Page 246 of Phoenix's Fire

"What?" Judith asked.

So the girl turned to her friend. "I broke my last crochet hook. Do you have a spare I can borrow?"

"Certainly!" her friend replied, pretending to hand one over before shaking her head like she didn't know what else to do.

So the first girl replied, "Thank you. I'll get it back to you after dinner in the laundry." She turned back to the wives. "And just like that, your friend will know to make sure she - or someone else - meets you after dinner in the laundry."

Judith's mouth was hanging open. "That's actually a great idea."

"And," I said, deciding to run with it, "it means we can help each other. If someone is bogged down with chores, or if a husband is angry, or if there's an injury that needs attending. We no longer have to do it all on our own."

"Warnings too," Deenah said. "If a husband is complaining about a problem that's going to grow, warn the other wives so they know to be out of the home, or to be extra quiet that day."

"To brace," another wife agreed. "Yes! That would help more than you can imagine."

"Okay, girl," Judith said to the one who'd mimed the crochet hook trade. "Come here and tell me what men are on your list. Maybe we can find someone who isn't odious."

"Thank you!" the girl breathed, hurrying over.

"I know some as well," another woman said.

But Helah just leaned closer. "Things are changing, Callah. Not always the way we want, but this?" She flashed me a relieved smile. "You're making it a lot better."

"I didn't do that," I countered.

She made a disagreeing noise. "You got them talking. You brought them here. No, the idea wasn't all yours, but you made a space where it was inevitable. That, my dear, is what we need the most right now: a leader."

Seventy-Seven

Kanik

The announcement for the town meeting had arrived. It was tonight, just before sundown, so we teachers had been sent home with the students. The principal had assured us that grading could wait until we came back from the security lockdown, so I headed home.

The days were still warm, but autumn was starting to keep the heat from being oppressive. Large clouds floated overhead, and there was a constant breeze today. Soon, the leaves on the trees would start changing. I couldn't help but wonder what Ayla would think about that.

I was thinking about her a lot.

Zasen had kissed her. She'd kissed Rymar. Every instinct in my body made me think that meant I had no chance, but our talk the other day convinced me to push that down and ignore it. Never mind that "a chance" wasn't fair to her. She'd made it clear she didn't want to be in a relationship that even resembled anything the Moles had done.

But Dragons weren't Moles.

I made it in the house and threw my things beside the door, but I couldn't shake this anxiety that had been keeping me tense lately. So, instead of being snappish like Zasen or sulking like Rymar, I decided I needed to stop ignoring it and finally figure it out.

"Holly?" I called. "Who wants to play fetch?"

From upstairs, I heard a peal of laughter. A second later, Holly raced down the stairs, hurrying towards me. I bent to pet her, loving how easily this dog had become a part of our household, but a little giggle made me look up to see Ayla at the top of the stairs.

"Stealing my dog?" she asked.

"Just borrowing," I promised. "It was a rough day at school, and I want to throw things. She'll bring them back, which makes it easier."

But Ayla tipped her head at me and smiled. "Thank you," she said. "I needed to let her out anyway."

"And I need some puppy time," I cooed to the dog. "Thanks, Ayla. C'mon, Holly." I patted my leg as I stood, then headed for the back.

That smile. That was my problem - well, a part of it. Letting Holly out, I followed behind her, looking for a stick while she did her business, and I tried to figure out when this anxiety had started. Unfortunately, I knew. It had appeared when Saveah said she was spending time with Rymar, and I'd ended up taking Holly to my room until they'd returned in the wee hours of the morning.

And she'd been wearing his shirt.