Hazel’s PoV

Early in the morning the next day, Syra has to bang a pot with a spoon to get the forty-three children out of their tents. “Up! Unless you want Rook to eat everything!”

Rook is already in the circle with a bowl bigger than his face. “Worth it,” he says when Miri shoves him.

Mara learns letters.

She sits on a log outside the healer’s wing. Her wrists are still wrapped in clean cloth. The white rings from three years of collars haven’t faded.

Kip is beside her with Pike’s slate.

“This is M,” Kip says. He draws it slow in the dirt. “For Mara. And for Mom.”...