What Matters Most by Sasha L. Miller Read Free Book Online Page A

think you're exaggerating the danger."
    "I'm not," Kyros said quietly. "I am sorry, ma. I never meant for this to go so far that it would affect you."
    "Oh, hush," Ailynn said, waving her dish towel at him dismissively. "I would have liked more warning, but if you're sure they're going to come here …"
    "I'm sure," Kyros said. They would try everything they could to shut him up, and he was sure the man who'd told him of Ailynn being in danger was on the level—at least, about that information.
    "Then I'll go," Ailynn said, and Kyros sagged in relief. "But on one condition."
    "Anything," Kyros said, too relieved to deny her anything.
    "I want to stay here for the solstice festival," Ailynn said firmly. "I'll go after that, but I want to enjoy one last festival at home."
    "Jallen and Ambry will be here in a week, ma," Kyros said, trying to come up with a way to say no. "I don't know how much time we have after that before the council's men get here."
    "Surely waiting one more week won't cause any harm,"
    Ailynn said, fidgeting with the dishtowel she held. "Will you be escorting me as well?"
    "It's safer if you go without me," Kyros said, wishing he could see his mother off. It wasn't safe, though; if he was recognized, that would ruin the cover story that had her going to the opposite side of the country. "I want to go with you, I do—"
    "Then you should," Ailynn said stubbornly. "It's not any less safe than sending me off into the sunset with two strangers, Kyros."
    "They're not strangers to me," Kyros said, even though he knew what she meant. "I can travel part of the way with you, and they can stay here a day or two, so you can get acquainted with them."
    "I'd be happier if they stayed a week," Ailynn said sharply, and Kyros almost agreed, but then realized that she was trying to trick him.
    "You're only saying that because it will keep you here for the festival," Kyros said, rolling his eyes.
    "Don't give me that look, young man," Ailynn scolded, drawing herself up and giving him a stern look. "I don't think it's too much to ask that I be able to stay in my home for one last celebration with the people I know and love, who I'll never see again."
    Kyros hesitated, running his hand through his hair and trying to think. Waiting an extra week was dangerous, and there was no practical reason to agree … but Ailynn was stubborn, and he was asking a lot of her already. Even if they left immediately after Jallen and Ambry arrived, there was no guarantee that they would get away safely. An extra week wasn't going to necessarily trap them. No one knew where Kyros had gone, and no one knew Jallen and Ambry were involved, so they couldn't be followed.
    "All right," Kyros said quietly. "But I want you packed and ready to go at a moment's notice, in case the council's men get here before then."
    "Thank you, Kyr," Ailynn said, wringing the dishtowel before offering a small smile. "I'll get a bag packed this evening, after I finish washing the clothes."
    Kyros nodded, hoping he wasn't making the wrong decision.
    "Do you need me to do anything around the house?"
    "No, no, Raslin has had it well in hand," Ailynn said, smiling fondly. "He's off helping collect firewood for the bonfire. They'll light it in four days."
    "Maybe I'll go help," Kyros said, though he'd much prefer to hide from the rest of the village until it was time to leave. The fewer people who talked to him, the better. Somehow, Kyros didn't think it was going to be that easy to avoid all of the villagers, however, especially since he owed MacRaflin's wife a chat at some point.
    "I believe they were heading out to the woods north of town. There were a few large trees downed in the storm a few months back that should be dried out enough by now to be used as firewood," Ailynn said, getting back to work in putting the kitchen back to rights. "Raslin said they'd be back for lunch, so if you wait you can go out with them after lunch."
    "Good idea," Kyros said. He hesitated a