‘Every priest awoke at once. They had the same dream.’
‘A dream?’
‘Of angels in the Heavens. They warned that believers should seek refuge up and away from these lands.’
‘A warning...’
Katayoun faces the worshippers. ‘Of corruption. That only Divineguidance would save them. The survivors are abandoning Stone City to climb the Kin Mountains for higher ground, as if Stone City is not high enough.’ Her lips twitch up, but her tone is empty. ‘We might as well take the leftover war spoils.’
Are the Heavens warning them to flee because of Mitra?
She returns to the barracks but No-Name remains, observing the prayers. ‘At least they are taking action, when you do not.’
I flinch.I don’t know what you speak of.
She smirks. ‘Oh, stop playing the fool. You desire to kill Warlord Akashun – but have you really considered the means?’
The dread coalescing in my chest makes me snap.Of course I have. At Khor, I will defect west through the Black Mountains, to Azadniabad’s wartime capital in Navia.
‘Then where is your urgency?’ she snaps back. ‘You are not strong enough to take on an emperor who has Mitra. Do you know how his power operates?’
From the Qabl monks, I counter, too quickly.
‘Exactly,’ No-Name says, seething. ‘You follow their rules: you inhale rose incense, you meditate on bones, you heed the Qabl maxims, which only help you control your affinity, not exceed its potential. You have knowledge before you, though; you have the texts.’
My gaze narrows.I have many texts.
Her hand jostles my leather satchel containing my spare belongings. ‘Recall the seals you found in the Mitra rituals. In your first visit to the Keeper, you grabbed a sageism text with those same triangular seals. The Sage Arts. And I told you to pack it in your satchel before you departed Za’skar.’
I shift and face her, the moon casting silver upon us.I read the text months ago, but it was incomprehensible. Unlike Eajiz, these sages instructed meditating on an energy imbalance. Sages are not Eajiz, they operate under different corporeal laws. They commune with jinn because they are mortals with no Heavenly Energy.
No-Name’s black eyes quiver. ‘That principle is reliant on a theological relationship, but what difference does it make? You are losing faith in the Divine, girl. You trained for the Duxzam in strange ways.’
I cast her a dark look.
Her jagged teeth glint. ‘You could train more; you could do something useful instead of standing by and letting Warlord Akashun live.You were happy to lick the emperor’s hand and you are happy to lick Sajamistan’s.’
Shut up, I hiss, but her words are a khanjar’s blow.
Her tone lulls. ‘You recall the boy you killed – so young, so soft. It was remarkably simple to pierce that blade through his heart. Do not tell me you will become like that boy.’
I will not.
The shadows careen upwards and she inhales like my uncertainty is air for her. ‘You don’t want to defect to kill Akashun because you are scared... for your Zahr siblings; about betraying your trifecta warriors; of leaving forever. You want to stay.’
Never—
‘You are pathetic.’ She steps forward and her hand flicks against me. I blink, and suddenly, I’m thrown against the red-clay adobe of a broken temple before crumpling.
Shock resounds through me. She has never touched me against my will until today. She has never autonomously hurt me. Not unless we’re sparring.
I expect surprise, but her eyes glimmer in equal parts contentment and guilt. Stunned – almost satisfied – I allow her foot to press down on my neck.
No-Name puzzles over this. ‘You do not have the heart of your soul, for the emperor sacrificed it. Without him... you have no conviction. Now I understand. I understand the language you speak. The emperor is gone; who will cause you pain? Provide purpose? Fear not. If that is what it takes. But do not blame me for this. I do this because I care, and I have never cared for anyone before.’
My pulse hammers beneath my breastbone. The satisfaction – the familiarity of this – it’s almost comfortable. Do I imagine this?
It matters not. She strokes my cheek before squeezing my jaw, and it hurts.
