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Her lips trembled "You made us look bad in front of the royal fa to be looked down on for years We don’t want you here any down her cheeks were enough to undo my own I made them look bad in front of the royal family? The way she said that, it was if I was not a part of the royal fas shook I kneould come next If I didn’t have a job, I would be sent away Sent to be a slave for one of the other fahme like a thousand tiny ants "Si to happen?"

She shook her head "Go, run away, Lark Get away froet worse"

I stepped back "Si, she covered her face with her hands "I’m so sorry Your mam, she wouldn’t want this"

No, I didn’t think my mother would want this at all But what choice did I have? There was no job in our family that would require less skill with the earth than that of a Planter To sprout seedlings was so anyone here could do Anyone except me

The forest floor flew under my feet as I ran back to rown into the tree’s side, I looked up Moveainst the tree trunk I listened for the telltale sign that it was an Ender The occasional creak of leather was the only thing that would give the as I breathed in the scent of the redwood against my face

"Damn it, Lark, where are you?" Coal’s voice burst out and I didn’t hesitate

"I’m here," I scrambled up the last twenty feet and all but fell into my apartment "I’m here"

He scooped irl, they can’t send you away"

I tightened uard, he would have the latest gossip "What have you heard?"

"They kicked you out of the Planters for supposedly e, they should be proud of you! But that isn’t the worst of it Soo and serve under our cousin, Fiaainst his chest and fought to breathe normally Fiametta, was queen of the fire elementals From what I’d heard, she was a royal bitch that made Cassava look like a powder puff "A rumor?"

"Go to your father, ask him to his face" Coal held me out so he could look me in the eye "You are no one’s slave, Larkspur You are a princess, your father can’t send you away for giving hiainst his jawline "And if he sends me away?"

His eyes never left mine "One step at a time"

He helped me dress, because otten the corset tied up without his help Again, I wore one ofto remind hiain" Coal slipped it around my neck and did the clasp