Page 21 of Moon Claimed

More lies.“We can use it. I think there could be something to your theory. My worry is that the tribe could easily misunderstand the matter. I’ve just become head steward, and that information could make them view me in a negative light.”

“Right. I didn’t think about that. You think we only tell the head team?”

“I think that we keep it between us for now. Let’s brainstorm a way to use me to gaping-white-dress effect and take our plan to the head team then.”

“We only have two grids right now. Shouldn’t we throw everything we have at the Luthers?”

“Believe me, I intend to. What do you think they’ll choose today?”

“They beat us in Sandstone last time, so that’s my guess. Don’t see why they wouldn’t.”

Unless we revolutionised our strategy in Sandstone, the grid would belong to the Luthers in a week, so if I were Sascha, Iron would be my pick.

Win the harder grid, finish on the easier battlefield.

Plus, Iron was theNi Tiaki’s main source of income. Without that money, collecting gear for Water would be nearly impossible. We were already down 25 percent with the loss of Timber a while back.

Stretching, I yawned. “I’m going with Iron.”

“Read any of the journals yet?” she asked.

“Just started last night. More of Mum being in love with Murphy. Can’t say I’m enjoying it.”

Once, I’d raced to devour Mum’s journals. Now, reading them was another chore—and one that made me feel so horrible. But I couldn’t not read the journals either. Aside from Pascal, they were my only clue to the past.

Rhona closed her eyes. “I’m so angry at them. Mum and Dad.”

She’d known her real parents, and perhaps that made their betrayal harder to stomach. Herc and Savannah never let her down in life—not until the end. My mother regularly let me down in life and this last lie was just the straw on the camel’s back. “You have every right to be angry. You were old enough to hear the truth.”

“Do you think after Mum’s death, Dad didn’t want to hurt me more or something?”

“I believe that was a factor. Maybe he didn’t know how to tell us too. Whether that had to do with his fear of the fallout or him trying to find the right time, we won’t ever know.”

A tear slipped over her cheek. “I hate him so much sometimes. I feel like you’re handling it so much better than me.”

I smiled. “Don’t believe what you see on TV, sis.”

Rhona eyed me. “Right. Dad was good at hiding emotions too.”

“What are you doing today?” Probably best if we didn’t linger on that subject either.

“I took your advice,” she said. “I’m working with Gerry and taking over some of the dawn trainings.”

Once Gerry retired, I’d look after the strategy and Rhona would look after the execution of those strategies. Playing to our strengths made sense, and this job gave her responsibility. “Good. You’ll be great at it.”

“People are too afraid of me to mention if I’m bad. Anyway, I’ll let you get back to ruling the world.” She winked, leaving the office.

I scrubbed at my face. “Fuck.”

That was too close.

Rhona wasn’t the only smart steward around. If she thought the exchange with Sascha was weird, others could think the same.

Picking up my phone, I unblocked the number from the other day and dialled.

One ring.

“Andie.”