Promised by Caragh M. O'brien Page B

Gaia remembered. “How dare you judge me? How dare you accuse me of selling my child? You left. You went off into the wasteland with your sister. If I had known what was going to happen, I’d have taken my family and gone with you. But I didn’t. And I’ve had to survive just as much as you have.”
    â€œI’m sorry,” Gaia said. “I heard how the Protectorat took your son, and I heard about Kyle. I miss him, too.”
    Emily took a step nearer, dropping her voice.
    â€œI don’t want to hear you say his name,” Emily said.
    â€œNo. I won’t. I’m sorry.”
    â€œAnd I don’t want your pity, either.”
    Gaia felt an awful burst of emotion rising through her. She couldn’t stand to be fighting with her oldest friend. It felt like the last good thing from her childhood was exploding in her face. “Please don’t be like this,” Gaia pleaded.
    Emily’s expression turned dismissive. “You were always so immature.”

 
    CHAPTER 8
    cameras
    E MILY PUSHED OPEN THE door to the office, and the guard hurried to catch it and hold it wide for Gaia. Gaia stood riveted to the carpet, stuck between shame and hurt. The guard made a soft humming noise, and she glanced up. He’d obviously heard her entire exchange with Emily, but his expression was impassive.
    â€œWhat?” she said quietly.
    â€œYou might tell Leon that Marquez says hello. That’s all,” he said. “After you, Masister.”
    His calm voice and kindness gave her just the reprieve she needed to regain some of her composure. She inhaled deeply. “Thanks,” she whispered, and stepped into the room after Emily.
    The Protectorat and Mabrother Iris were standing together over the desk, discussing something, but they looked up as Gaia entered.
    â€œYour people know better than to attack, don’t they?” the Protectorat asked.
    Gaia moved forward, alarmed. “What do you see?”
    She didn’t think they’d attack without her, not this quickly, but she realized she had no idea. Who was running things out there? Will? Leon? The Protectorat tapped an enlarged screen on the desktop, and the quad before the Tvaltar came into startlingly clear view. Will, Peter, and Dinah were huddled in a tight conference with Derek Vlatir and several other leaders from Wharfton. Two dozen of the female archers from New Sylum were poised on the Tvaltar steps, and a rough-looking lot from Wharfton had gathered with shovels, pickaxes, and clubs.
    Gaia scanned each face for Leon, but couldn’t find him. Something’s wrong , her gut told her. He should be with them .
    â€œCall up reinforcements for the wall guard,” the Protectorat said. “They’re not getting anywhere with arrows, but keep an eye on them.”
    At that moment, the door opened forcefully, and Genevieve, the Protectorat’s wife, charged into the room. “Miles!” she began, then stopped as her gaze met Gaia. “You!” she exclaimed. “Do you know where my daughter is?”
    â€œI don’t have the slightest idea,” Gaia said.
    Genevieve flew to her husband. “Evelyn’s gone! I sent a girl to look for her an hour ago, and it turns out no one’s seen her. She’s nowhere to be found.”
    â€œIris?” the Protectorat said.
    â€œI’m looking,” Mabrother Iris said, typing rapidly. “South gate? Did Masister Evelyn pass through today?”
    Genevieve braced both of her hands on the computer desk, leaning over it as she peered closely at the screen. Her white dress reflected in the black glass, and when her golden hair slipped forward over her shoulder, she shoved it back with distraught fingers.
    A crackle came from a speaker in the desk, and then a man’s voice. “Yes, she passed through about two hours ago. She hasn’t returned. You want us to go looking for her?”
    â€œIf they hurt one hair of