55
Kiria
Kiria stared at the darkened ceiling, trying to summon prayers. The fizz of hope from Jori’s party was wearing off—that buffer between her and the inevitable conflict beyond. She touched her lip and rubbed her fingers together. The split had apparently closed, because her hand felt dry.
Had she thought of everything? In this breathless wait before the battle began, her courage felt small.
Whispering into the dark, she repeated to herself the sacrifices and losses she had already endured. Compared to those, the task ahead became manageable. She could stare it down and see it through.
Candrae and Vayci, exhausted from the excitement of the night, slept nearby, ready to help her in a second. Her whispering might have already woken them up, but she knew they wouldn’t grudge her f
