long time, but he’s been there before, and he could do the trip again—if I ask him. He’s not in Dracolius right now, though, so I’ll need to wait for him to get here. It should be soon. I will talk to him, and I will talk to you. Don’t get anywhere near the port. It’s how they find recruits planning on running. Do you understand?”

I tremble, unwilling to believe that she’s ready to go that far for me, that help’s at hand, and yet I don’t even have the words to tell her how much it means. “Yes. Thank you.”

She waves a hand and huffs. “Now, your brother. No way I’m letting him alone in a boat with grown men. That’s a no.”

My stomach sinks. “But⁠—”

“I’ll travel with him. We’ll take some vacations together. Maybe we can restart our life across the sea.”

“What about the restaurant?”

She half shrugs. “I’ll close it. I’m tired, you know, and I’ve always wanted to travel. It’s what your brother wants, really. I don’t think he wants to be a merchant. We’ll see what we do when we get there.”

My breath stills in disbelief at this woman’s strength, at her selflessness. “You’ll upend your life for him?”

She lets out a huff. “Aren’t you about to do the same for the little dragons?”

“But it’s my fault.”