When the rumbling ceased, Jacen stopped running. Now that the adrenaline had faded, his body screamed at him to lie down, and if it came to another fight, he’d be no good to anyone. He might as well have been breathing gravel instead of air. He could not match the pace Seth seemed determined to maintain.
No sooner had Jacen finally regained his breath, still clutching a stitch in his side, than Nines asked, “Did my eyes change?”
It was a milestone among Church novitiates, something they celebrated, but Nines was clearly upset.
After a moment, Jacen said, “Yes.”
“Tell me what color they were.” She swallowed. “I don’t want to forget.”
After all she’d confessed to him, Jacen understood. To Nines, this was just another piece of herself destroyed because of these gifts she’d never wanted.
“Dark grey,” said Jacen. “Like heavy rainclouds.” Nines said nothing but let him feel her gratitude.
Though Jacen suspected she had the stamina to forge ahead—her exertions over the last five years had probably consisted of more than brisk walks to the liquor cabinet—she lingered beside him. For what felt like hours, they continued in silence.
The passageway let out in an underground ruin so ancient, it was difficult to tell the crumbling walls from the cavern’s natural formations. The deepriver rapids roared below, the only sound until they came upon a puddle of torchlight. There, Ogden sat on a stone outcropping, alone, as though he had been waiting for them.
He said, “If you’d been one minute later, the passageway would have come down on your heads.”
“Youdid that?” Jacen spluttered.
“It was a timed detonation,” Ogden said, clarifying nothing.
Seth was already scoping out the path ahead. “Where’s Ged? He must have come this way.”
“He did not see the merit in waiting,” said Ogden. “He went his own way, presumably to reconnect with what’s left of his forces.”
Seth swore. “He’ll have taken the boat.” “So be it. I have my own.”
But Seth wasn’t done. “How did you know about this place?”
“I learned about the passages when I was a member of Avram’s court. I’ve been planting explosives for years in case of emergency—probably enough to demolish the White Cathedral and the palace by now.” At the horrified look on Seth’s face, Ogden waved him down. “No,of course I didn’t trigger them all.” He added, more or less to himself, “I’m rather surprised it still works. It could prove useful if?—”
“What were you doing with my father?” Seth cut him off.
Ogden sighed. “Avram and I are old friends. We had a great deal to discuss.” A pause. “I take it he’s dead.”
Seth nodded, almost dazed, as if he still couldn’t quite believe it. “Ged killed him.”
“I suppose that was inevitable. Unfortunate—but inevitable.” A note of steel entered Ogden’s voice. “Zivora has been safe for too long. Let it burn. Let the people learn what it is to have no choice but to fight.”
Seth looked troubled. Nines did not appear to be listening, but Ogden’s gaze lingered on her. “That said, I would not blame you if you chose to leave this all behind. What’s your name, girl?”
She seemed mortified to have been asked. But when Jacen started to offer the name he’d found in the Archives—Syl—she said, “No. I’m not her anymore.” She exhaled. “I’ll beNinesuntil I feel like I’m someone else.”
Ogden inclined his head. “We’re going to the Shrouded City, and you would be most welcome there. Rest, gather yourself, and then you’ll be free to go wherever you please. Find your family in the south, perhaps.”
“We’ll see,” said Nines.
“And you.” Ogden eyed Jacen appraisingly. “You’ve earned my confidence, but my network may not share my sentiments.”
“I know,” Jacen said heavily.
“You think Neri and Ysira are there?” Seth asked.
“I know they are,” said Ogden. “I’ve received word. It’s probably time I fill some gaps in your education.” He stood, but when he took a step, he had to grab the rock for support. He swore under his breath.
Seth tried to take Ogden by the arm, but the healer raised a gloved hand in admonishment. Then Seth made a strangled noise. “Yourfootis . . . the wrong . . . way.”
