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My eyes snap open, then blink as if my eyeballs have dried up, sticky and thick against my lids. And Dessin is on his knees at my side, stroking my hair, lost in thought.
“A wet cat?” I grumble, rolling to face him. “You have such a way with women.”
He smirks. “How’re you feeling?”
“Like a wet cat.”
A laugh, rough and deep in his chest. But he pinches his brows together, narrowing his eyes on my face. “I told you I didn’t want to do this.”
“But I’m doing it. I survived.”
His jaw clenches and he’s beautiful like this. The left side of his face glimmering in the dim light of the candle sconce. His large hand combing through my hair.
“The trick with the priest worked. He brought Judas to me,” I say quietly.
“What happened?”
“Suseas accompanied him, so he couldn’t speak forthrightly. It was a waste of time. And he’s being watched because they suspect he had involvement with our escape when they found his key was missing.” I rub my eyes and grunt. “I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to get an honest word out of him.”
We would have to stay there for months…. And I’m not prepared to do that. Not after today.
“Did he say anything?”
“Well, yes, but—”
Dessin stops stroking his fingers through my hair. “Tell me exactly what he said. As accurately as you can recall.”
I take a moment. Sigh. Stretch my legs under the blankets.
“Umm, he spoke about his skeleton key going missing. About the investigation because we decided to steal it to make our escape.” I shrug. “That’s pretty much it.”
But Dessin isn’t convinced. “How did he leave? I need you to try harder. Recite his words back to me.”
“There isn’t anything signifi—” But there is, kind of, isn’t there? I watch how he turned to leave and close my eyes. But before he vanished, he said, “In six months, you may finally understand the gravity of your actions. Maybe then you’ll follow the drums of life and unsheathe your pride.”
Dessin looks away, thinking, breathing, reciting the words in his mind over and over again until—he’s on his feet, staring down at me like I should understand his sudden excitement. I’m groaning, propping myself up on my elbows to match his energy.
“What?”
“Follow the drums of life and unsheathe your pride.” Dessin recites the words. Begins pacing the length of my room. “That’s not right. It’s supposed to be—follow the drums of death and unsheathe your honor.”
“I don’t understand!” He needs to do a better job of voicing his train of thought and explanations out loud.
“It’s a quote from a war back in Alkadon, approximately four hundred years ago. One of the greatest devastations in history. They fought their sister country and won. But they lost a third of their population and suffered famine, plagues, and a corrupt economy soon after.”
I stare blankly at him, still not getting it.
“Judas quoted it back to you knowing I would catch the incorrect words. But why?”
I shrug again. “You’re on your own. I’m lost.”
“Wait…” He stops pacing. “He said six months? You’re sure?”
I nod.
His chin lifts in understanding, eyes wide in daunting black saucers. “It’s a warning. In six months, there will be another great war. Possibly just as devastating.”
“But how could he know that?”
