After hours of debate, it was decided. A small delegation would travel to the Eastern Cities, Elaria, Draven, Amariel, Captain Ryver, and a dozen guards. They would have one week to negotiate peace before the armies would be forced to mobilize.
That night, as Elaria packed for the journey, Saphira came to her chambers.
"I don't want you to go," her younger sister said quietly.
"I have to. If we don't stop this, people will die. Thousands of them."
"But what if you don't come back? What if something happens to you?" Saphira's eyes filled with tears. "I already almost lost you twice. I can't—"
Elaria pulled her sister into a tight hug. "I'll come back. I promise."
"Don't make promises you can't keep."
"Then I'll make this promise instead—I'll fight like hell to come back. How's that?"
