Hazel’s POV

We trained for two days.

Not warriors. Kids.

“You don’t have to,” I tell them. We’re in the old armory. Lina’s School now. Forty three sets of eyes. Some scared. Some angry. All listening. “Fighting is a choice. Healing is a choice. Running is a choice. You choose.”

Rook raises his hand first. “I fight. Like Dad.” He means Cleric. He started calling him that yesterday.

“Me too,” Miri says. “For Eda.”

“Me,” Eda says. “For Miri.”

Pike stands. “For the Last War. So no more kids get sold.”

Twelve in total. Rook, Miri, Eda, Galen, Tobin, Bran, Dev, Jori, and four others. All over ten. All chose...