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“We knew it would. The empire has never been worried about the size of the Allied army. They’re scared of you and your sisters. We were sent because they don’t want to be afraid anymore. I told them to be very afraid. I told them you do see the future, and that I’ve seen you have visions. Could you imagine a permanent truce between our people? Could you imagine if we all believed?”
Camille licked her lips and looked away from the oracle. “In the end, we failed. Achille and I couldn’t get the others to go along with it.”
“The others?” Lila asked.
“Four teams were sent into the Allied Lands. Two ended up in America.”
“One here and one in La Verde?”
Camille nodded. “Achille and I went up to La Verde to speak with them, to convince them that the oracles were real and that we shouldn’t anger the barbaros gods. I pleaded with them for peace, for honesty with our superiors.”
“What did they say?” Lila asked.
“They laughed. They hadn’t been able to infiltrate the compound as effectively as we had. They had never seen the gods speak through an oracle. They said we were all brownnosers, kissing ass to get a promotion, spreading lies. Achille called them useless for not seeing what was plain. They nearly killed him for the slight. I suspect General Ferro sent the mercenaries because our reports differed so much, because Olivier’s reports differed so much from mine and Achille’s.”
“Where are the La Verde moles now?” Lila asked.
“They were ordered to join the mercs at the warehouse too. I suspect they died there, otherwise you would have known about us.”
“What about Olivier? Does he believe in our gods?”
Camille shook her head. “He still worships the Father. He does believe that the prophets can see the future, but he thinks you are all witches sent to test our faith.”
Mòr sighed. “He’s seen me have a vision?”
“No. He didn’t need to. He believed me and Achille when we told him. He knows we wouldn’t lie about something like that. We’ve known one another since we were kids.”
“When you first volunteered?” Lila asked.
Camille nodded. “Young recruits like us are sent to Burgundy to learn Allied languages. Those who do well are sent on missions like this. I studied hard. When I got orders for New Bristol, I made a plan to escape at the first opportunity.”
“Why didn
’t you?”
“I met Cecily, and I stayed. She’s the first friend I ever had.”
Lila shifted in her wheelchair. “So you’ve been protecting her over the solstice break. What was your plan for after?”
“There was no after. I’ll not let them destroy this place or harm a prophet of the gods. Blair has a box in her possession. I gave it to her. She’s supposed to give it to Cecily if anything happens to me. I knew she might be the only person in the world who wouldn’t peek into it out of turn. It has the explosives marked. I figured you could clear the compound and see to them yourselves.”
“And you would deal with Olivier?”
“He’s not the only one who can build a bomb. It’s hard to kill someone as paranoid as Olivier unless you’re willing to take yourself out too. I just wanted a few more days with Cecily first. I just wanted to celebrate the solstice with her. But if I hadn’t been so selfish, then Nico and Delilah wouldn’t have had to die and Olivier wouldn’t have shot you.”
Silence filled the room. Eyes darted back and forth, the same questions on everyone’s mind. Had Camille really intended to sacrifice herself for Cecily? For the oracle? For the good of the compound? For the gods?
“I’m not sure what to say to that,” Kenna said, her boots shifting on the tile.
“Send for the box if you don’t believe me,” Camille said. “Shoot me full of serum.”
“You’re not well enough for that, and you know it.”
“I don’t care.”
“You’d do that for Cecily?”
“Yes.”
