Until now, my body hadn’t reacted to the horrors of the past several days. I was tired. Bone-weary. But that had been all until the library’s double doors swung open and the smell of paper and leather assaulted me with the force of a solid wall. A tremble shook my knees.
The scent was a bold announcement that I was no longer running through the wilderness, attempting to survive, but back within the Citadel. I fought a wave of lightheadedness.
The reaction was so visceral that Callen, who was seated beside North at the long table, asked, “You good, Fish Eyes?”
North rolled his eyes, and Harthon and Ana spun toward me.
I lingered just inside the doorway. Apparently, I’d stopped moving.
“I’m fine.” Clearing my throat, I tried to appear steadier than I was as I made my way to an empty chair across from Callen.
Harthon’s presence shadowed me until I dropped into the wooden seat. Then he sat to my left, at the head of the table, while Ana placed herself to my right.
Harthon took the time to pour a full cup of water from a waiting pitcher. He wordlessly slid it to me before clasping his hands and beginning. “We currently have two paths forward. Whether Koerlyn is dead or not, the time is ripe to overtake the rest of his Territory before other leadership surfaces, or Theo attempts a move.”
Theo, the Princeps of Second Territory, my home, wasn’t terribly militaristic. But then again, I only knew him as a tax collector.
Harthon continued, “But we know that’s a process that takes time. Our second option is to make for the Domus and claim its resources as soon as possible. We can’t safely or effectively do both at the same time, so we need to determine our priority.”
I eyed the water, mouth drier than flour. But I didn’t move to take it.
I didn’t want Harthon’s handouts.
“The blight affecting our potatoes is only getting worse, and I received reports this past week that it’s spreading to Fifth,” Ana shared, her tone grave. “It’ll take months to restore the farms we’ve had to burn. It’s another reminder that every day the Domus stands, our land and people suffer.”
A severe line appeared between North’s bushy brows. “Accessing the Domus doesn’t mean giving up Koerlyn’s Territory, either. The resources in Centralis give us power, both over the people and other leaders.” His attention turned to me, his gravelly voice dripping with derision. “But of course, that venture could also be time-consuming, depending on how long it takes this one to lead us into those walls.” He cocked his head,sneering. “Do you actually know the path, or are you simply saying that to make up for how you betrayed our Territory and walked yourself into our enemy’s hands?”
“North,” Ana chided.
The shaking in my knees shot straight to my hands, which clenched. How Idespisedthis man. “I told you, I know the path.”
He dropped two beefy arms on the table and leaned forward. “Then tell us where it is.”
“Themagvistook an oath of secrecy. She wasn’t able to tell anyone the path. I can’t either. We’ve already determined that.” Back when they’d first taken me, I’d tried to draw the images themagvishad sent into my mind when she gave me the knowledge. Considering my body hadn’t allowed the quill to move, it was clear themagvis’oath of secrecy had transferred to me.
“You can’t give us exact directions, but you should be able to give us a general idea of where it is. Or, at the very least, which Territory it’s in,” he challenged.
“It’s south of us,” I said, hoping that was enough to appease him.
It wasn’t, because he flung his calloused hands in the air. “South,” he repeated, scoffing. “South as in, within our Territory? Or in Sixth, or First? Are we to just aimlessly wandersouthfrom this very room and see what happens?”
While Iknewthe heated seed within me would guide us to the path, a vague direction was all the information I could articulate for now. If I knew what the rest of our world looked like, I might be able to name a Territory, maybe even put more specific words to where we needed to go. But I’d never seen a map. The only borders and lands I was familiar with were those I’d lived in and recently crossed.
I tried to explain. “The knowledge lives within me. I know it’s there, and it’ll take us where we need to go. But it isn’t a drawn-out course in my head. It’s more of an instinct, and it’s up to meto draw that course out myself and share whatever parts of it I can with you. It would help me to see maps of the Territories.”
At that, North full-out laughed, booming guffaws echoing off the bookshelves, bombarding me with mockery. “So you don’t even have directions yet? You have got to befuckingkidding—”
“North.” One word from Harthon, unforgiving in its severity, speared through the room.
North stopped mid-sentence, angry eyes swinging to Harthon. “Deny it all you want, but you were bloody near frantic when you learned what happened. Skies, you nearly invaded Koerlyn’s Territory without any plan to get her back—because of herownreckless decision—and now, she cannot even do the one thing she’s here to do.”
Harthon had been that worried, that hasty in trying to save me? He was always strategic, always prepared.
It’s only because of the knowledge within you.
Harthon arched a brow. “You’re allowing your anger to twist her words. Sheisgoing to fulfill her purpose here. She needs resources, and we will get her those.”
North opened his mouth, but thinking better of it, he sat back and drilled me with an expression of absolute loathing.
