Page 105 of The Crow Rider

“Congratulations, Little Peep,” she whispered. “Now, you have some crows to hatch.”

* * *

I stood side by side with my sister in the royal rookery, surrounded by crow eggs.

Their shells shimmered in the rays of moonlight trickling in through the open windows. T-shaped perches ringed the edges, one occupied by Res, the other by Zara. A level below, the newest crop of riders waited to claim their eggs, their excited whispers echoing to our room above.

Ericen, Kiva, Auma, Elko, Estrel, Kuren, and Samra stood around us in a ring. The Trendellan queen and king had been invited too and gracefully declined, sending their congratulations.

Once, this had been one of the most closely kept secrets in all of Rhodaire.

Now, we shared it freely with our friends.

Magic was a tool, but it was also a burden and sometimes a weapon. Just like the crows. With the hatching of these new crows, one day, Rhodaire would have its strength again. Its power. And it was my responsibility to use it better than my mother did, to share it instead of hoard it.

Caliza stepped up beside me, a small knife in her hand. I held its twin, and together, we each cut a thin line on the back of our forearms.

Together, we blooded the shells of each egg.

Together, we stepped back and watched as the eggs began to glow, and the humming grew like a rising wind.

Outside, the piercing call of a crow cut through the night. Res cawed back, then Zara, their calls echoing in the rookery. Res’s eyes began to glow, and thunder boomed.

Before us, the first egg cracked open.