The healer shakes his head, briefly meets my eyes. “There’s someone who’s probably worried sick about me.”
I smile, feeling almost shy. How can I possibly hate him? If I hadn’t been wading through sludge searching for the wrong thing, I could’ve had something better. A life of my own, being what I was called to be. Something truer to who I am. When Luna and I shared the same breath, I realized that I was meant for something great—just not a throne or a kingdom that already has a worthy ruler.
My decision rings true: I am a seer.
“Kusi,” I say, and he raises a brow. “You’re the leader of the Illari now.”
His expression made of stone and hard earth never falters. He nods.
“Umaq mentioned he’d been working with the king of Palma, promising him gold from the lost city of Paititi. Luna shared a vision with me—one day Palma will invade Inkasisa, searching for your home. They’ll destroy everything in their path.”
“This will happen?” Rumi asks, his voice hoarse.
I nod. “One day.”
“What must we do?” Kusi asks, a muscle in his jaw ticking.
“When the time comes, we must all work together to save Inkasisa.”
Kusi studies me silently. “I will fight alongside you, sister.”
“There’s one more thing,” I say shyly. “Sonco said that I was welcome to stay here. I don’t want to assume—”
The new king of the Illari places a firm hand on mine. “Sister, stay as long as you like.”
My gaze flickers to Manuel. He winks at me and then asks the Illari leader, “Does that include me as well?”
“If it must,” Kusi says dryly.
Rumi stands, wiping his pants of any crumbs. He’s grown paler and thinner since that day when he’d left me to fend for myself. I’d been angry and scared, filled with resentment and bitterness. But now, looking at him, I feel only concern. “You should have another egg. Or three.”
“I need to get going.” He hesitates and then blurts out, “Would you like me to take a message to her?”
I set aside my clay cup and plate and slowly stand. “I’d like to come with you. If you’ll let me.”
“You’re leaving?” Kusi asks. “I thought you were staying.”
“I will come back, but there’s something I have to do first.” I gaze out the window, in the direction of where I think La Ciudad lies. Manuel eyes me shrewdly and chuckles quietly to himself. He turns me around, ticking my arm to another window.
“It’s this way to Ximena.”
EPILOGUE
Three Weeks Later
The castillo looms ahead, at once familiar and terrifying. Blindingly white and austere. Memories flood my mind—of playing with my father in the main courtyard, running around and getting the hem of my skirt filthy. I’d been royalty then, someone respected because of the family I’d been born into. And now I arrive without a title, without family. But with friends, and an ability to read the stars.
More than enough for me.
The tall iron gates stand before our small party, forbidding entry. No visitors unless approved or invited. This is a terrible idea. She won’t want to see me—I didn’t even say goodbye. If I remember walking away from her, she certainly will.
I could have said goodbye.
Manuel leans forward, tightening his hold around my waist. “It’ll be fine. I promise.” He digs his heels into the horse’s side, and we gallop forward until we’re a few feet away from the great walls.
Several guards dressed in bold red tunics peer down at our upturned faces. “State your name,” one of them calls down.
Rumi lets out a sharp whistle, high and then low. The minute they see the healer, they give a great cheer, and the iron bars groan as they lift, one slow inch at a time. The sound of the chain rattling disturbs the quiet, and I concentrate on that instead of on my racing heart, battering my ribs.
