16. Mare #2
Liam's expression darkened. He paused before answering. "Why?"
"I need to find mine, only . . . I can’t.”
"Mm." Liam brushed past me and beckoned for me to follow. He pushed out the inn door and stopped on the porch.
"My sister . . . " Liam leaned on the porch railing. "Is a patchwork of masks. She wears whichever will impress her current audience the most.”
"That's not true." I folded my arms. "I don't care about impressing you.”
"Yes, you do," Liam countered. "We haven't spoken frankly since I was a child—you have too much pride.”
"Nonsense. Older siblings simply can't show weakness around their baby brothers, that's all.” I pouted. "And you don't talk about yourself either.”
"Wrong again, sister. I'm not nearly as vain as you.”
"Fine.” I folded my arms. "What's your catalyst, then?"
Liam's mouth warbled, like he couldn't decide whether to smirk or frown. Finally, he pointed up. "Stars.”
"Wha—" I followed his gaze. "Stars?"
Stars glittered in the black sky, ornaments beside the great twin moons.
"Yes," Liam said shortly. "Explaining further won't help you find yours. But . . . ” He tilted his head, eyes sweeping over me.
Stars? I glanced between the sky and my brother again.
Liam had never mentioned wanting to study the stars. Aside from telling me what time it was, he never brought them up. I felt like a terrible sister for not knowing something so critical about him.
"That uniform," Liam finally said. "Do you like it?”
"Do I like it?" I echoed. Spreading my arms, I looked down at my mother's gorgeous armor. "It's the most beautiful thing I've ever had the privilege of wearing. I only wish . . . "
I deserved to wear it.
"That's what I thought.” Liam reached out and adjusted my circlet. "Nobody ever sees your room, but there's never anything out of place. Honestly, I always thought you made it unnecessarily gaudy.”
"My room is impeccable, unlike your rat's nest.”
"That's your catalyst. Or something like it.” He stepped back. "Beauty. Even if you had nothing to prove, I think you'd still love being an elegant lady.”
Frowning, I stared at my palm, at the creases on my skin, as though they could give me answers.
Was Liam right? Did he know me better than I knew him?
Could my catalyst really be something so simple, so shallow? Surely not . . .
Liam looked up sharply. Reese and Ferris had untied the horses but appeared to have started another argument. The prince lunged forward, grabbing the Paragon's arm with tight desperation.
Trotting down the porch steps, I joined them by the mounts and caught the last of Ferris' words.
" . . . shouldn't Ishii be enough?"
Guilt flashed over Reese's face. He looked over as I approached, but said nothing.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
Ferris released Reese's wrist. "There's a small town between Galasvar and Minsawa. If the entire southern border is attacked, they'll be wiped out.”
"As unfortunate as that is," I said. "Minsawa fares little better.”
Ferris' eyes hardened. "Killian died doing what Paragons are supposed to do. They appear where nobles and lords deign not to."
Reese released a heavy exhale. My heart climbed up into my throat when I realized what he was about to say.
"He's right," Reese said. "I can't leave them to fight alone. They could use our aid more than Minsawa—they already have a Paragon with them.” He tugged on his horse's reins, leading her away from the inn. "We're changing course.”
Shoving down my fear, I grabbed Ferris' arm. "How small a town?"
"Just a little farming village," he said. "From what I understand, General Yuudai changed his mind about reinforcing the border, but he won't be sending soldiers there.”
My grip on the prince tightened. "Are you trying to get us killed?"
"We have two Paragons—and I'm a pretty good mage. But they have nothing.” He pulled from my grip and followed Reese.
My fingers curled into a fist. Exhaling, I pressed my hand to my face.
I was most certainly going to die, now.
Whirling on my heel, I jogged to catch up with Reese. "Why would we go to some doomed town? At least in a fort with another Paragon, we stand a chance.”
Reese tightened a strap on his horse's saddle and turned to me. "The prince is right. Killian died in Galasvar because no one else believed him. Because the lords refused to help. Paragons have always stood for the people—they walk where no one else will. Even if it means death.”
He spoke the words with conviction, without a flicker of doubt. He seemed taller, then. Brighter.
The picture of a hero, just as Killian had appeared, standing tall on the walls that would lead to his end.
Reese said Paragon weapons never chose wrong, but . . .
“What about Minsawa?” I asked.
“They have Ishii. He’s survived this job for a hundred years—this battle won’t claim him. Come on.” Reese brushed my shoulder. "We need to go.”
Touching my sword belt, I stood there in silence.
Liam led my elk over and handed me its reins. "I think I know this town they're talking about. It's about two days from here.”
"Two days," I breathed. "Then we have two days to find my catalyst. Because if we don't . . . " I turned, meeting my brother's eye.
He nodded, knowing full well what would happen if I didn't.
We would suffer through another Galasvar. But the monsters might not spare us, this time.