* * *
Vi opened her eyes to the eerie skeletal trees of the Twilight Forest and took a deep breath.
“Are you all right?” Sarphos asked from her side, releasing her hand.
“Yes. It’s easier to pass through the shift if I keep my eyes closed and hold my breath. Much less jarring that way.”
“Interesting,” he murmured. “I’ve never passed through a shift with a non-morphi before now.”
“Glad I could be your experiment.” She tried to keep her voice easy. “I see you got us closer this time.”
“Now that I know where it is, I can come here directly.”
Vi wondered if she should interpret the statement as a thinly veiled threat—that he could lead anyone here in an instant.
“Saves us time.” Vi stepped ahead, crossed the stream. Without another word, she side-stepped through the narrow opening of the cave.
“Vi?” Taavin called out. This time, his voice didn’t come from the ground, but directly across from her. The glowing stone Sarphos had left the last time illuminated him faintly as he breathed a sigh of relief. “I thought I heard your voice.”
“Sarphos is here too.” Vi gave him a quick once-over. His eyes were attentive and bright, the luster had returned to his skin and his muscles seemed better defined. Even Taavin’s hair looked clean. Whatever Sarphos had given him had truly worked wonders overnight.
Her relief was light and palpable, but only until Sarphos entered, and the atmosphere in the close space suddenly grew heavy.
“Sarphos.” Taavin gave him a wary look.
“Voice,” Sarphos responded just as curtly.
Silence, long and strained, stretched between them. Vi waited, holding her breath. Of course meeting Taavin when he was healthy—healthier—would be different for Sarphos than helping a dying man.
“Shall we just get on with it?” Vi broke the silence, and their staring battle. The less the two interacted, the better. Sarphos was already in too deep to back out now, and he knew it. Taavin still needed his help, and he knew it. At least, she hoped they’d both arrived at the same conclusions.
“Very well.” Sarphos’s tone took on a more detached and clerical nature as he set down the bundle of clothes he’d brought and stepped forward.
For his part, Taavin said nothing, holding out his arms and waiting. Sarphos poked, prodded, and pulsed his magic over Taavin. Vi folded and unfolded her hands before her. Her whole body was tense, every muscle trembling just beneath the surface, though she didn’t entirely know why.
Was it because she was nervous either Taavin or Sarphos would snap, attacking the other? Was it worry that Sarphos would find something terribly wrong? Or was it because of what Arwin had said about Taavin and the Faithful earlier?
“Right, then… the healing so far looks good. There’s still quite a bit of infection so I have a few draughts I’d like to make you.” Sarphos stepped back toward the opening. “Give me a minute or five?”
“Take your time.” Vi caught his eyes, trying to silently stress the words. Sarphos may have picked up on her meaning, giving her the slightest of nods before pushing back toward the entrance.
“You’re certain we can trust him?” Taavin asked.
“Yes.” Vi leaned against the wall behind her by the opening so she could listen for Sarphos’s return. “If he was going to hurt either of us, he would’ve by now. If he was going to out us, he could’ve—I’ve tried to keep an eye on him, but I’ve hardly been with him every waking moment. No one in the Twilight Kingdom knows he’s smuggling me out or helping you.”
“It’s just… the morphi…” Taavin rubbed the back of his neck, staring at where Sarphos departed. “They don’t take kindly to Faithful.”
“So I hear.”
Taavin’s arm dropped to his side. “I’d imagine… What exactly have you heard?”
“I’ve heard that the morphi have been sequestered—forced to hide behind the shift, to fight for their lives to have a mere place on this land.” Vi took a step forward. “I’ve heard how the Faithful will slaughter them just to make a point. I’ve heard of the brutality of the Lord of the Faithful—that his bloodlust is impossible to sate. I’ve heard he murders innocents on nothing more than superstitions regarding their magicks.” She was standing toe to toe with him, heart racing, struggling to keep her voice and her emotions in check. Yet when she spoke next, her voice had dropped to a whisper. “And I’ve heard that all of these atrocities come to pass at your command.”
Taavin’s eyes searched her face as Vi searched his. She held her breath, waiting for a reaction of any kind. But he gave her none.
“Tell me…” She reached up, grabbing Taavin’s coat. “Tell me they’re lying. Tell me the Faithful of Yargen aren’t butchers hiding under the skirts of their goddess, using fear to justify their wicked actions.”
Taavin said nothing. He continued to stare with those terribly beautiful green eyes. Vi shook him, anger rising in her once more. She was helpless against its rolling tide.
