Riva, highly educated until marriage, hadstrongly encouraged Nikolaus and Nazirah’s own schooling. They werehomeschooled until Riva became fed up with their constant bickeringand lack of supplies. Through several called-in favors and blackmarket deals, Riva bribed some affluent Eridians and procured asmall annex to one of the poorer schools in Rafu. In one room, Rivataught dozens of intermix students, including her own two children.She never asked for any money in return; she knew no one couldafford it.

Nazirah shamefully remembers her first dayof class, looking in disgust at her starving, lice-ridden, andshoeless peers. She remembers how fiercely her mother scolded herafterwards for judging them. Nazirah’s parents were smart,able-bodied, and resourceful. Nazirah herself was only a firstgeneration intermix. Most were not so fortunate.

Riva taught her intermix students thealphabet and arithmetic. But, more importantly, she taught themjustice. The pillars of her classroom were peace and love andself-worth. She advocated equality and fighting for what you stoodfor, especially in the face of opposition.

Once Nikolaus graduated, he joined the smallbut energetic rebellion in Krush. The rebels were intermix andterritory-born refugees, and Riva and Kasimir were immensely proudof their son. They scolded Nazirah for not living up to herpotential, for not trying to do more. But Nazirah was young andrebellious, and didn’t want to live by anyone else’s rules.

After she refused several advances from oneof Rafu’s Lords, Riva and her teachings were exposed to the Medis.They warned her to stop. She didn’t listen.

The Medis came in the night. They heard ofthe growing rebellion and needed a scapegoat. Needed to set anexample to keep the rest in check. They blamed Riva and, byextension, Kasimir.

The rest is history.

Of course Nazirah agrees with the rebels!But she has already been through so much. She has already lost somuch.

What Nazirah really wants is to take herbrother and Cato and run. Run as far away from the Medis and therebellion and the threat of war as she can. But she doesn’t knowwhere they would go. And she doesn’t think they would make it veryfar. And she knows the other two wouldn’t come. Cato, maybe, couldbe convinced. But not Nikolaus. And Nazirah would never leavewithout him. He is the only family she has left.

So Nazirah will stay.

But she won’t like it.

“Irri, snap out of it.” Cato waves his handin front of her face. “I could be having a more excitingconversation with these carrots. In fact, I think I am.”

“Sorry, Cato,” Nazirah saysguiltily, intent on giving him her full attention this time.“You’re right … it is a who that’s bothering me.”

She and Cato met in school, although Nazirahwas only ever allowed inside the annex. She was five, he was six.One afternoon, some Eridian bullies cornered her outside. Catodefended her, even though the boys were older and bigger. By theend of the day, Nazirah and Cato had matching black eyes and theirfriendship was forever solidified. Cato is closer to her thanNazirah’s biological brother.

“And that person would be?”

“Captain Jerkoff, who else?” She sighsdramatically.

“He’s Captain Jerkoff this week, is he?”Cato snorts. “How original. And does Captain Jerkoff know that’show his sister lovingly refers to him?”

“I don’t know,” Nazirahsays. “Probably.” She watches as some fellow recruits enter themess hall. “Commander Jerkoff is more appropriate. I haven’t seen him enough to askwhich name he prefers.”

It’s true. Her brother has been practicallynonexistent in Nazirah’s life for years. Nikolaus was always thegolden child of the family, the one who grew off Riva’s teachingsto become a political activist and rebel. He is five years olderthan Nazirah, and at twenty-three has accomplished more than mostintermix do in their lives, becoming the youngest commander of theentire rebellion.

“Irri, he’s grieving in his own way,” Catoreminds her gently. “Just give him some time. He’ll comearound.”

Nazirah eyes him skeptically. Cato has knownNikolaus practically his entire life. They both know Nikolaus isn’tjust grieving. “We don’t exactly … mesh,” she grumbles. “And nowI’ve been summoned to meet with him regarding a ‘matter of extremeimportance.’ I’m supposed to go to his office tonight afterTerritory History.”

Although Nazirah wants nothing to do withthe rebellion, part of the agreement for her staying at thecompound is that she trains and learns with the other recruits. Allrecruits endure an intense series of classes and combat trainingbefore they are officially initiated into the rebellion. Nikolaustold her it would look like he was playing favorites if she didn’tjoin them.

Nazirah hates combat training and weaponseducation, and is bored out of her mind during Territory History.But she does enjoy meeting other intermix and refugees.Headquarters thrives with a diversity Nazirah never imaginedbefore. It makes her heart ache, because she wishes her parentscould experience it too.

“The ‘matter of extreme importance,’ Irri,is probably that you never go to Territory History.”

“I haven’t seen him in weeks!” Nazirahrants, ignoring Cato. “He didn’t even ask me in person! He sentSergeant Patch to tell me.”

“Sergeant … Patch?”

“I don’t know his real name, Cato,obviously.” Nazirah throws up her hands. “It’s Nikolaus’s lackeystrategist. You know,” Nazirah gestures conspicuously to her face,“the guy with the eye patch.”

Cato’s expression is a mixture of amusementand reproach. “You call him Patch?”

“Not to his face.”

“It’s actually Aldrik.” Lumi Grigori sitsdown gracefully across from Cato. She tosses her long golden hairover one shoulder, an effortless motion that Nazirah thinks must bepracticed. Lumi is tall and leggy, with paper-white skin and icyblue eyes. She’s a prime example of pure Ziman blood. Her frostypersonality fits her well. Nazirah is about to tell Lumi exactlywhere she can go, but Cato shoots her a sideways look and kicks herunder the table.

“Thanks, Lu,” he says.

Cato is a true Eridian gentleman. He isalways nice to everyone – not because he has to be, but because hewants to be.

Nazirah mimics Cato in her sweetest tone.“Yeah, thanks Lu.”

“Of course, Cato,” Lumi says, ignoringNazirah. She flashes Cato a toothy smile, flicking her hair to herother shoulder. Nazirah inwardly groans. It’s painfully obviousthat Lumi has a thing for him. But since Cato is the densest boy onthe planet, Nazirah will have to deal with Lumi’sself-aggrandizing, preening mating rituals until he gets thepoint.

Lumi is the eldest of three snowy Grigoridaughters. Her mother died in childbirth, when Lumi’s youngestsister, Yuki, was born. Yuki is now twelve, Aneira fifteen, andLumi eighteen. Her father was once the most powerful Lord in Zima.Lumi was raised like royalty in a stone manor overlooking the icymountains of the North, and wanted for nothing her entire life.

A few months ago, civil unrest eruptedthroughout Zima. Lumi’s uncle, her father’s younger brother, tookit as an opportunity to stake his claim over the Grigori land. WithMedi soldiers backing him, he attempted to assassinate Lumi’sfamily. A close confidante tipped them off in the nick of time andthe Grigoris fled. They left all of their possessions behind andtraveled as far south as possible to Eridies. Lumi’s fatherenlisted in the rebellion, in return for the insurgents’ helprestoring his power after the war.

On one hand, Nazirah sympathizes with Lumiand her loss. On the other hand, she wants to reach into Lumi’sthroat and rip out her vocal cords.

“Anyway,” Nazirah says, returning to theirprevious line of conversation, “Aldrik cornered me today, demandingthat I go see Nikolaus.”

“Do you have any idea what he wants?”

Nazirah doesn’t have a chance to answerCato, as they are interrupted for a second time. Lumi’s youngersister, Aneira, their friend Taj, and a few other recruits sit downat their table. Cato shrugs at Nazirah sympathetically, droppingthe subject.