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She didn’t need to finish the sentence. The flat glare of understanding Flor gave her told her that her friend knew exactly why Sofia had acted and that Flor thought her crazy and stupid for it. She was still being inspected by Flor when Frankie walked in a few minutes later, face pale. She didn’t say anything for a moment, simply looking at the two women before her, lips in a flat line. The weight of what she was about to say was visible in the set of her shoulders and Sofia pulled away from Flor, chin held high.

“I’ll have my things packed by the end of the hour.”

She thought she might have glimpsed the softness beneath Frankie’s stiff lip and narrowed eyes. For only a second, Sofia could have sworn the woman looked guilty. But then she nodded and turned away.

“Good. Flor, I’ll expect the entire rent from you until you find another roommate.”

Flor cursed behind Sofia and she felt the guilt on her actions settling over her.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t,” Flor said, holding up her hand. “I’ll worry about it in two weeks when rent’s due.”

Her words didn’t ease the ache of guilt that twisted in Sofia’s gut.

SOFIA

AGE 8

No one outside of sworn men of the king can step beyond the wall for their own protection and protection of all of Suvi.

Dragon-tongue shall hereby not be taught in any formal education.

Dragonborn are prohibited from writing and reading beyond basic symbols for record keeping. Any writing will be subject to search and seizure.

Dragonborn shall not be allowed to own or use any form of weapon, including swords, daggers, spears, bows, black powder, and any other item deemed as an asset of war.

The worship of the dragons is hereby forbidden in any form. Any paraphernalia found in the possession of the Dragonborn will be deemed as proof of worship.

The Laws of Suvi - Royal Decree, 613thsun cycle of the kings

Sofia had never been so excited to grow up as she was the day her shoulders got stuck in the latrine tunnel and it took Liza ten minutes to pull her out. That evening, even Ms. Garcia couldn’t deny that it was time for Sofia to be switched out for someone new. The next day when she arrived at the back door in her uniform, freshly patched where the dress had torn from getting stuck, she was introduced to her replacement. The girl was tiny and Sofia had to wonder if she’d been that size when she’d first been assigned the job.

Her face was heart-shaped, kinky curls framing her face in a short crop. Wide brown eyes stared up at Sofia as Ms. Garcia explained the job, as if Sofia held power, which she supposed she did now. At least over this one small child.

It was this sense of responsibility that did her in. When she watched the girl—Mina—crawl into the latrines, the same rope Sofia had worn just a few days before tied around her waist, she felt a sense of responsibility that she doubted Liza ever felt for her. She’d never had a little sister, her parents barely making ends meet with a single child.

They rarely exchanged words beyond the basic pleasantries each morning, but Sofia always stayed to help load the cart even after Mina was done. And she showed her the best place in the nearby canal to rinse herself without getting in the way of passing boats. It was a few blinks into working with Mina that Sofia showed up at their usual meeting spot only to see the patch of unmarked field empty. Not known for her patience, she waited, kicking pebbles along the grasses and wildflowers—greenery that only thrived here because of the workers like her who carted water from the canal to feed the soil. After a minute or two, she grew bored, the vicious morning sun beating down on her head, turning her dark hair hot against her scalp.

The canal was within eyesight and she’d be able to see when Mina showed up. So instead of going back into the kitchens to tell Ms. Garcia of the girl’s tardiness, she made her way toward the glistening waters. She only made it a hundred yards, when she heard the high-pitched yell that had her stopping in her tracks. Mina may not have been a gregarious child, but Sofia recognized the scream well. She ran toward the sound, around the back of the house where the stables and live-in servants resided. In the middle of the bare patch of land that acted as a small courtyard for the servants’ quarters, Mina lay on the ground surrounded by four boys who would have towered over the girl even if she had she been standing.

Sofia’s heart thumped heavy in her chest as five pairs of eyes swiveled to meet hers. She didn’t recognize the boys, but she could tell from the clean cut of their clothes they were likely Dereyan. And Mina—dragons bless her—was looking up at her as if Sofia had any chance of saving her.

“I—” she swallowed back the quiver in her voice, “I came to get Mina. She’s late for work.”

One of the boys snickered, nudging Mina where she lay on the dirt. “I don’t know why we keep dragon-filth around. More trouble than you’re worth.”

Sofia bit her tongue and kept her face neutral. She just wanted to take Mina and leave.

But even as she moved forward to help the smaller girl up, one of the boys stepped toward her, shoving her hard in the chest. She landed in the dirt, a small squeak of pain escaping her lips.

“We didn’t say we were done with her.”

Sofia’s hands clenched, nails digging into the dry dirt as she pushed herself up.

“Just let me take her. We need to go to work.” She tasted metal on her tongue, her breaths sharp.

The boy stepped forward, leaning over her. “Beg for it.”