Starsinger

No Heroes

"We're ready."

Jace looked at each of them around the table. It was half true. Their team was assembled in the captain's empty quarters – the princess, the scout, the swordsman, the mage, and the archer. They had a goal and a plan. They were prepared to try. With a couple of lucky breaks, they might even pull it off. But could anyone ever feel ready to save the world?

Aaron could see nervousness in the way Delia's fingers toyed with her braid, the set of Raelyn's jaw. There was too much to say. Too much he didn't have the words for. The silence was crowded with unspoken promises of If we die and If we live, and Aaron wanted to stay here, here in this moment where they were together and alive.

Jace bowed his head. "It's been an honor."

And underneath the formality, another truth that reverberated through each of their bones: I'd rather die with you than without you.

The moment ebbed. Delia put her hand on the door.

"I need to say something."

All eyes turned to Sapphire. She was staring at her hands, clenched together. When she looked up there was a wildness in her eyes. "You need to leave me behind."

Aaron's heart dropped out of his chest.

"What?" Jace was the first to recover. "Why? We have a plan—"

"It's a good plan," said Sapphire. "But I can't be a part of it. You can't trust me. Ezra told me things when I was captured. Said he'd seen a vision of the Shadow when he was small." She steeled herself to look at them. "A girl with blue curls."

Raelyn inhaled sharply and Sapphire rushed to fill the gap. "I don't know. I don't know, but you can't risk it. If he's right, then I could destroy everything." She shook her head, her voice cracking. "I do things I can't explain, and it scares me. I've hidden it from you. I've lied to you. If I'm not sure I can trust myself, how can you?"

Her confession hit the room like a silent explosion, and Aaron felt a wave of something tender well up in his throat. Her words were terrible but what they meant was something more. He'd never seen her so vulnerable.

"You're not the Shadow," Raelyn said softly.

Sapphire winced. "You can't know that."

"Who are you going to believe?" asked Raelyn. "Ezra, the void magic prodigy who invented a spell to steal people's souls? Or us?"

"He has every reason to lie," said Jace. "The best thing he can do is try to tear us apart."

Raelyn set her stance, crossed her arms like a challenge. "We know you, Sapphire. Ezra doesn't."

Sapphire stared at them. "I'm telling you I've been lying to you all since the beginning, and you think you know me?" Her voice was hard and brittle as glass, pushed to breaking. "You've never really seen me. I think there's something awful inside me and I can't control it."

"But you do control it," Raelyn argued. "You may have lied, but you're not a traitor. You're secretive, but you know where you stand. Whatever else you are, you've been a fierce and unrelenting friend. The you that I know is just as strong as the monster you're so afraid lives under your skin. You can be both, you know."

"You are different," said Delia. "I've seen it. You're not a mage, but you're powerful." She reached out, setting her hand down next to Sapphire's so just their fingers overlapped. "But there's got to be another explanation."

Sapphire didn't move, didn't look at them, and Aaron could see wetness building in the corners of her eyes. "You're not listening to me."

"I'm listening," said Raelyn. "I just don't care. Ezra's fantasies are Ezra's business. They've got nothing to do with us. So tell me. Are you my enemy?"

Sapphire met her gaze. "I'm your shield."

"And I'm yours, so get used to it." Raelyn paused. "I should be all of your shields. I should be strong enough. None of you should need to be here at all."

Jace's brow creased. "We're here to protect you."

"You shouldn't have to," Raelyn shot back. "I'm sick of watching you all get hurt for my destiny. The Star is supposed to be a hero, not a powerless victim who lets everyone else suffer in her stead." She sat back. "This fight is my responsibility. I should be going to Aster alone."

"Oh, well that's great," muttered Jace. "Anyone else have last minute ideas on how to lose this battle before we go?"

"Your responsibility?" Delia countered. "These are my people. Mages are being hunted, and you want me to sit back and say it's not my fight? Like hell. If the worst happens tomorrow, people like me will be in danger everywhere."

Jace clenched his fists. "I'm the one who actually betrayed us. If this fight is anyone's responsibility, it's mine."

"Stop."

Protests died on four sets of lips as Aaron's team turned towards him.

"Enough," he said, and for the first time it all felt clear. "All the worst mistakes we've made, we've made when we acted alone. When we tried to be heroes, or martyrs, or bear the burden alone. If any of us go to this fight looking for destiny or redemption, we will lose. None of us are enough on our own. Not against these odds." He flexed his fingers, adrenaline thrumming. "We need each other. We need our team. Back to back, shoulder to shoulder."

They looked at each other, and the silence filled all the spaces between them. Delia stepped forward, clasping Aaron's palm to hers. Next Jace, then Sapphire.

Raelyn was last, laying her hand atop their joined fists, completing the circle. She smiled grimly. "Let's show 'em teeth."