Mouth twitching, the Grand Cleric backed away, turning to regard the statue.
“You covered for his sins?” I followed him down the aisle. “Why?”
“Because he targeted someone I too loathed. Their death was most welcome.” The Grand Cleric muttered. “But I don’t know what the years have made of him. Our ‘incompetence’ and his obsession with a ‘solution’ drove him away. Have the years taught him that the solution isfaith? Or has he strayed further from the path?”
Was the Grand Cleric saying Eleos hadmurderedsomeone? I wanted to press for details, but the Grand Cleric spoke again.
“Tell me what’s become of my son.”
“He’s. . .” I struggled to explain the man I knew. He could not be summed up so easily. “He’s the kindest person I’ve met. He cares for people and wants nothing more than to save them.”
Eyes closing, Eleos’s father dipped his head. “Then nothing has changed. But so too is he vengeful and bitter.” His hands flexed, and he whirled around. “What about you? You spoke of the Empty. You claimed you felt a call from within.” His eyes narrowed. “But the Maiden Brizo is not of the Empty. She opposes it.”
Shit. Scrambling for an explanation, I stepped back. “I didn’t mean to say-”
“You feel nostalgia? A comfort? A yearning?” He spat. “For ourdemise?”
“No, you misunderstand-”
“This is what led Eleos down the road to heresy. The belief we could wield our greatest foe. But if magic comes from the gods, tell me, what god blesses us with that evil?”
“I don’t wield the Empty.” I raised my voice. “I destroy it.” Steadying my panic, I studied his demeanor, but I couldn’t read him. “What are you telling me all this for?”
“Closure?” He waved his hands idly. “Whatever he’s done, he’s still my son.” The Grand Cleric’s eyes dropped to the floor briefly before rising to meet mine. “The news of your abilities would send a wave of panic through the people. No one is prepared for it.”
“Then let me prove it. Let me show you what I can do.”
“Prove it?” He echoed. “Perhaps I’ll drag you to the Empty and find you powerless. We could condemn you and move on. But what if you succeed? What then?” He pressed a hand to his chest. “What then? I return to tell my people their time has come.”
“But there’s still hope-”
“Hope?” The Grand Cleric laughed bitterly. “Eleos’ favorite word.”
Fear bristled in my heart as his body language became clear to me: he was terrified, and guilt surged beneath that terror.
“You need me to be a heretic,” I whispered.
“I do.” He confirmed. “You care for my son. I see it in your lingering gazes. I can promise his safety if you aid us.” He took my arm. “Go to the Empty. Fail, where you might have succeeded.”
“But won’t that paint Eleos a heretic again?”
“I want nothing more than to redeem my son,” he said sadly. “But to do so would have unimaginable consequences. An escape is all I can offer.”
I backed away from him, noticing shadows looming in the door. A tall woman strode through the archway, red braid dangling down the back of her charcoal coat. “An escape is all we need,” Seraphim said, joining my side. “Tell me, did you bring Aethra here because you hoped the Maiden would give you a sign?”
The Grand Cleric backed into the statue in alarm. A quick expression of shame crossed his face—Seraphim had struck the truth. I almost felt bad for him, knowing he longed for his goddessto confirm he was doing the right thing—a luxury none of us possessed.
“I’m not here to hurt you.” Seraphim lifted a hand. “Assuming you don’t call the guard.”
My racing heart settled beneath Seraphim’s comforting presence. Seth’s warning returned to me—his insistence the clergy would fracture as half sought to kill me. If I could con half as well as my master, I might have the perfect solution for us all.
“I know you. . .” The Grand Cleric pointed at Seraphim. “You’re the exiled Cynthus daughter.”
I interrupted before he could take the thought any further. “The Archon didn’t send us to deliver the Bloodstone. He sent us to stop the Empty’s spread.” I stepped forward. “And if you let us go, you won’t have to deal with the implications of my appearance.”
“Let you go?” He balked. “How-”
“Claim heretics kidnapped me. You want to keep Eleos’ name clean? Say he chased after me, as part of his penance. We can continue on our path to heal this world, and the clergy can unite in their fervor to regain the stone. If we’re lucky? We’ll succeed. And if we don’t?” I paused. “All of us will be dead, and out of your hair.”
