I patted the rock beetle’s now much shinier shell, seeing hints of metallic green in the veneer. “He was pretty amazing,” I said. “I’m glad we didn’t have to leave him behind.”
“Yes,” Kysa said, sounding a bit more serious now. “That is what I need to talk to you about.
“Back in the square,” she continued, as unease flickered inside me, “the kahjai told me to flee with you and Halek on Rhyne, and leave him and Ratuk behind to battle the horde. You did not take him up on that offer, but instead put yourself and Ratuk in danger to fight our way free.” Her dark eyes narrowed—not accusingly, but my stomach still twisted under her piercing stare. “Why?”
I frowned. “I couldn’t leave either of them,” I told her. “They would have died. I’m Ratuk’s rider—he’s my responsibility. You told me that yourself. And Raithe...” I faltered. Kysa had not forgiven Raithe for his evasiveness about the Deathless queen. Perhaps she never would. “Raithe has to lead us to the World Scar,” I finished. “And, no matter what he’s done, he’s still a good fighter. I couldn’t leave him there to get ripped apart by the shades of his own people.”
“Yes,” Kysa said. “You could have. The offer had already been made. He was willing to sacrifice his life to make sure the Fateless continued on. You chose not to accept. You made the decision to stay and fight, though the odds of making it out alive were slim.”
“I’m confused, Kysa.” I gave her a puzzled frown. “Is this a good thing or a bad thing? I thought you would be happy that I chose not to leave Ratuk behind.”
“I am.” The insect rider nodded, her dark eyes still piercing as they gazed at me. “But you are not just a rider. You are the Fateless. You are the only one who can touch the Loom of Maederyss—the only one who canseethe Loom of Maederyss. And the only one who can claim the power of a goddess. What this will do to your body is uncertain, but one thing is clear. If you die, the Deathless King stands unopposed to do whatever he wishes. The queen cannot slay him—even in the legends, the Deathless cannot destroy one of their own. She might be able to slow him down. Or she might decide to take her people and vanish from the world again. But she cannot stop him. The only one who stands a sliver of a chance against the Deathless King... is you.”
“You know, Kysa, you didn’t have to come out here just to torture me. I’m already terrified beyond reason.”
The insect rider sighed. “I am sorry, Sparrow,” she said. “I don’t mean to put this burden on you, but you must hear the truth from someone. There will probably come a time when you have to choose between saving one person or saving the world from the Deathless King. Or to make the choice to live, even if it means that someone sacrifices themself in your stead. You... have come so far from that girl I first met on the strider.” Her gaze softened, genuine pride and affection shining through those dark eyes. “I understand what Raithe sees in you. Healways believed you could be the hero that would stand up to the Deathless King. Unfortunately, heroes walk hand in hand with sacrifice. And sometimes they have to know when to let go, even if it means losing someone they care for.”
I slumped against Ratuk, which was like leaning against a brick wall. The beetle didn’t move an inch as I pressed into him. “I’m not a hero,” I said, as the insect rider continued to study me. “I’m barely hanging on as it is. But I know what you’re trying to tell me, Kysa. And yes, the day may come when I have to make that choice. But I’m going to fight it for as long as I’m able. I don’t want anyone to sacrifice themself for me. Not if I have a chance to change that fate.”
Soft footsteps interrupted us, and Kysa stiffened. Raithe appeared, walking around the tower and stopping a few paces away. He had, of course, been deliberately loud, wanting us to hear him approach. I knew that if he didn’t want to be noticed, he could move as silently as a shadow over the ground.
“Suns set is about an hour away,” he told us as the insect rider observed him coldly. “It might be a good idea to move out, put some distance between us and the town before nightfall. The closer we get to the border of the Dead Lands, the better.”
Kysa nodded stiffly. “Agreed,” she said. “I will get Rhyne ready. It won’t take long. Where is the Fatechaser?”
“Still sleeping,” Raithe answered with a wry smile. “If you listen, you can hear him dreaming about the Desert Rose House in Tahveena.”
