Twenty-Six
Warren stops wriggling and directs his energy into complaining. Loudly.
“Sol! Let go! I hate you! Get off!”
Solma ignores him. She knows she’s holding his wrist too tightly, but she can’t loosen her grip. It’s all falling apart. She’d promised Ma and Dja to keep him safe and now the Whisperers are trying to take him away. Solma has to stop herself from tightening her hold on him at the thought. Panic and fury compete in her gut so her body pulses with adrenalin. She can barely see, but she knows where she’s going. She marches into the village, ignoring the children who implore Warren to come and play.
When she turns up the first path, Warren is quiet. Solma feels him tensing as the realization hits him, and he starts struggling with renewed vigor.
“No, Solma, no!” he cries,
