Page 149

“That’s not the right ordering; you could end up like me,” Iryana stuttered.

“I’d be following metal with metal that is already combined with fire, if that’s how Karvek’s forging truly worked,” Vaneshta argued back. “There’s no reason my metal magic wouldn’t settle when the fire magic is already bonded with metal. Plus, I’m strong. I have great control over my magic.”

“Vani…” Iryana hated the idea of her best friend taking such a risk.

“We can’t risk you,” Pyetar refused.

Vaneshta stood up, taking a step away from Lidishta, who was staring blankly at the wall across from her. “I’d rather take the risk myself, and we need this.”

Iryana was shaking her head, hands gripping the corner of the desk she leaned against. She couldn’t lose Vaneshta.

“It’s not the worst idea.” Major Tenar shrugged. Iryana wanted to throw something at him.

“Too much could go wrong,” Pepha cried, hands clenching and unclenching anxiously. Mezhimar touched her arm to calm her.

“If anyone could do it, it’s her,” Vabihn argued. “But can you imagine? She’d really be bossing everyone around after that.”

Vaneshta took a deep breath. “It’s settled, I’ll—”

“No, you can’t!” Lidishta shouted, shoving up from the chair.

Vaneshta softened. “Lidi, it’ll be alright, I—”

“You don’t understand the costs,” Lidishta whimpered. Pain and panic were etched in every line of her face, her every muscle rigid.

The entire room grew silent, confusion twisting their expressions. Iryana squinted at Lidishta.

“And you do?” Mezhimar broke the silence, looking closely at Lidishta.

She was breathing heavily now, looking only at Vaneshta. A plea in the twist of her brows and a quivering of her lips. She must not have seen what she wanted to on Vaneshta’s face.

“I do,” Lidishta whispered. “Because… I was forged like Karvek.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

“What do you mean you were forged like Karvek?” Vaneshta asked.

Lidishta stared at Vaneshta with that pleading look, like she couldn’t bear to utter the words.

Iryana stilled, slack-jawed, as all the pieces clicked together.

How Lidishta’s forgings were so dark it was hard to see their color.

How Vaneshta said Lidishta was shy and didn’t want to show her tattoos.

How Lidishta had joined Iryana and Vaneshta in taking down Karvek and Lidishta’s brother shortly after being forged.

How they hadn’t killed the badger until Lidishta had helped them.

“You’re dual-forged,” Iryana breathed.

Lidishta’s head dropped.

“I didn’t know it was going to happen, I promise. My brother took me and the other initiate being forged to the far side of the temple. The Keepers were dressed strangely, not like the others I saw around the temple. When they took us down into the well, they tied us both down. I didn’t know if it was normal, not yet anyway. I got scared, but my brother held me down for them.”

“Lidi,” Vaneshta breathed as Lidishta collapsed back down on the chair. “You don’t have to—”

“I do. You need to know.” She looked dead, like she wasn’t fully there anymore. “I’ve talked to other forged soldiers now. I know what was supposed to happen.” She sucked in a huge gulp of air. “They didn’t ask me to share my life story or my secrets. They didn’t give me the opportunity to open myself up to the magic. It’s not the only way to lower one’s defenses enough to allow the bond.”