“Kirja,” Silver said, trying to soothe her. “We’re almost there.” She pointed down. “The oasis.”
Landing with a flustered Kirja, and Luap in a hammock, was awkward. Once they hit the ground, Kirja tugged at the hammock on her side, desperate to run to Nebekker. She pulled so hard that she tipped Brajon and Mele off. They tumbled to the sand, bouncing on top of each other.
“Ow, just what I needed.” Brajon sat up and rubbed his forehead. “It already feels like the inside of a mine in my brain. Hammers and all.”
“I always figured you had rocks for brains,” Silver said. “But maybe they’re really jewels.”
“Ha ha,” Brajon mumbled.
Silver slid smoothly to the desert floor. She smiled at the familiar feeling of her boots sinking into the sand. She was home.
Mele helped Silver untie the hammock. The instant Kirja was free, she dashed into the dark and disappeared from sight with a mighty splash. Silver smiled, thinking about the water dragon’s reunion with Nebekker. Both old creatures would be so happy.
“You can enter the river caves through the oasis lake with Luap,” Silver told Mele. “Brajon, do you want to ride in with me, or walk through the cave entrance?”
Brajon fiddled with the hem of his tunic. “Actually, I’m going to go home.”
Silver stared at him in shock. “I thought we were going to stick together! You’re just going to go back there after all we’ve been through?”
“There is where I belong, cousin. I like Jaspaton. I like my life there. I belong. Flying and racing on the seas … that’s not meant for me.”
“But you’re a hero now! I don’t know what I would’ve done without you, and I don’t know if I can do whatever comes next without you, either.” Silver swallowed. “I don’t have that many favorite cousins, you know.”
Tears filled her eyes. You’re not just my cousin. You’re my best friend, she wanted to say. But she knew if she opened her mouth, she would sob.
“I know. You’re my best friend, too.” Brajon smiled. Not his usual big, joking grin, but something softer. “I know I wasn’t the nicest to Hiyyan at first. He always represented the beginning of something new for you. And the end of our old life together in Jaspaton—like when I used to call up to you from two streets below and you’d race down to eat my mother’s feasts. That’s been hard for me. But I will always watch you from afar. I will always ask traders for news of your victories. And when you’re more famous than Sagittaria Wonder, I hope you’ll come back to our little desert city and say hello sometimes. Don’t get too big for us, all right?”
“I won’t,” Silver said, smiling through her tears. She never would. Jaspaton would always be the most beautiful place in the world to her. And her family would always hold her heart.
“I do have one more favor to ask,” Brajon said. “Uh, it’s kind of a long walk home, and I’m pretty tired. Do you think Hiyyan would give me one last ride?”
Silver laughed. She looked at her Aquinder and silently communicated with him. Hiyyan walked to Brajon, nuzzled his hair with his snout as if to say, It’s okay. I know you love me even though you’re a ridiculous desert beetle, and lowered himself so Brajon could climb on.
When Brajon was seated on the water dragon’s back, he waved at his cousin. “Try to stay out of trouble, if you even can.”
Then, he did flash that teasing Brajon grin. Hiyyan lifted off, favoring his healthy wing, and they disappeared into the night sky.
Silver sighed. Her heart ached, and so did her body. But there was still an annoying voice in the back of her mind that said she didn’t have a lot of time to nurse her wounds or her heart. Sagittaria Wonder would be coming for Hiyyan.
And Silver was a criminal.
FIFTY-ONE
Silver walked past the palm trees to the hidden cave entrance next to the lake as Mele and Luap dove into the oasis pool. She picked carefully down the wet path, descending until she turned the last corner and the cavern opened before her. Luap was dabbling in the river, Mele still on her back.
Kirja lay sprawled on the riverbank, her head in Nebekker’s lap.
The old woman was tiny and frail. Hardly more than bones. Her eyes were closed, and she looked so much older and more worn than when Silver had last seen her.
But when Silver nudged a pebble and sent it rolling into the river, the old woman opened her eyes.
“You’ve returned. And you brought me my Kirja.” Nebekker’s voice was small. Hardly even a whisper.
“I promised I would,” Silver said. “I keep my promises. But I was worried I’d been too selfish. That I’d—”
“Taken too long? Lost Kirja?” Nebekker nodded and closed her eyes again.
Silver nodded. “I’m worried about Kirja and Hiyyan, too. They have so many wounds.”
“Not to worry. I have a dragon heartstone, assuming you haven’t lost it.”
“A what?”
“My pendant,” Nebekker said.
“It’s right here.” Silver pulled out the jewelry. “What does that mean … heartstone? How does—”
A sound behind Silver made her stomach coil. She whipped around to look into the darkness. Sagittaria Wonder?
“Hello?”
No. That was not the voice of the legendary dragon racer. That was …
“Mother!” Silver’s beautiful mother stepped into the light, dashing away all thoughts of Nebekker’s pendant. When Sersha Batal saw Silver, she dropped the baskets she was carrying. Silver launched herself at her mother, throwing her arms around Sersha’s neck. She hadn’t realized just how much she’d ached for her mother until she saw her standing there. It felt like a missing piece of Silver had fallen back into place.
“My girl,” Silver’s mother said into her daughter’s hair. “You’re home.”
Silver pulled away from the hug and helped her mother carry the baskets down to Nebekker.
“You found my letter,” Silver said.
“I found it,” Sersha said. “And I’ve experienced every possible emotion since I read it. Anger, worry, fear, pain, and even pride.”
Silver wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
“I’ve come down here twice,” Sersha said. “To bring supplies and get news about you. But there hasn’t been any news. Until now.” Her eyes shone with unshed tears. “You’re finally back. Safe.”
“Your mother’s very trustworthy,” Nebekker said. “I’ve known that for a very long time.”
“How?” Silver said.
Her mother shrugged. “When Nebekker arrived in Jaspaton, she was an outcast. A foreigner,” Sersha said. “Someone who didn’t have family. She wouldn’t even tell us where she’d come from. People said she was a spy from the Island Nations. Said she didn’t belong here. I didn’t believe them. So your aunt Yidla and I befriended her. Nebekker was cold, but after a time—many years, in fact—she began to thaw out. She told me about her life as a girl. About Kirja. I promised her that she would find safety here. I promised I would help take care of her.”
“Nebekker, why didn’t you tell me?” Silver said.
She thought about what Arkilah had said, her claim that Nebekker had left her to die in a frozen wasteland. Was it possible Arkilah had been telling the truth?
“I’m sure there are many stories she hasn’t told you,” Sersha said. “It took many years before she’d tell me what I now know … and I’m sure that’s not all of it.”