Chapter 11

In the calm before trouble, Aris braids Kira’s hair, and the trio share food from Xara’s basket. Kira presses Zane on his motives; he admits leaving his isolated mountain out of curiosity and fear for its dwindling future. They trade light dreams about how they’d use magic, and Aris briefly recalls her lost family.

Rain becomes a violent storm. Rapids batter the enchanted boat, shredding its bottom, tossing their gear into the river, and costing Aris her pack. Kira is thrown and loses her sword; when her attempt to call it fails, she halts the boat with a command and dives in. After a harrowing chase through whitecaps, Kira reappears at a rock, and Zane hauls her and the recovered blade aboard.

The storm deepens into dusk and night. As the river smooths near dawn, Aris discovers Kira’s leg is badly lacerated. To keep Kira conscious, Aris urges her to talk. Kira reveals her purpose: her younger sister Anise, born frail from their mother’s hemdrake use, is dying and can only be saved by magic. Kira recounts raising Anise, their survival by theft and weaving, and her gamble to enter the Questral.

At daybreak, they reach the riverbank. Kira’s ruined leg makes travel impossible. Citing their pact that the quest must come first, Kira insists on returning to Xara via the self-sailing boat. Aris, remembering her own sister, refuses to abandon Kira’s hope and swears to bring magic to Anise if she survives. They launch Kira upstream, and Aris and Zane continue the quest without her.