Page 75 of Dance of Stars and Ashes

“You said there are seven,” Apsara said. “Why does this matter?”

Row’s gaze flicked to Zarya, full of apprehension, and she stilled.

Dhawan turned to smile at her as she wore the weight of everyone’s curious stare.

“The seventh gift, of course, is nightfire.”

“No,” Row whispered, his shoulders sagging. Zarya cut a glare at him.

“I still don’t understand,” Apsara said, her gaze jumping around the group. “So, there are seven of us.”

Dhawan regarded Apsara with an enigmatic expression.

“The seven of you are together. Whole. Joined for the first time in almost a thousand years, Apsara. There have always been gaps—births, deaths, times when you were scattered across the continent and beyond. And, of course, the missing nightfire kept you from ever being whole.

“But the seven of you are here now—in the same room. And I would bet my very long life on the notion that together, you will be able to defeat the darkness.”

Voices erupted in a thousand questions. Zarya quietly digested Dhawan’s news, her eyes meeting Rabin’s across the room.

“But how?” Suvanna asked. “This knowledge is useless without a plan.”

The room fell silent, lost in their thoughts.

“The Bayangoma,” Zarya whispered, and every set of eyes snapped to her.

“Zarya, that was just a story I told you,” Row said.

“No, they’re real. They exist. Right, Professor?”

“They are,” he said. “A hidden Bayangoma grove resides less than a week’s journey from here. That is true.”

“Then maybe that’s it,” Zarya said. “Maybe that’s the answer.”

Dhawan nodded slowly, an auspicious light shining in his eyes as he looked at each of them in turn. “Maybe it is. After all, what could be more worthy than the Chiranjivi united after a thousand years, seeking a way to destroy the darkness?”

Several heartbeats of silence suspended everyone in stillness.

“This is nonsense,” Apsara cried a moment later. “You can’t be serious. A bird is going to tell us what to do about that?” She gestured vaguely in the direction of the swamps.

Koura, calm like a pillar in a storm, laid a hand on Apsara’s arm. “What choice do we have but to try?” he asked, his deep voice rumbling. “We are almost at the end. We have no other options. Nowhere else to turn.”

Zarya wasn’t entirely convinced, either, but she noticed Kindle and Row nodding as they looked to the healer, his golden eyes acknowledging their support.

Suvanna stepped forward, a hand planted over her heart.

“We came here to stop this. It doesn’t matter anymore who was right.” She glared at each of them to remind everyone it was her. “All that matters is that we save Daragaab and, in turn, all of Rahajhan. This thing won’t stop at its borders, and all of our homes are in danger. If there is any chance this is the answer we’ve spent years seeking, we have to take it.”

Rabin strode next to Zarya, his elbow gently brushing her arm. He gave a short bow to Dhawan and the rest of the group to indicate his accepted role in the plan.

Apsara turned to Zarya, seeking out an ally.

“Apsara, I think we have to try,” Zarya said. “For Amrita.”

Apsara’s jaw hardened, her gaze circling the room as everyone else nodded their assent.

“Fine,” she said, throwing up her hands. “Make the necessary preparations. We leave first thing in the morning.”

Then she stalked off.