‘Zeban went to find it. Others have gone before him, too, seeking the other place. And I think … if we run, Styerra, we can find it, too.’
He was speaking of the Acolyte.
Hehad to be.
‘You’re scaring me,’ Styerra said. ‘What you speak of, Erath … it’s betrayal. It’s madness.’
For a second, he looked angry.
‘I love you,’ Erath whispered. ‘I would never lead you astray, Styerra. I would never lead you into darkness, unless I was certain it was the only way for us to be together.’ He looked at the ring on his finger. ‘I’ve been matched.’
Styerra gasped.
‘I got the news last night. The Masters say the gods have matched me with another Realmist. I’ll have to join with her, Styerra. To … lie with her.’
Ezer’s stomach twisted.
‘They say I must carry on the lineage. The magic. They say it is my duty to the gods to mate with her, and—’ He closed his eyes, and a tear rolled down his cheek. ‘And what we have will be over.’
Styerra began to cry.
Gently, she lowered herself to the ground, like the news of his matching stole all her strength away.
‘I have three days before I make the Descent,’ Erath said. ‘They’ll send me to complete the matching that night.’ He set the book before her. ‘Will you read it? For me? For us?’
‘There’s nothing to read,’ she pleaded with him. ‘There’s nothing to?—’
‘Not yet,’ he said. ‘But there will be, if you believe.’
Ezer wished she could tell her mother not to read the book, that Erath was speaking of the Acolyte and he didn’t even know it.
He was leading them somewhere dark.
He was leading them right towards Lordach’s end.
But Styerra took the book.
‘I will try,’ she said.
Erath kissed her, relieved. ‘I know you’ll see. We’re meant for each other, Styerra. I will not give my heart to another.’ He kissed her on the forehead, even as another tear rolled down her cheek. ‘We’ll meet right after my Descent. I’ll be in the Aviary, with Veren saddled and ready. Meet me there. We’ll leave together to find freedom. And we’ll never look back.’
He kissed her one last time before he turned andwalked away.
Styerra wiped her tears. Then she stood, on trembling legs, and opened her cloak to hide the black book inside.
Ezer gasped.
Because there, just barely, was the beginning of a small bump.
A baby.
And Erath …
He didn’t know.
Styerra ran her hands across it, cradling it gently, lovingly. Then she turned and walked away.
If she’d glanced back only once, she would have seen the figure that now peered out from behind a bookshelf. As if they’d been there the whole time, watching. Listening to Erath’s every word.
