It was an odd thing, to have lived her whole life unworthy of notice and then to suddenly be perceived everywhere she went. She was still getting used to it. She wondered if she ever would.
“I can’t believe the Church never found this place,” Seth said, once they had passed back into the tunnels. “Especially after . . . You know. Jacen.” He paused. “I’m worried about him. He’s acting strangely.”
Ysira shrugged, though she didn’t disagree. “He’s a strange man.
It’s not my fault you’re too infatuated with him to have noticed.”
A dark flush crept up Seth’s neck, but he said, “I do expect this, from him.” He glanced around the empty tunnel. “But these people are worryingly religious, and I’m afraid they might encourage him.”
“He’s not stupid. He’s more than capable?—”
Seth cut Ysira off with a wince and a wave of his hand. “I know. He’s one of the most brilliant people I’ve ever met. We also both know he’s not exactlywell,and . . . you didn’t see it, Ysira. They were going to kill him back there, and he would have let it happen. I—” He swallowed. “I’m afraid he’s just brilliant enough to convince himself of any insane thing he wants to believe.”
“Seth.” Ysira touched his bristly cheek, with a softness she’d never have deigned to show when they were younger. He froze. “I know what I’m doing.”
“I believe you,” he said.
Ysira wasn’t sure he did. But his eyes had softened. “Just be careful,” he told her. “Please.”
As they resumed walking, she felt his touch on her shoulder. When he brushed his hand along her arm and squeezed her fingers in his, against her better judgment, she let him.
Eneva met them at the library, still wearing the coolly resigned look she’d taken to assuming whenever Ysira was near.
“This is the library of Otavok,” she said. “We’ve been collecting scraps of knowledge, archiving it here for centuries.” She glowered at the new arrivals. “This is the work of generations. Touch anything, and I’ll have you fed to the spiders.”
The library was cool but cozy, well lit by caged lanterns. The scent of dust and parchment lingered on the air, along with something deeper and earthier that called to mind the caverns below Zal Fel. Neri hunched beside a parchment-strewn stone table, and with him stood the last of the demon priests.
Kanan Var Mondral slouched against a bookshelf with his arms crossed. Dacil Var Solai was showing Neri a large rock. The two could not have been more different—Mondral a grizzled warrior never seen without his armor, Solai a round-faced former schoolteacher—but their bright amber eyes marked them both for what they were.
“Ashek,” Solai said to Neri, indicating the rock. “The sacred weapon of the valak. It will not respond to anyone who does not bear a demon.”
Neri touched the rock. It vibrated and began to warp as though melting. White light sparked from its core. Neri dropped it like it had burned him. It rolled across the floor, once more appearing as only rock.
“Careful, my lord!” Solai exclaimed.
Neri mumbled an apology, then caught sight of Eneva first. The Gatekeeper knelt and began to make some sort of pronouncement, but Neri exclaimed, “Uncle Seth!”
“Neri.”Seth pushed past their hosts to catch his nephew in a tight embrace. He clutched Neri’s head to his chest, his thick arms almost burying the boy. “I had a plan, I was going to get you out of there—thought I’d lost you—” They broke apart, enough for Seth to cup Neri’s cheek and meet his red gaze. Seth’s voice cracked. “I’m so sorry.”
Ysira had to look away, because for some insufferable reason, her eyes had gone watery.
“It’s all right,” Neri said. “My— Ysira did what you asked. She saved me.”
By the bookshelf, Mondral cleared his throat. “Var Naktis. These are the allies you promised us?” His amber eyes lingered on Jacen, who skulked near the door as though he hoped no one would notice him.
“You have one of the best swordsmen in Zivora,” Ysira said, “who has done more in his life to educate and protect my son than the rest of us put together. And you have a Sixth Tier telepath who’s sacrificed everything to join our cause.”
Jacen muttered, “There’s no need?—”
“He’s right,” said Mondral. “No need. We know who he is and what he’s capable of.” He paced toward Jacen and stopped in front of him, looking him up and down with overt disgust. Jacen had several inches on him but seemed smaller nonetheless. “Give meanycause to believe you mean Var Naxal harm, and I’ll break your fucking neck.”
With that, Mondral stalked out of the room.
Solai broke the ensuing awkward silence. “You all must be exhausted.
There’s a meal ready in the hall, unless my lord would prefer to dine in his quarters?”
Neri appeared startled she’d asked his opinion. Ysira would need to have a word with him about that later.
