The silence went on too long.
Ren knew it. Kael knew it. Even Kaelen had lifted his chin off Kael's knee to look at her.
"Yes," she said.
Kael's ears went flat.
"Not because you're weak." She set the wok down. "Altair can fly. They still tied him up and carried him off like a sack of tubers."
"So."
"So you can't fly. You can't shift. And you always go in first." Her voice cracked, and she hated it. "Your brother opened up your shoulder last night. I'm not watching a mountain full of eagles finish the job."
Kael was quiet for a while.
Oreo had fallen asleep again, one fist still knotted in Kael's chest hair. Kael shifted him higher, carefully, and only then looked at her.
"I cannot shift," he said. "I can still walk. I can still carry you. I can still stand in front of you."
"Kael—"
"I stood at the edge of the village every night you were gone." He kept his voice low so the baby wouldn't wake. "I will not do it again while you walk into the snake's den without me."
