Saayna moved toward the young priest, but Leo stopped her.
“We are leaving. Now.”
She threw a look at the boy but walked to the door. Leo followed her up and out of the chamber. The stone slab slid back, and they reemerged into the Seat. The Eternal Fire cackled in welcome. It elongated, the flames curling and dancing as if they could sense Leo’s distress. As if they were laughing at his fate to come.
When they walked out of the temple, the mist had evaporated. Golden light dusted the great pines, and beyond, the dunes spilled out, still and majestic. The desert knew of fire. It could withstand its heat, just like him.
Leo motioned to Majnu, who stood waiting by the entrance.
“Arrest the high priestess,” he said. “Take her to the prison in the desert, and do not let her get close to fire.”
If his Spear was surprised, he gave no indication. Leo watched as he led the high priestess away, her hair shining like spun bronze. She was a proud one. He would give her that. But he would make her bend like everyone else.
CHAPTER 6
YASSEN
The Sky People were said to build their kingdoms in the clouds. They flew on ancient lily pads guided by a Sky Scout to the upper mountains of Seshar. We have discovered some vestiges of their civilization, but most were destroyed during the Jantari invasion.
—from chapter 13 ofThe Great History of Sayon
Yassen splashed cold water on his face with one hand, his body trembling. He had dreamed of fire, again, crackling up his leg and arm, forcing its way down his throat. Even now, his throat felt raw.
It’s only a dream, he reminded himself.
But he could not forget the sensation: the slow suffocation from smoke. The ash pricking his nostrils like sharp, grey needles.
It’s only a dream.
He turned from the basin and looked out the window. It was a moonless night. Tiny stars pinpricked the dark, heavy fabric of the sky. This was the time he had often slipped out to do his work. He would move like a shadow—smooth and supple. Become a part of the night.
He preferred a pulse gun over all other weapons. It was simple, neat. The barrel warmed with energy, and when released, a singular pulse zipped out, hot like a bolt of lightning. It could burn a hole through a man.
He almost missed it. The swift adrenaline. The quiet of the night when most men were asleep and he could walk through the world, pretending that it was his.
But the fire…
A dull pain spiraled up his right arm to his shoulder. He began the slow work of awakening whatever life was left in his arm. He massaged his numb fingers, pinching the nerve between his thumb and forefinger, counting until ten, until twenty, thirty.
As he did, he felt a cold, slow panic.I’m still useful, he thought.I can still manage.But his injury told otherwise. It spoke of his mistake, his replaceability.
His fingers twitched back to life, and he sighed in relief.
He was already dressed when Maru knocked on his door. Dawn had yet to color the sky as the servant guided Yassen to the main foyer. A week had passed since his arrival at Chand Mahal; he had grown familiar with its long hallways and grand rooms, but even now, Yassen paused. Despite the moonless night, the mirrored ceiling sparkled with stars, as if the heavens were already awake and within his reach.
A hoverpod was docked outside the entrance. Samson stood on its ramp, wrapped in a milky fur coat that looked like the skin of a fyrra, the long, three-tailed wolves that roamed in Jantari mountains. But the fyrra had grown rare in the past decade, driven to starvation as miners cut down forests to set up more rigs. Only Jantari elite wore such coats. Perhaps Samson had found one stalking his grounds.
And of course, he would wear it to the hot deserts of Ravence, Yassen thought, shaking his head.
A servant took Yassen’s bag. Others carried Samson’s luggage up the ramp, like ants marching up a hill.
“Mother’s Gold, how much are you bringing?” he asked.
“You need help with your wardrobe,” Samson said. “We can’t go to the holy kingdom dressed as soldiers.”
“I dress just fine.”
Samson surveyed Yassen’s loose, asymmetric white shirt and slacks. He stopped a servant guiding a rack up the ramp and grabbed a garment bag.