Kysa rolled her eyes. “I will take great pleasure in rousing him, then,” she muttered, then looked back and forth between the pairof us. “I assume you’ll be riding with Sparrow now, iylvahn? Since your dragon unfortunately perished while we were fighting the statues.”
“If she’ll allow it,” Raithe said, glancing at me. “I could walk, but that will slow us down. And I’m guessing you don’t want me riding with you and Rhyne.”
“You would guess correctly,” Kysa said, and strode off, dark hair swaying behind her.
I winced and walked up to Raithe, who watched me approach as if he still wasn’t quite certain where we stood. “How are you feeling?” I asked. “Are you going to be okay, riding Ratuk?”
He nodded. “As long as you don’t have him jumping off rooftops or bouncing up and down, I’ll be all right. This isn’t the worst injury I’ve endured.” A wry grimace crossed his face. “At least I don’t have to worry about flying with Rhyne. I’m not certain Kysa wouldn’t ‘accidentally’ push me out of the saddle when we’re a few dozen feet in the air.”
“I could talk to her,” I offered. “She didn’t see what you did back at the village. Maybe if she knew, she wouldn’t be angry.”
“She’s not angry.” Raithe sighed. “She just believes I can’t be trusted. The Scarab Clan are a proud people, and they do not forget. For centuries, they remained in hiding because they feared the Deathless King who enslaved them would try to claim them again. They swore they would never again bow to a Deathless, even if it cost them their entire existence. I am the servant of a Deathless queen. I’ve killed for her. I’ve taken numerous lives because the queen ordered it. Kysa knows this.” Raithe made a small, sad gesture. “In her eyes, I am little better than the ma’jhet.”
He tried to hide it, but in that moment, the mask of the kahjai slipped. For a heartbeat, I saw the glimmer of regret that a once-trusted friend and ally now considered him an enemy. Kysa and Raithe had fought side by side and had shared the mutual respect for fellow warriors. The insect rider had always been truthful with Raithe, not sparing his feelings, and he appreciated her honesty. Her coldness toward him was affecting him more than he wanted to let on.
“In any case, it doesn’t matter.” Raithe straightened and stepped closer, his eyes suddenly intense in the dimming light. “I can’t change what Kysa thinks of me,” he murmured, as one arm rose, his long fingers gently brushing the side of my face. “But as long as we’re okay, I can endure anything. Your opinion is the one I care about the most.”
A yelp echoed from inside the tower, and I assumed Kysa had made good on her promise to rouse Halek. Raithe shook his head and lowered his arm, and the warmth that came with his touch faded. “One more night,” he murmured, gazing up at the darkening sky. “And then we’ll be out of the Dead Lands. I never thought I’d be so eager to leave our original homeland.”
The pain in his voice clawed at me. I touched his arm and smiled when his gaze flicked to mine. “This was never your home, Raithe.”
“No.” He returned the smile, his expression soft. “You’re right. And I should be grateful that I have a home to return to.” A furrow creased his brow, shadows of regret dancing in his eyes. “I only wish I could have saved yours.”
I slid my hand down his arm to take his hand. “Whathappened to Kovass wasn’t your fault,” I said. “And maybe we’ll still have a chance to, after we get the loom piece.” Once more, the knowledge of what waited for me at the end of this journey hovered over me, overwhelming and terrifying. I shivered and closed my eyes. “I have to go back to Kovass to face him sooner or later.”
He took my other hand and pulled me closer. “You won’t be alone when you do,” Raithe promised.
Twelve
The rest of the journey through the Dead Lands was relatively quiet. We saw a few statues standing among the petrified trees, thankfully unanimated. When night fell, we pressed on, eager to reach the border of the mountains and get out of the Dead Lands. I did catch a glimpse of one headless statue, glowing pale in the moonlight, shambling aimlessly through the trees. Raithe’s arms had tightened around my waist as the statue stumbled over the ground. But it was too far away to notice us, and we moved on as silently as we could.
