Elysia Thorne said, "Emmett''s staying at the hospital with his sister and grandpa."


    "...How''s Maria doing?"


    Elysia frowned and shook her head. "Not great. The doctors aren''t sure if she''ll make it to next spring. It''s an incurable congenital disease; there''s nothing they can do."


    "...Can she be transferred to another hospital?"


    "She could be, but Maria doesn''t want to. She''s very close to ire Yeager, and since ire''s in Silver City, she wants to stay in Silver City too."


    Tarquin Bradford sighed. "Everyone''s dealt a different hand in life. Some are born to have it easy, and some are born to suffer. I just hope she finds peace."


    Emmett''s sister had truly had a tough run. Born with a terminal illness, saddled with a deadbeat dad and a clueless mom, her life was nothing but hardship.


    Elysia also let out a long breath. It really was true that everyone has their own fate. Some people who had every reason to live chose to end their own lives. Others, filled with a desperate will to live, were denied the chance.


    "Where are Mom and Dad?" Tarquin changed the subject.


    Elysiaposed herself. "They''re in the room next door. How many days will you be busy in Border City?"


    "Not sure yet. When are you all heading back to Oceanopolis?"


    "Tomorrow."


    "Is Emmetting with you?"


    "No, he''s noting back to Oceanopolis with us. He wants to stay in Silver City with Maria. We''ll swing by Silver City to pick him up on our way to Jindale City."


    "Okay. You guys have fun, and remember to call me if you need anything."


    "I know. You should get some rest. I need to give the baby a bath, and we have an early morning tomorrow."


    Tarquin didn''t want to hang up. "I miss you."


    "The kids are in the room," Elysia said. Then, lowering her voice conspiratorially, she whispered, "I miss you too."


    She immediately raised her voice again. "Alright, alright, get some sleep! I''m hanging up!"


    Elysia ended the video call, and a smile spread across Tarquin''s lips.


    He scrolled up, rereading his chat history with Elysia, a smile on his face the whole time. He kept at it until his eyes grew heavy, then put his phone away and went to sleep.


    The next morning.


    After a simple breakfast at their lodge, Tarquin and Lowell headed out to the old man''s house.


    On the way, they saw a young man on horseback!


    They couldn''t see his face clearly, but he cut an impressive figure sitting atop his horse. A falcon cried out as it circled above him, sometimes soaring into the clouds, other times diving low, following him all the way.


    Inside the car, Lowell eximed, "A falconer?!"


    The local driver said, "That''s Diana. He''s the most outstanding young man in this.mountainmunity. He was on horseback at two, started learning falconry at three, and Rad his own eagle before he was ten! He''s incredible!"


    "Don''t let his age fool you. That eagle of his has been with him for over a decade!"


    "That''s his younger brother sitting in front of him. He''s seven now and also studies martial arts with Sutton. He sees Sutton every Saturday and Sunday."


    Lowell was surprised. "There''s someone else with him?"


    The driver chuckled. "Yep. You just couldn''t see clearly. You''ll meet them in a bit."


    Lowell asked, "Diana... is that a girl?"


    The driverughed and shook his


    head. "Around here, the art of


    falconry is passed down from father to son, not to daughters. It''s


    dangerous practice, not suitable for girts. Diana is a boy."


    "Oh... The name just sounds like a girl''s name."


    "Diana means ''precious'' here," the driver exined. "It''s a boy''s name for us."


    Tarquin nced at Diana through the car window but said nothing.


    About ten minutester, they saw the two brothers at Sutton''s house.


    This time, they got a clear look at Diana''s face. Before even getting out of the car, Lowell remarked, "The name fits him. He''s as pretty as a girl!"