On the marrow, Aurelia rose with the first light of dawn against her face, careful to stretch her bones across her ribs, still tender and red, from where she'd inscribed all night.
The process was oddly quick despite what she had heard. Seraphine and Rebellion seemed to write themselves rather than being forced to write about it.
Throwing on a gilded cloak to match her surroundings if the need arose, she stepped out of her tent to wake the others but found Tiamat coming out of the bushes, walking funny like she had a pebble in her shoe. Her face had a flushed color around the cheeks and beads of sweat around the brow.
"Big Sis?"
"I went for a morning ride," Tiamat said.
Aurelia glanced at the horses unsaddled and still tied up to a thick tree.
"My child, there is more than one thing we women can ride than a simple horse. Would you like me to teach you?"
Aurelia blinked, not understanding. "Will it make me stronger?"