Tree Singer

defined the western border of the clans and was almost a week’s journey. And the king had troops, an army, and plenty of questers who reported directly to the king.
Why would he need their help?
Mayten felt Tray stiffen next to her. He turned west—toward the forest and the king. Of course he’d want to go, despite the fact that the western forest was full of dangerous animals and who knew what else.
She knew the forest around them as well as she knew her own home, but Mother had never taken her beyond their clan boundaries into the western forest, saving it for her formal training.
A knot tightened in the pit of Mayten’s stomach. She glanced at Cather, whose eyes were shiny with tears. Cather knew Tray would be dying to go—and it was killing her friend.
“To that end, I’d like to change the order of our ceremony and save, until last, the members from our initiates who will join this quest.” Solis’s words seemed to hang in the air.
Members? Initiates? Why would they be sending initiates and who would be going?
Tray, that was a given. But surely not Cather?
To Mayten’s surprise Cather looked almost hopeful. Would her gentle friend be willing to go on a quest just to stay near Tray?
Mayten’s shoulders drooped. Of course. Cather would do anything to stay near Tray, even though he was clueless about how she felt. Boys could be so slow sometimes! But if Cather got called to the quest, Mayten would be left alone.
She’d braced herself to lose Tray . . . but Cather too?
It took all Mayten’s willpower not to rub at the sudden pain in her chest.
Commotion near the back of the crowd caught her attention. It looked like a small wave of blue was pushing through the brown and green. The wave resolved into the forms of people wearing blue. The figures—two women—worked their way to the front and stood with her family.
It took a moment for Mayten to recognize the pair smiling up at her.
Acerola and Zigba, her twin sisters!
Had they walked all the way from the sea to be here for Leveling Day?
For a brief moment, relief replaced the anxiety bubbling inside. She breathed deeply, as if coming up for air after spending too much time underwater. It was unusual for scattered family members to make a long trek for Leveling Day. How sweet of them to come.
That’s when she noticed both twins had their toast-colored arms wrapped around their swollen bellies.

Chapter Six
Mayten felt her jaw drop. She’d forgotten about the letter announcing the pregnancies. The twins did everything together, even joining with the Ocean Clan brothers standing next to them.
Her eyes burned with unshed tears. It likely took them at least two days and probably more to walk here in their current condition.
The twins hadn’t returned for Taiwania’s Leveling Day, having recently joined with their mates and moved to the ocean. Had they arrived in time to hear their sister sing?
Or did they plan to stay and deliver their babies here with Mother’s help? Castanea knew a thing or two about birthing babies, that was certain.
Joy bubbled up in Mayten’s stomach. No matter. Whatever had brought her sisters home, their presence was a comfort to her.
And if they had their babies, it would be a welcome distraction from the loss of her friends. But the thought of helping care for more babies drained the energy from her limbs. She was tired of babies. She didn’t think she’d ever want babies of her own, having helped care for so many siblings.
“Birla Logger,” Solis said as a chunky girl stepped up and stood quietly before the clan leader.
What had Mayten missed? Why couldn’t she stay focused?
She glanced up and down the line, shocked to discover four initiates were standing on the other side of the stage, fingering their aprons proudly.
Solis slipped an apron over Birla’s head. The bib on it was blank. That was not unusual. A blank bib meant that the initiate would be given more time to find her true calling.
Acerola and Zigba had received blank bibs during their Leveling Ceremony. Those aprons now sported a set of scales. The twins had discovered they were better at making and selling things than they were at singing.
Birla took her place next to the four initiates who’d received their aprons.
Leaving four waiting to be called.
Names were usually called in order of the surname but Cather had just been skipped.
Mayten’s heart dropped. Cather’s eyes were glistening again but her face glowed with joy.
It was true then. Her gentle friend had gotten her wish—Cather would be going with Tray.
Mayten frowned and tried to ignore the stinging hurt. Hard to accept that Tray was more important to Cather than her best friend. Cather glanced at her, then spun away, her face blushing red.
Only three left to receive aprons: Digby Merchant, Mayten Singer, and Tray Traveler.
Solis hadn’t said how many members would be going—
Mayten started as Digby’s name was called and he moved forward to receive his apron. He stared proudly down at the symbol of his trade, a set of scales, embroidered on the bib of the apron.
Her own apron would have an oak tree, Cather’s a pair of healing hands, while Tray’s apron would have a boot for traveling.
That left Cather, Mayten, and Tray on stage. Cather moved closer to Mayten’s side and took her hand. The warm, familiar touch gave her small comfort. Mayten grabbed Tray’s large hand, damp with sweat. This might be the last time they stood together as friends.
She swallowed her sadness and waited for her name to be called.
Solis turned to them, hands outstretched, palms up. “These three initiates have been chosen to go on our quest.”
Mayten glanced over her shoulder, sure that she had missed someone, but the stage behind her was empty.
There must be some kind of mistake. Tree singers don’t go on quests.
She glanced at her mother, who met her eyes. Mother’s jaw was set in a manner Mayten had seen before—when her