Flashback ( PDFDrive )

TWENTY-NINE
YOU WANT TO FORM AN alliance with me.” Sophie felt the need to
clarify, wondering if her brain could’ve mistranslated a few of Tarina’s
words. That certainly would’ve made more sense than anything she’d
just heard. “I’m not sure I understand what that means.”
“It means that someday you’re going to change the world,” Tarina
told her, “and I’m here to make sure you don’t fall before that happens.
But I’m also here because my people will likely need your help before
all of this is finished. Possibly even sooner than we’d hoped.”
“Help with what?” Sophie asked.
“Quite truthfully: We don’t know. That’s why we need you as our
ally. If we could see the path ahead, we could prepare. But all we can
say for sure is that these problems will surely spread beyond your
shimmering cities. And when they reach my world, we’ll need
someone to stand with us.”
“Okay, but . . . the Black Swan would be a way better—”
“I told you,” Tarina interrupted, “we do not know them.”
“You don’t know me, either,” Sophie reminded her. “I’ve been here
for, what? Five minutes? And I spoke to your empress for less than
that at the Peace Summit.”
“You two may not have spoken much, but she had plenty of time to
observe your character. And while you’re clearly young and
inexperienced, she also found you to be someone who will never stop