33

LIAR

STAR COASTED OVER THE EASTERN SWELLS. THE pegasi were back in the valley, chased there by the storm. They were haggard, windblown, and tired. Sharp peals of mourning lifted into the sky over the pegasi who’d been killed by the stampede, the wolves, and the tornado. Silverlake had made it safely back after he’d left her in the grassland, and she was standing with Sweetroot, tending to distressed steeds. Other than the obvious, nothing unusual seemed amiss.

Star glided to the stone tribute and flew circles around it. From a distance it had looked intact, but up close he saw massive damage. The clay had cracked between the stones, and hundreds of rocks had fallen, leaving a huge chunk open on one side. Dust billowed around him, making him cough. Star landed and whistled for Frostfire. When the stallion didn’t immediately appear, Star whistled for him again. “Frostfire?”

There was no answer.

“I’m back!” Star called out. Then he heard hoofbeats behind him. Star whirled around and found Frostfire, side by side with his mother and her guard. Star leaped backward. “What’s this?” he asked, looking from the white stallion to Petalcloud to Stormtail.

“It’s over, Star,” said Frostfire, looking resigned. “All of it: the tunnel, the tribute, the plan.”

“What do you mean over?” Star’s heart thudded hard, sending his pulse racing. And why had Frostfire mentioned the tunnel in front of Petalcloud! He scanned Frostfire for injuries, wondering if her guard had attacked him or tortured him, but he seemed unharmed. “Did they hurt you?” Star asked his uncle.

Petalcloud pranced forward, swishing her tail. “He doesn’t get it,” she nickered to Frostfire.

“Get what?” Star forced himself to take deep breaths, but he felt his gut twisting like a snake.

Petalcloud gazed up at him, her black eyes shining. “Frostfire has made a deal . . . with me.”

Star reared as the ground seemed to swirl beneath him. “Frostfire!” he screamed. “What have you done?”

His uncle flattened his ears. “I made promises too,” he said, his voice ragged. “To Larksong. She can’t eat or sleep; she’s molting. They took our son, and I promised I’d get him back, but I was fair to you, Star. I helped you find your friends, I stayed by your side while you built this tribute, and then you didn’t save my mare or my colt, did you? And now it’s too late—the tunnel is ruined. I had to do something.”

“Ruined? How?”

“It collapsed, just a few moments ago.”

Star’s heart lurched. Morningleaf and Brackentail had just flown there! This explained his feeling of dread—it was about the tunnel! “Was anyone inside?” he asked, afraid of the answer.

“Yes, someone was,” answered Petalcloud. “Someone we all thought was dead until Frostfire told us where to find her.”

Star grunted. He knew exactly who Petalcloud was talking about, but he lifted his eyes to Frostfire’s, hoping he was wrong. “Tell me you didn’t,” he pleaded, his voice strangled.

“I did,” said Frostfire. “I traded Morningleaf for Starfrost. My colt is being returned to Larksong right now, and Nightwing is setting my family free.”

Star saw that Frostfire took no pleasure in what he’d done but that he’d do it again in a heartbeat.

Star faced Petalcloud. “Where’s Morningleaf now?” he asked, fearing the worst, that she’d died in the tunnel.

Petalcloud curled her lip, then quickly softened her expression—but not before Star had seen the white flash of her teeth. “She’s safe; she’s with Nightwing.”

Star’s veins turned to ice. “Safe?” he spat, and suddenly he understood what Frostfire had been feeling since Nightwing took his son: panicked. “A good lead mare would never allow this—any of this,” said Star, his lips trembling.

She snorted, tossing her glossy silver mane off her dark neck. “Do you think I wanted to trade Starfrost for Morningleaf? I didn’t, but I can’t stop Nightwing, and neither can you. I’ve chosen his protection.”

“You’ve chosen our destruction!”

Star turned on his uncle, his anger bubbling hotter. “And you! Maybe I didn’t save your mare . . . yet . . . but I didn’t harm her either. Nightwing will kill Morningleaf.”

Frostfire averted his eyes but remained stoic. “I saved my family, Star.”

I’m your family too, Star thought, but Frostfire had made it clear during their travels that he didn’t feel the same connection.

Petalcloud fluffed her feathers. “You can’t trust a liar, Star.”

Star’s wings fell to his sides. “You’re right,” he said to Petalcloud. “But I did.”

“Twice,” she said. Petalcloud glowed with pleasure over giving Star the news that he’d been betrayed. “Your plan is ruined, the rebels are revealed, and your best friend is captured. What do you have to say about that?”

“Nothing to you.” Star lifted off and flapped his giant black wings, heading toward the valley, toward Nightwing.