Page 75 of City of Stone and Silence

“I can offer you a chance to prove the righteousness of your cause,” Gragant says. “If you best me in a trial, then we will know the Diving Being looks on you favorably.”

I have to force myself not to grin.

“I don’t like it,” Meroe says. We’re alone in the room now with Zarun, the two Minders having left to make preparations.

“Don’t like it?” I got up from the awkward bench as soon as Gragant did, and now I find myself pacing the room, stretching my arms and trying to work the ongoing ache of powerburn from my muscles. “It’s the best chance we’re going to get. If I beat him, these mad monks will have to admit their god wants them to help us.”

“We don’t know what Gragant’s Well is,” Zarun says.

“I fought Ahdron in the ring,” I say. “I fought the Butcher. You think he’s likely to be worse?”

“I’m more worried about what happens if you kill him,” Meroe says.

I wave dismissively. “He didn’t say the fight was to the death.”

“That doesn’t mean much,” Meroe says. “We don’t know what we’re getting into.”

“It’s worth the risk.”

“Isoka…”

Catching her expression, I glance at Zarun. “Can you give us a moment?”

Amused, he retreats to the other side of the room. I pull Meroe to the wall and lower my voice. “What’s wrong?”

“You’re doing it again,” she says. “Taking on all the risk.”

“I don’t have a choice. Time—”

“I know time is running out,” Meroe says. “Zarun could fight Gragant, you know.”

“I … I don’t know if the Minders would accept that.”

“Neither do I,” Meroe says. “But it never even occurred to you, did it?”

“No,” I admit. “I don’t want to ask someone else to do my fighting for me.”

“Sometimes you have to.” Meroe runs her fingers through her hair and sighs. “You think I want to be the one who always says ‘wait, stop, it’s too risky’?”

“I’m taking responsibility for the crew,” I say. “That’s what you wanted.”

“Charging headlong into every fight isn’t the same thing as taking responsibility.” Meroe sets her jaw. “Gods know I have selfish reasons to keep you intact, but have you thought about what this plan of yours means? If we need an Eddica adept to use the access points, what are we supposed to do if something happens to you?”

“That’s—” I pause. “I hadn’t thought about that.”

Meroe smiles ruefully. “I know. Just…”

“Be careful?”

“Gods, I’m tired of saying it.” Meroe leans forward, resting her forehead against mine. “You know you can rely on us, when you need to. Me, Zarun, the others.”

“I know.” I kiss her, quickly. “Next time, I promise you get to fight the crazy monk for me.”

“I think our hosts are returning,” Zarun says.

Meroe and I pull apart, and a moment later two robed monks enter. They bow, and one of them says, “If you are ready, we will escort you to the site of the trial.”

“I’m as ready as I’m going to get,” I say. “Lead the way.”