Dakairi’s jeweled, royal blue eyes were dancing.
“When does the Empràr’s Pass take place?”
Quazar tilted his head, pretending as if he was thinking about it. My hearts raced at lightning speed, tightening with every second that ticked by.
“Hmm, end of springtari as we enter the sumyrin season. And in fallari we learn, train, and rest.”
The gate had been attacked during sumyrin. At the same time Quazar would have been at the Empràr’s Pass. Not at the Seal Gate. When Manmi died, Quazar wasn’t there. He wasn’t anywhere close.
The Farasee Order of Temple Efysis had lied.
Which meant Granmanmi…Granmanmi!
My knees buckled, and I fell back into my seat. The revelation was too much. I blinked at nothing, unable to face the hard truth that had been dancing in my face all along.
“What in the Six Hèls just happened?” Daelun asked, head swinging between the shocked expressions on mine and Ellabeth faces, and the sympathetic ones on Quazar and Dakairi’s.
“Looks like your princess is starting to wake up.” Dakairi winked at Daelun.
Seventh Choir stared at me wide-eyed, waiting for me to say something. If Quazar wasn’t responsible for Manmi’s death, then whowas? Who else had any motive to kill…
No. Kaelthos Zamarien would never stoop so low to betray his own. Would he?
For the first time since Ascending, I looked around the temple walls and felt anything but safe. I’d spent cycles hating Quazar. Hating the Fallenspawn. I idolized the temple, believing I would come here and make a difference for the empyrean and get revenge for Manmi. I’d been taught to hate the one angel who had nothing to do with the source of my greatest pain.
And the temple…
I lifted my eyes to Ellabeth who’d also sat back down. Her sun-kissed cheeks were red. Her eyes churned like a tempest.I knew that bright-eyed, wild look she had. Rage. Ellabeth was furious.
“Sazu,” she whispered, reaching for my hand.
I let her take it. Because what else could I do right now? Everything I thought was true was a burning pile of rot.
But I had no clue how to make sense of anything else. I had to speak to someone. But who? Could I write a letter to Papi that wouldn’t be meddled with? My head throbbed. I needed to know more. I needed to know the truth.
I shoved away from the table, pushing back my cloudchair. “I’m going to the biblarien. For research purposes.”
If anywhere in this temple had the truth, it would be the library.
“Don’t follow me,” I said, as Seventh Choir started gathering their belongings. Everyone stopped and looked at me. “I’m going alone.”
I yanked up my belongings, discarding my half-eaten plate, spread my wings, and rushed out of the food hall headed straight for the biblarien. As I raced out of the doors, a familiar trail of shadow followed me all the way to the library and never left my side.
“Fear of terror at twinight—nor arrows at dawn—should ever befall you. Whether a thousand fall at your side, even if you witness ten thousand die around you, evil will lay no finger on you. Keep your wings and become the pride of the Order. Lose them and be their ridicule.”
Accords of the Farasees, Scroll of Davithius 91:7, Fifth Age
Chapter 33
“Nothing in the Temple is given. It is what?”
“Earned!” chorused the Disciples of the four Farasee Orders.
I scribbled in my scrollbook taking notes as Farasee Kaelthos barreled on. There was a wild glint in his eyes this Sanctuary. I didn’t like it. I noticed this dawn that the Farasee Order wasn’t present. Including the other Presbitaris. Whatever Kaelthos was thinking, I hoped to avoid it at all costs.
“Including mercy,” Kaelthos said. “Welcome toThe Principles of Righteous Judgment,where you will learn how the Farasees maintain order across all Ouanaviel temples, and the empyrean at large.”
Kaelthos looked across the cathedral, lifting his pointed nose at us.
