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Someone knew they were spies and placed another spy close to them.
The realization has my thoughts twisting on themselves.
All this time, I’d found it strange that Lamin chose to come here with us rather than remain with Adwapa and Asha while they traveled with White Hands. But he’s always managed to remain close to me. Quietly, unobtrusively…My thoughts begin flying again as I continue examining every interaction I’ve ever had with him—every raid, every mission.
“How?” I ask, echoing Li’s question, even though I now have a suspicion. “How did you manage it?”
“With the help of other godsworn loyal to the Maiwurian gods,” Lamin says.
“So there were others?” Britta sounds shocked.
“All over Otera,” Lamin confirms. “As there have been since time immemorial.”
“Others like who?”
Lamin lowers his head. “I cannot say.”
“Cannot or will not?” Keita wants to know.
Lamin doesn’t answer. So I try a different approach. “Why now? After all that time spent with us, why are you speaking of this only now?”
“Because this is the only time he can speak.” This interjection comes from Myter, who places a commiserating hand on Lamin’s shoulder. “Except for myself and a few others who always remain with their god, the godsworn who leave Maiwuri are placed under covenants.”
“Covenants?” I frown.
“They prevent you from speaking or writing or even hinting about the things that you should not.”
Lamin nods. “I could not speak the truth of my origins or my mission, no matter how much I longed to do so.”
“Reason number two thousand eight hundred I don’t have dealings with the gods,” Belcalis mutters. “Present company excluded.” She nods at me.
I nod back before I turn to Lamin. “Then why now?” I ask. “What’s different?”
“Now,” he says, walking forward, where the pathways are wending their way toward a bright white light, “I am back in Maiwuri. The covenant doesn’t apply here,” he continues, as if relieved. “Which means I can show you the truth of the world in which Otera resides. Of Kamabai.”
He gestures and I step past him through the light, into paradise.
9
The brilliant blue of water lies in front of me, glittering so fiercely, I have to shade my eyes against the glare. We’re standing on a cliff overlooking a vast ocean, a warm breeze curling around us. The sky is a crystalline shade of azure, a rainbow sheen tinting it. Except it’s not, in fact, a rainbow. When I squint at it, confused, it shimmers, almost like a bubble covering the entire sky. What exactly is that? I try to peer closer, but a sudden tingling stops me. I whirl to find that the pathways have completely disappeared—vanished the way they came—and in their place stands Bala, Myter at his side, with the children and a group of people I assume are their parents, all glancing around in open-mouthed awe. Bala’s eyes, though, remain on mine, his presence as calm and gentle as ever.
“This is where we leave you, Angoro Deka,” Myter says, her voice layered over once more. “We will continue on and take this group to their new homes.”
It has been my greatest honor bringing you here, a deep, warm voice continues in my mind. I know, without the slightest doubt, that it belongs to Bala, that he is actively projecting his thoughts into mine. The god bows gently to me. May we meet again on the pathways.
I hope that as well, I reply, startled when I realize I actually mean it.
Despite my confused feelings about Lamin and his betrayal, I somehow hold no ill will against Bala, even though he is part of the very pantheon that sent Lamin. All the other gods I’ve met left me with a sense of awe. With the desire to worship and abase myself to them. But Bala only seems filled with gentleness and compassion. He doesn’t seem to want me to worship or serve him. He doesn’t even seem to have any true desires of his own. He just is. Like the sun or wind or any other element. He simply exists.
Ixa seems to feel the same way, because he nods as he ambles up to me. Ixa too, he adds cheerfully. Ixa hope we meet again.
As the god gives us another quiet bow, a thought occurs to me. “Wait, is this where we meet the other gods?”
“No,” Myter says, pointing up. “Sarla’s godsworn will take you the rest of the way.”
I frown, glancing around. I see only the clear blue skies and the water sparkling around us. “I don’t understand. Where are the—”
But Myter is already gone, as are Bala and the children. We’re alone on the cliff now. Then Lamin points. “Look,” he says. “Here they come.”
