Free All the Stars and Teeth (All the Stars and Teeth Duology) by Adalyn Grace Page A

I’ve been here for no more than two minutes, yet the shores of Arida are at least a hundred feet away. When I turn back to Bastian, he takes a seat on the deck and pats the space in front of him.
    “Before we get into specifics,” he says, “I need you to tell me something—did you truly have no idea what was happening with the Kers? Not even a suspicion?”
    “Of course not!” I slam my hand down onto the deck, and he frowns in offense at the spot I’ve hit. “How dare you even imply—”
    “Why wouldn’t I imply it?” Bastian argues. “The majority of the kingdom knows.”
    The words are claws to my soul, tearing its lining to shreds. If Bastian’s telling the truth, then just how much has Father managed to keep hidden from me?
    “Yeah, well, I didn’t. If I’d known they were suffering, I wouldn’t have stayed silent. I would have found a way to help.” The words don’t feel like enough. They’re quiet and painful, but they’re all I have to offer. “I swear it.”
    I can’t be sure Bastian even blinks when he stares at me. His face is so stern and assessing, as if waiting for me to flinch under the pressure. When I don’t, he leans back on his palms, the hard lines of his face eventually softening with belief.
    “The king is a fool to not take Kaven seriously.” He spits Father’s title. “The Kers are done begging him for support he refuses to provide. They’ve turned instead to Kaven, a Zudian who’s had enough of the same thing. He’s been raising a rebellion of like-minded individuals, all who believe that learning multiple magics is a necessity for Visidia’s survival. But the issue with Kaven is that he doesn’t know when to stop. In building a name for himself and forming this rebellion, he destroyed Zudoh, helping support only those who sided withhim while leaving anyone else to rot. Now he’s aligned himself with Kerost, where he’s doing the same thing.” Bastian’s voice tightens in anger. “I came here to warn your father that Kaven’s expanding his reach to the other islands, though I shouldn’t have wasted my time. I knew he’d never listen.”
    Disbelief and worry war within my skull. We’ve had nothing to do with Zudoh since I was a child—so why now?
    “What does this rebellion want, exactly?” I have to dig to find my voice. It’s raspy from the salty air, scratching my throat with each word.
    Bastian doesn’t hesitate with his answer, though my world freezes when he says, “They want the end of the Montaras. They want to abolish the monarchy, and practice however many magics they’d like. Soul magic included.”
    I nearly laugh as fear swells within me. There’s no telling whether the dampness of my skin is due to the ocean, or my own sweat. “They’re asking us to let them destroy Visidia!”
    Bastian leans forward and says, “Aye, so let’s not let them win. Kaven’s the brains behind this rebellion. If we take him down, the rest of it will crumble. He doesn’t have the support he needs to wage a true war. Right now, the Kers are divided. Only half of them support Kaven, while the others are focused on rebuilding their island on their own. And the Zudians…” He takes a moment to consider his next words, face darkening. “Most of them want Kaven gone, too. But we have to get to him before the other islands join his cause.”
    “And you expect us to do this on our own?” I press. “Two people, against a rebellion?” A thousand questions war in my mind. What are Kaven’s tactics? How long do we have? What are the numbers like? But this ship is moving fast, and there’s little time to make my choice—turn back and hope Father’s able to convince Visidia to give me another chance, or put fate in my own hands and earn my chance.
    “I’m not looking to start a war,” he corrects me. “I’m looking to end one man, which will put a stop to all of this. You said you wanted a chance to help your kingdom, so here it is. Will you take