“No, I’m fine.” I walked to the door and paused. “You said you study the Empty. Did you find something that gave you hope?”
“I wouldn’t be here otherwise.”
“Whatever Seraphim’s plan is, it’s probably going to end in our deaths.”
“Very true.”
“. . .you just don’t seem—”
“The type who joins suicide missions?” He chuckled. “Twice a week, the people gather at church in solemn devotion to the gods. We lead them in prayer, casting their wishes toward Those who wait for us in the beyond. And in exchange for their piety, the Empty encroaches a few inches every day, cutting off land, taking more lives, until inevitably,everythingwill be gone. I figured someone ought to try doing something about it.”
‘Welead them in prayer.’ I pointed at him accusingly. “Youarea priest.”
Face unchanged, still wearing that little half-smile, Eleos turned away. “Goodnight, Lady Aethra.”
Defeated, I walked across the hall to my room. Closing the door behind me, I ran my fingers over the new stitches.
Eleos sounded so passionate, so frustrated. Maybe joining them on a noble cause would be a nice change of pace.
But Seraphim had mentioned recruiting me for my silver tongue and experience in the underworld, which meant. . .
That little heist of theirs was but the first of many crimes to come.
7
Chapter 7
Morning sunlight spilled through the window, a sharp reminder of the poor sleep I’d gotten last night. Seraphim rolled out her map across the inn table, weighing the edges down with bottles of wine. I glanced over it, trying and failing to read the strange shorthand scribbles the woman had riddled the parchment with.
“Here.” Seraphim tapped the main road, a few miles from the outpost.
Percy leaned forward, hat tipping low over his eyes. “What’s there?”
Eleos leaned on the back of my chair. “Serifos’ dungeons: where those who deserve execution are left to languish.”
Percy whistled. “Sounds like it’ll have high security.”
“I’d imagine.”
Seraphim uncorked a bottle and poured herself a glass. “There’s a dangerous chthonic being held there. I want to recruit him.”
Leaning back in my chair, I gazed out the window. The sun had barely risen, and she was already drinking?
Percy chuckled nervously. “You know what they say—one violent chthonic is enough.”
“Come, Percy.” Seraphim tutted. “Two is always better than one. Not every leg of this journey can be solved by bribes andsweet smiles. Should danger come, we’ll need someone to protect the three of you.” She paused to drink. “Unless youdoremember your father’s lessons?”
Percy hastily looked away. “Alright, fine.Twochthonics.”
“Forgive me,” Eleos said gingerly. “But you’re the only chthonic I trust.”
Seraphim flashed him a smile, which did little to reassure him. Folding his arms atop my chair, he cast me a skeptical look.
Dropping my boots onto the floor, I leaned forward. “I thought you were going to share the whole plan.”
Tapping the map, Seraphim drew a line between Serifos and Cynthus. “After we have the full team, the rest is simple. We travel, keeping a low profile until we arrive in Cynthus. The lords there are very strict about preventing entry into Duath Nun—they guard their borders like hawks, and we won’t slip by without permission.”
I nodded. “You want me to convince them to let us through?”
