Bluewing by Kate Avery Ellison Read Free Book Online Page A

whispered across the scabby mixture of ice and mud that coated the ground. She reached the center of the clearing and stopped.
    A branch snapped in the distance. I straightened, straining to see.
    The darkness rippled, and three figures emerged.
    Blackcoats?
    Everiss stiffened but didn’t move. She raised a hand in greeting, and the three figures halted. One stepped forward alone to meet her. It was too dark to distinguish faces, and they all wore plain black cloaks that hung over their eyes, much like ours did.
    I signaled for Gabe and Arla to circle around behind them through the trees.
    The figure who had come forward spoke. It was a man. His voice was muffled.
    “Thank you for agreeing to meet us. Can we have some proof of who you are?”
    Everiss nodded and produced the silver symbol of the Thorns, a broken Y-shaped branch with tiny pricks. “Do you recognize this?”
    The man nodded. His shoulders relaxed.
    Gabe and Arla rejoined me and shook their heads to show that no one was hiding in the woods behind the figures. Satisfied by now that the Blackcoats were alone, I rose from the bushes. The cloaked heads swiveled in my direction. I thought I saw one reach toward his waist, as if going for a weapon, but he relaxed when he realized I was with Everiss.
    “You said you wanted to talk,” I said, lowering my voice and making it sound gruff. “So talk.”
    The first figure spread his hands in a gesture of friendship and nonaggression . He wore gloves, black like the rest of his attire. “We need your help. Things have become dire in the village, as you may know. Officer Raine is driving our people to starvation. Children are being indoctrinated and their parents allow it so they can get a little more food. Honest citizens are having their property confiscated.”
    “You should speak with your Mayor,” I said sharply. “He was the one who promised this would be temporary and beneficial to all.”
    The Blackcoat flinched. “The Mayor is powerless to act against Raine alone. That’s why we need your help.”
    “Plan on blowing up any more buildings?”
    He winced at the mention of their previous reputation. “That was the old way. We are choosing a different path.”
    “And what’s in it for us?” I demanded. I couldn’t let them know how afraid I was. I couldn’t let them know anything but ruthlessness. They couldn’t gain a foothold in this conversation. My voice was strong as steel, but beneath the folds of my cloak, my legs trembled.
    “We can help you,” he said. “We know you hide in the forest. We know the Frost would make an excellent point of connection for your other operations. We will partner with you. With the soldiers gone, you can move freely, and you won’t have to live in the wilderness.”
    No more hiding and skulking and bedding down in ruins. I ached to think about it. My bones were cold and my blood half-frozen. And in my mind, a single image crystallized.
    With the Farther soldiers gone—with Raine gone—I could have my family’s farm back.
    But was this the best decision for everyone? My own desires tugged at me selfishly, but I hesitated.
    “You’ll have to do better than that,” I answered. “I need specifics, promises. We will need places for refugees from across the river to stay. Those of us who are Frost natives must have their property returned.”
    “It will be done,” the man said.
    I couldn’t trust them. Not yet. “I’ll have to speak with my superiors,” I said. “We will contact you with our answer.”
    The Blackcoat nodded. He retreated into the forest, followed by his companions. Everiss and I rejoined Arla and Gabe, and we headed for Echlos.
     
    ~
     
    Jonn gazed placidly at me across the table as I paced. He held a long, slender tool in his hand, and he was using it to try to open the box I’d found in the ruins of Borde’s lab.
    “I don’t know if we should do this,” I said for the tenth time.
    “It’s a smart move for us to make,” he said,