‘Tell your brothers on the council, Althok! Time ticks, and the Fallen counts for your death. Only one can fight him. Only one knows how to resist him. Look for the leader who stood in defiance—’
With a garbled cry, Althok finally found the part in the curtains, and threw himself at the door.
I stopped speaking into Manna’s mind, and she stopped screaming at him.
She stood there in the half-light from the lanterns of the room beyond this one shining through the fluttering gap in the velvet curtains, her shoulders rising and falling. Red in her cheeks.
Then she shook her head and touched her temple.
“Who… who are you?” she whispered, her voice awed. “I haven’t heard your words before. So clear… Who are you, that you frighten a Neph and—?”
‘I am a friend, sent by the Creator.’
I wished I could say more, as her hand dropped to cover her mouth and her eyes welled like the words had touched her heart.
“Will you be here always, now? Will you help me? Please…”
For the first time, my conscience pinched at this deception. I wanted to tell her, wanted toshowher, but it was too dangerous. I couldn’t give her any clue that might even hint at who I was.
‘The Creator watches over you. You’re never alone. I will come to you when I can, and I will help you when I can.’I caught myself, about to ask her to leave clues to when Althok orthe other leaders might come, then cursed. Spirits didn’t need calendars to follow.
“Please,” she whispered. “Please come back. We need you. The Neph have—"
‘I’m aware of the descending darkness here,’I sent, then smiled as inspiration hit.‘God has heard your cries and sent help. A true king who brings light. You’ve heard the rumors of him—they are true, and more. Tell your sisters. Help comes.’
“Wait! Help comes from where? Who? How do we—”
I had to flee, or I’d give in and say too much. Closing my ears to her pleas, because they brought tears to my eyes, I rushed from the room, only barely remembering to stay in the shadows and retain the shroud.
I was so distracted and thrilled and afraid, that it wasn’t until I got to the external wall of the building, and saw the low light seeping in through the window at the shopfront, that I realized how long I’d stayed.
Dawn was rising, and with it, the shadows that allowed me to walk invisibly dimmed.
I’d never been as strong as Yilan and able to move more than a few feet in light. Yet here we were, with light only growing every second.
With a silent curse, I dove through the wall and out into the graying shadows of the building.
I had to get back to the palacenow.
I rushed, which was a mistake. Moving too quickly through the shadows—especially when there was too much light—required more strength, and could result in clothing or body parts flickering in and out of visibility.
Twice on that harrowing rush through the awakening city, men turned their heads quickly, following movement in their peripheral vision. I was so grateful there were deeper shadowsat the foot of the palace walls, when I finally made it that far—though they narrowed to bare feet before I made it to the gate.
Then I faced the courtyard, now bathed in warm dawn light.
I could only see two stablehands, both leading animals out to the hitching rail for their day’s work. Even though they might not care to see a slave cross the courtyard, any eyes might recognize me, and a passing word to the wrong ear…
I bit my lip. There was no choice. The shadow I’d followed to get this far was only inches deep now, and would disappear in moments.
Raising my head, and walking with the air of a Captain of the Crown, rather than a slave, I strode across the courtyard, disappearing into the shadows inside the palace door, only barely dodging servant girls carrying bedpans for emptying, which made me push faster—because that meant it was even later than I’d thought.
I had to dodge the Chamber servant, dutifully walking the halls to douse all the candles and torches, but that was almost a relief since the shadows deepened in his wake. Still, I was almost weeping with weariness and emotional exhaustion when I could finally slip through the wall into Jann’s chamber.
I let go of the shadows with a heavy sigh and began unbuttoning my shirt immediately. Jann wasn’t in bed, though the sheets were messy—he moved a lot in his sleep. He’d probably been called to Gall’s side. I would undress and sleep.
I let my clothes drop where I stood, and crawled into the bed with a groan. It creaked as my weight settled, and I sighed as soon as my head hit the pillow, reaching for Jann in my mind, but unable to reach him. It wasn’t uncommon here. He’d come for me if—
“Lady Diadre? Is that you?” Caelan’s voice was hesitant and shaky. She wasn’t usually here this early. I clutched the sheets and blankets to cover myself and sat up.
