“And what’s that?” Calix asks.
“Power.”
“So, how do we get them to see our side?” he asks.
“You won’t. Not unless you understand what it’s like not to be powerful. The sons of two of the strongest positions in the Warrior Order and a Fifth are not the ones to do it.” Lyle delivers the kicker. And she’s right.
I touch my fingers to the source of pain on my cheek as we make it to the food hall.
“You might want someone to look at that.” Perrin steps out of the shadows, and we all freeze.
He runs his eyes over all of us, clocking Kalan.
“Perrin.” I think of Ten and the scars still littering his body from the poor healing in Nehandun. “Are you here to detain us?” Each of my words is tentative, waiting for him to turn on us just as Ascella did.
“No. However, I can’t speak for all of the custodians.”
“Rowan?”
“Has been in charge since you all mysteriously left. And what, can I ask, is Kalan Arcturus doing here?” Perrin looks at Kalan, and I try to calculate if they might have known each other before he left Kirrasia.
“He’s with us, but Perrin, Ten’s been injured. And he hasn’t healed. Will you?—”
“It’s okay, Ever.” Ten stops me from asking.
“No, it’s not.” My anger flares as the memories surface in the face of Perrin: how Ten suffered because the Usher didn’t heal him and sent someone far less competent to do the work.
“Of course. Aten. What happened?”
“It doesn’t matter.” He pushes the question aside, but I see his whole body go tense, even his hands have balled into fists.His eyes are trained on Perrin, and I guess that he’s trying to read him. Test if he’s actually to be believed.
“Can you do it here? In the hall?” I ask.
“It would be better?—”
“No. We don’t split up. Under any circumstances.” Ten’s words hammer down in command.
“Can we trust him?”I check with him.
“Unsure. No one should be alone with him.”Ten gives me a nod. “Over here.” Ten takes a seat at the first table, just past the fire that’s still burning, and Perrin joins him.
But we’re not the only ones in the hall.
As we move further in, Ravi and Azur are at the far table, Raiden and Capella at the other.
They all turn to face us, taking in Perrin with Ten, then Calix and me, and the two strangers with us.
“Ever, what are you doing back?” Raiden stands and smiles as she comes to greet me.
“It’s a long story. It’s good to see you. You, too, Capella.”
“Why is Ten back? He was banished.” Capella’s eyes narrow in confusion.
“That’s a long story, too.”
“Want to fill us in?” Raiden asks, but the tone of her voice has shifted from pleasant to sceptical.
“If I told you that we were here to warn the Orders of a war coming, a fight for power, what would you say?” They both look at each other, their faces now showing similar reflections of worry. If Ascella knows, there must be rumours.
