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“Are you being serious?”

“Unfortunately, I am.” He leans forwards. “The ship that fell today was a hive. Hives have their own fleet. They are fiercely protected. To go after one...” He pauses. “Hevalla must have known The Dragoness had something powerful in her possession.” He drops his voice, even though we’re still alone. “A weapon. And Hevalla used what must have been the majority of their fleets, across hive ships, to try to take it.”

“Did they manage to? Take it?”

“No. But for Hevalla to have had that knowledge…”

I understand. “Spies?”

He inspects the map in his hand.

“There was already talk of the Sky Treaty being broken. After today, I believe, for the first time in this war, the skies will be safer than the ground.”

“But—”

“Just think about it.”

He props his map on the table. I now have a clear view of it.

My village – in fact, most of the east coast of Hevalla – has been blotted out with ink.

Obliterated.

I’ve seen enough. I jump out of the ship, my pulse frenzied.

“Wait,” he calls.

I turn.

“Dierai, Ara.”

I freeze like he’s just wrapped a hand around my heart.

“Dierai,” I choke out, in return.

It’s an Old Rhavnan word for goodbye.

Except it means more than that.

It means, safe passage. It means, stay alive.

It means, I pray to the stars I will see you again.

The light feeling I had from hearing the word ‘Dierai’ from Drake’s mouth fades quickly. All I can think about is Eric. I’m beating myself up for not thinking about him sooner, getting back to him faster.

And as I follow the cliff round back towards my village, the bottom drops right out of my stomach.

Because the beach here is crawling with watchers in their beige uniforms. I’ve never seen so many of them. They’re inspecting every piece of debris. Some are manoeuvring metal detectors over the sand. Some are carrying items up in nets to the cliff steps.

Commanding it all at its centre is Vikemy, his white cape flowing behind him. It looks like something out of a Rhavnan play. I could throw a rose. Or an apple.

I kneel down, partially concealed by the cliff, feeling powerless.

Because I can’t just walk through the beach, when they’re clearly looking for evidence of something. I’ll be detained, interrogated, then executed – publicly. It will be compulsory viewing for my brother and Old Mother.

What if they know a soldier got away? How much time does Drake have?

It’s not far to the wrecked ship. If they scour the whole beach –