“Ever since Faluel gave the demonstration, the black market is flooding with people selling information about potential threats to Lith’s family.”

“And when you say pressing matters, you don’t mean Forgemastering, right?” Zoreth asked.

“You’re weird, Zor.” Bytra stopped her furious pacing and turned around to look her wife in the eyes. “I expected you to be angrier about what happened to the kids and more excited about our progress.”

“Believe me, Byt, I am angry!” Zoreth flared with bright violet Origin Flames. “I’m being quiet only because trashing our home to vent would be stupid. Yet you are right about the excitement. I have a bad feeling about this.”

“You and your big heart.” Bytra pinched Zoreth’s cheeks and gave her a sweet kiss. “You worry too much. You know what kind of genius Tezka is. He never makes mistakes. There is no way something can go wrong.”

‘That’s what I’m worried about, Byt.’ The Shadow Dragon thought as she smiled and nodded. ‘If Tezka is right, we’ll take the first of many steps towards our goal. When we reach it, the balance with the Council and the other forces on Garlen will shatter.

‘The peaceful life and everything we got used to might get overturned before we know it. You are excited because you focus on the new beginning, whereas I can’t stop thinking about how ugly things might end before we reach that point.’