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“Yes, you can,” Ryon says, and he brings the hilt of his sword crashing into Phineas’ temple. The Glacian crumples immediately, his eyes rolling into unconsciousness.

Ryon sheaths his sword again. “Hurry,” he says over his shoulder.

Dawsyn’s heart pounds. She rushes forward, beaten by Tasheem and Rivdan, who help Ryon to lift Phineas’ limp body.

“We need to hide,” Ryon utters. “We’ve made too much noise.”

“Where?” Tasheem asks. “We don’t know where the rest of the Izgoi are.”

“Come,” Ryon says, leading hurriedly back into the maze of the Colony.

Stuffed inside the limited space of a frozen timber hut, Ryon slaps Phineas’ cheek. It takes him several moments to come to, his eyes finally tightening with fear when they focus on Ryon.

The Glacian breathes heavily, his shoulders rising and falling. He pulls at the restraints that tether his wrists together behind his back. “Ryon, please,” he says. “I only ever protected you.”

Ryon’s jaw ticks. “Be useful,” he says, “and you stay alive.”

Phineas’ eyes dart between all those crowded into the small shelter. His cracked lips, veined eyes, sallow skin appear more human than they ever have before. Dawsyn wonders if the deprivation of iskra is killing him or keeping him here.

Phineas licks his lips nervously. “What is it you need?”

“Knowledge,” Rivdan says simply. “Where are the others?”

“In the noble’s village,” Phineas answers immediately. “The new king’s orders. Vasteel’s pure-blooded are to remain in the Colony, without the privilege of flight.”

“He always nursed a complex where wings were concerned,” Tash quips.

“The mixed who did not fight are housed in the noble village,” Phineas continues. “The Izgoi have free reign of the castle.”

Ryon turns to Dawsyn. “There are hundreds of Izgoi,” he tells her. “Too many to fight.”

“Not anymore,” Phineas interrupts and Ryon’s head whips back to him. “There were many who stood against Adrik, once they knew that… well, once they could see–”

“That he was consuming iskra,” Ryon says plainly.

Phineas nods. “Any of those who spoke against him were turned out of the palace. He called it sedition. Most remain in the village, from what I can tell.”

“How many remain?”

“Of the Izgoi? Perhaps fifty. Maybe more.”

Fifty,Dawsyn thinks.Still too many.

“But you won’t find them in the palace,” Phineas suddenly adds.

All in the shelter fall still, silent. Ryon is the first to break it. “You just said–”

“They left.” Phineas speaks cautiously, watching Ryon’s reactions for any sudden movements. His eyes flit to his weapons often. “I do not know where they were going.”

Dawsyn’s heart gallops. “When?” she asks forcefully.

Phineas does not turn his head toward her. “Midday,” he says. “The entire flock.”

He could be lying,Dawsyn thinks, but every wisp of instinct she possesses tells her otherwise. “They’ve gone to Terrsaw,” she says aloud, for surely it was always Alvira’s plan.

“The Ledge people,” Ryon says. “They’ve reached the valley?”

They must have. For what other reason would Adrik abandon his pool? His throne?