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brother she had accidentally poked him with her sewing needle.
    “That’s correct!” she said. “See, you have all the information you need to pass the examination! You just have to believe in yourself as much as I do.”
    Barrie blushed and color finally returned to his face.
    “Thank you, Brystal,” he said. “I’d be lost in my own head if it weren’t for you. It’s really a shame you’re… well, you know… a girl . You would have made an incredible Justice.”
    Brystal lowered her head and pretended she was still sewing the final button so he didn’t see the sadness in her eyes.
    “Oh?” she said. “I’ve never really thought about it.”
    On the contrary, it was something Brystal wanted more than her brother could ever imagine. Being a Justice would allow her to redeem and elevate people, it would provide a platform to spread hope and understanding, and it would give her the resources to make the world a better place for other girls like her. Sadly, it was highly unlikely a woman would have any role but wife and mother in the Southern Kingdom, so Brystal extinguished her ideas before they turned into hopes.
    “Maybe when you’re a High Justice, you could convince the king to let women read,” she told her brother. “That would be a great start.”
    “Maybe…,” Barrie said with a weak smile. “For now, at least you have my old books to keep you entertained. That reminds me, did you finish The Tales of Tidbit Twitch yet? I’m dying to talk to you about the ending but I don’t want to give anything away.”
    “I only had seven pages left! But then Mother caught me this morning and confiscated all my books. Could you stop by the library and see if there are any old books they’re getting rid of? I’ve already thought of a new hiding spot to keep them in.”
    “Certainly. The examination will last until late this afternoon, but I’ll stop by the library tomorrow and…” Barrie’s voice trailed off before he finished his thought. “Actually, I suppose it’ll be more difficult than it used to be. The library is next to my university, but if I get accepted into the Deputy Justice program, I’ll be working at the courthouse. It may be a week or two before I can sneak away.”
    Until this moment, Brystal had never realized how much her brother’s pending graduation was going to affect her . Barrie would no doubt pass his examination with flying colors and be put to work as a Deputy Justice right away. For years to come, all his time and energy would be spent prosecuting or defending criminals at the courthouse. Supplying his little sister with books would be his last priority.
    “That’s all right,” Brystal said through a forced smile. “I’ll find something to do in the meantime. Well, all your buttons are attached. I better set the table before Mother gets upset.”
    Brystal hurried into the dining room before her brother noticed the anguish in her voice. When he said weeks , she knew it might be months or even a year before she had another book in her hands. So much time without a distraction from her mundane life would be torturous. If she wanted to keep her sanity, she would have to find something to read outside their home, and given the kingdom’s harsh punishments for female readers, Brystal would have to be clever— very clever—if she didn’t want to get caught.
    “Breakfast is ready!” Mrs. Evergreen announced. “Come and eat! Your father’s carriage will be here in fifteen minutes!”
    Brystal quickly set the dining room table before her family members arrived. Barrie brought his notecards to the table and flipped through them while they waited for the meal to begin. Brystal couldn’t tell if it was his freshly sewn buttons or his restored confidence, but Barrie was sitting much taller than when she found him on the floor. She took great pride in the physical and mental alterations she had provided.
    Their older brother, Brooks, was the first to join Brystal and