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PART I: THE RAID

I: Laia

My big brother reaches hohosts take their rest He se He smells of the enemy

He folds his scarecrow body through the , bare feet silent on the rushes A hot desert wind blows in after hi the lies it under his bunk with a quick foot, as if it’s a snake

Where have you been, Darin? In e to ask the question, and Darin trusts ? Why, when Pop and Nan need you? When I need you?

Every night for alht, I’ve lacked the courage I have one sibling left I don’t want him to shut me out like he has everyone else

But tonight’s different I knohat’s in his sketchbook I knohat it means

“You shouldn’t be awake ” Darin’s whisper jolts ot it frohts the la to be asleep

“It’s past curfew, and three patrols have gone by I orried ”

“I can avoid the soldiers, Laia Lots of practice ” He rests his chin on my bunk and smiles Mother’s sweet, crooked sht will be fine, the look says

He picks up the book on ht,” he reads the title

“Spooky What’s it about?”

“I just started it It’s about a jinn—” I stop Clever Very clever He likes hearing stories as et that Where were you?

Pop had a dozen patients this”

And I filled in for you because he can’t do so much alone Which left Nan to bottle the trader’s jams by herself Except she didn’t finish Now the trader won’t pay us, and we’ll starve this winter, and why in the skies don’t you care?

I say these things in my head The smile’s already dropped off Darin’s face

“I’,” he says “Pop knows that ”

I want to back down, but I think of Pop’s slu

I think of the sketchbook

“Pop and Nan depend on you At least talk to them It’s been months ”

I wait for him to tell me that I don’t understand That I should leave him be But he just shakes his head, drops down into his bunk, and closes his eyes like he can’t be bothered to reply

“I saw your drawings ” The words tumble out in a rush, and Darin’s up in an instant, his face stony “I wasn’t spying,” I say “One of the pages was loose

I found it when I changed the rushes this”

“Did you tell Nan and Pop? Did they see?”

“No, but—”

“Laia, listen ” Ten hells, I don’t want to hear this I don’t want to hear his excuses “What you saw is dangerous,” he says “You can’t tell anyone about it Not ever It’s not just my life at risk There are others—”

“Are you working for the E for the Martials?”