Flashback ( PDFDrive )

Sophie pinched the bridge of her nose as a headache flared behind
her eyes—probably her brain’s way of punishing her for being so
careless. I haven’t decided what I’m doing. Mr. Forkle wanted to do some
research to see if he could figure out why the trolls are asking me now, since
timing seems to be a factor. And so far, he hasn’t gotten back in touch to let
me know what he found.
So the Black Swan knows? Fitz clarified, flooding her mind with a
blast of relief when she confirmed. Good. I definitely don’t think you
should make this decision alone.
I won’t. It’s been hard enough hiding it from my friends. But Tarina
didn’t want me to tell anyone, and I figured you have so much going on with
Alvar, and we aren’t Cognate training right now, and—
Hey, he said, waiting for her thoughts to trail off before he told her,
You don’t have to explain. I get why you didn’t tell me.
You do?
Of course. This is huge. Like . . . treason huge.
Treason? Sophie repeated, and all her insides shriveled and twisted.
She hadn’t fully considered all the ramifications. But he was right—
she was being asked to make an agreement with the leader of another
species without telling the Council.
If it makes you feel better, Fitz told her, the Black Swan’s done that kind
of stuff before. They’ve had dwarves helping with their cause for a while.
True. But that doesn’t mean King Enki was involved. And Empress
Pernille definitely is. Tarina said one of their previous empresses was
involved in the other alliance too.
What other alliance?
I don’t know. Tarina wouldn’t tell me much about it.