“So, where do we go now?” Ezo asked from his seat on the floor. He’d been reviewing his oldest notes about the bond since they returned from their morning excursion.

Danya and Cassen were less likely to bust into Ezo’s room without warning, so they decided to spend the afternoon there. It was too quiet, though, and when Ezo looked up from his book, he saw the confused look on Kammon’s face. “What do you mean?”

“There has to be someone out there who knows more about bonding than we do. Who can we go to and ask about it? And about that thing inside you.”

“I don’t want to talk about what’s inside me,” Kammon grumbled.

Ezo had been poking him often with random questions about it all day. Kammon had no more patience for Ezo since they became lovers. “Just the bond, then.”

Kammon closed his journal and sat back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest. “You won’t like what I have to say about this.”

“I don’t usually like what comes out of your mouth,” Ezo clarified.

Kammon rolled his eyes, but he kept talking. “We could go to the Universities, but they’ll only tell us what I already know. Even if they know something more about the bond, they won’t share it with me. And since you never went to one of the universities, they’ll want to learn more about you before sharing information.”

“Anyone else we can turn to?”

“I know of one person who studied bonding outside of the universities. He was War-Sworn before he left service and began his studies. His research was controversial, and he could only continue by joining the Imperium. He believed the Vow was related to bonding.”

“Interesting, but what was so questionable about his work?”

“He wanted to discontinue the use of the oath for the War-Sworn.”

“Why did he want that?”

“I can’t say for certain. Bonds and the Oath were his areas of expertise, though.”

“So, where do we find this guy?”

Kammon leaned forward and laced his fingers together, pressing his knuckles to his lips. Then, after a second, he continued, “He died a few years ago, but he was a notorious note-taker. I think if we could track down his journals, there might be something that could help us.”

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“Do you know where his journals are?” Ezo was getting pissed. Kammon was dancing around something, and Ezo was tired of trying to drag it out of him.

“You really aren’t going to like this part, Ezo.”

“Just tell me.”

“A small village east of Malla City.”

Ezo crossed his arms over his chest. He realized what Kammon was implying, but there was no way it was true.

“The elementalist retired there,” Kammon said, “but from what I hear, the whole village rests underwater now.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“Your uncle, Jacob, was War-Sworn, Ezo.”

“No.” He got up from his seat on the floor and stared at Kammon. “Jacob made me swear I would never become War-Sworn. He hated the idea of them that much.”

“I don’t doubt that, but he took the oath and served just like I did. When I met him, he was already a member of the Imperium. He spoke with me for a long time because of Ember and my strength.”

“Jacob was not a member of the ruling body of the universities, and he was not War-Sworn,” Ezo refuted. He couldn’t help but wonder, though. His uncle had kept so much from him. Hidden him from so much. Was it possible that Jacob had kept that from him as well?

Kammon stood and stepped around the table, grabbing his arms just above the elbows. “Ezo, I’m not lying. You know I wouldn’t.”

Ezo backed out of his reach. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me before? You knew, all the way back before Pramas. Why did you keep it from me, too?” It felt like a double betrayal. Because he did believe Kammon. It made so much sense. The secrets Jacob had kept, the half-truths and fallacies he’d led Ezo to believe.

Kammon made another step towards him, but when Ezo backed away again, he stood where he was, fists clenched at his side. “Jacob was a good man and dedicated his life to helping the War-Sworn. I never understood his secrets, but I knew that. I don’t know why he didn’t tell you, but if anyone would have understood our bond, it would have been him.”

Ezo closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead.

“Ezo,” Kammon’s voice was much closer now, “I’m sorry.”

“When the flooding came, there wasn’t time to save anything.” Ezo didn’t want to talk about Jacob. He didn’t want to think about it anymore right now. Kammon must have misunderstood. Jacob was just traveling with the War-sworn, or he’d been researching for the Imperium, not a part of the nefarious ruling body he’d taught Ezo to distrust.

“I was in the middle of the streets, knee deep in ground muck and trying to get everyone to safety,” Ezo continued speaking. “I didn’t have time to get any of my things out or Jacob’s. His notes and whatever he hid from me are at the bottom of the lake.”

Kammon shook his head. “Jacob was meticulous with his journal. He would have protected them better than that.”

“You think he could have protected them from a flood?” Ezo asked.

“He was one of the strongest, smartest elementalists I’ve ever met. And he didn’t trust others easily. He could have protected them from the elements. It’s the best place to start looking for answers. If we find his journals, at least we know the words written will be honest and true to what he learned and experienced in his lifetime.”

Ezo let out a huff of bitter laughter. “You tell me everything I knew about him was a lie in one breath, then say that his journals will give us the truth. I don’t know which to believe.”

Kammon’s hand caught his chin and pulled his face up. “Believe that whatever else he did, it was to protect you. If we can find his journals, maybe you’ll find the answers to that as well.”