Free True Son by Lana Krumwiede

that we’re not divided into those who have psi and those who don’t? People from the city and the colony have come together and bonded over all they have in common — which was always more than what separated them, though they didn’t always see that. And Amma helped make that happen.
    “What we’re about to do with the peace delegation will have lasting effects on generations to come. Amma should be a part of that. Who better than a Water girl to shape the landscape of the new world?”
    Mr. Parvel was quiet for a moment, and Taemon let the silence work on him for a bit.
    “I just . . .” Mr. Parvel said softly. “I don’t know how this is going to end.”
    “None of us does, sir,” Taemon said. “We have to create the ending. Together.”
    Mr. Parvel pressed his lips together and nodded. He turned to face Amma, his expression softer now. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?”
    She smiled and hugged her da. “A Water girl is always ready.”
    A few moments later, Amma walked Taemon to the door. “Thank you,” she said. “You were wonderful, Mr. Knife. Mr. Cut-to-the-Quick.”
    Taemon scoffed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    She rolled her eyes at him, then opened the door and pushed him out. “Now get out of here. I have a million things to do to get ready.”
    The next day, Taemon went in search of Mam. Even though this trip wouldn’t be nearly as arduous as his first foray into the Republik — for one thing, the weather would be much nicer, and Hannova would be providing plenty of food for the delegation — he still felt he should say good-bye before leaving. He headed over to Challis’s house, where Mam had lived since he’d rescued her from the asylum. Da lived there, too, when he was in the colony, but he spent a lot of time in the woods with the men of Free Will, the group of rebels he’d led since The Fall. Hannova had invited them to live in the colony, but they clung to their independence and neutrality.
    Nearing Challis’s house, he could hear Mam’s voice. The two sisters were sitting on the porch, talking. Mam was telling Challis a story, and she sounded happier than she had in a long time. Taemon lingered near the bushes on the side of the porch. They hadn’t seen him yet, and he wanted to listen to Mam’s story before he interrupted.
    “Even back then, he was different, not like the other boys,” Mam said.
    Was she talking about him? Or Yens?
    “I’m surprised you didn’t fall for Darling Houser,” Challis said. “He was quite the catch back in those days.”
    “Fierre? My stars, no. Fierre had such an ego. Wiljamen was much more fascinating.”
    Da? She was talking about Da?
    “Even as a young man, his thoughts were deeper and more . . . earnest. He studied all the time. He was going to be a priest, you know. He and Naseph talked about it all the time. They were going to stick together.”
    Challis huffed. “Good thing they parted ways.”
    Had he heard that right? Da had been friends with Naseph as a boy? How was it he’d never heard that?
    He must have made some sort of sound, because Mam stood up and saw him. “Taemon?”
    “Just thought I’d stop by and spend a little time with you before I have to leave,” Taemon said.
    “Come and sit,” Challis said. “I’ll get you something cold to drink.”
    Challis went inside, and Taemon dragged another chair beside Mam. She picked up the cloth on her lap and started sewing.
    “How are you feeling?” he asked.
    “Better every day,” Mam said. “Staying here with Challis has been just what I needed. She keeps me busy.” Mam waved at the basket beside her.
    Taemon lifted it into his lap and started looking through it. Shirts, dresses, hats, blankets. Mam had always been good with sewing. And cooking. That’s what women did in the city — though not by hand, of course. But here in the colony, they did all sorts of jobs. It made Taemon wonder.
    “Mam, if you could have any job you wanted,