She nodded.
In that moment, Meer appeared in the corner. In her arms, a sagging furry bundle.
“Hero.” Magda crouched before the brownie and the rat as Meer lowered Hero to the floor. His eyes were slits, but at least they were open.
“He woke moments ago,” Meer said.
Magda touched Hero’s head. “Hero, are you all right?”
“No,” he said, even his thoughts were weak, hazy. “But I had to tell you.”
“Tell me what?”
“The voice... it told the nymph to take the Enneahedron.”
“That’s why you bit her?”
“Yes.”
“Do you know why the voice wanted her to take it?” she asked.
His eyes slid shut and his energy waned. “No, I’m sorry.”
Tears burned her eyes. “Don’t be sorry.” She sank down, so her face was close to his. “I’m sorry. This never would’ve happened...”
“I have traveled from the sewers of the Cliffs to the Spire at the heights of the Lands. I have flown and fought and communed with creatures I never dreamt existed. My life has been good, for a rat.”
Her heart ached. “You made it good, Hero.” She ran her finger gently over his head, along the ragged edge of his ear. “I still owe you that mountain of bread,” she whispered.
His eyes slid shut and she could hear the air rasping in his lungs. “Another day.”
“Hero . . .”
His breath rattled and then ceased. The presence of his thoughts slipped away until they were beyond her reach.
Tears dripping off her nose, she leaned over and kissed him on the head, one last time.
Kaelan’s hand rested gently on her shoulder as she sat back on her heels. Even Meer’s normally stern face was drawn and pale.
“What would you like for me to do, Mistress?” Meer asked.
“Take him back to Southterrace,” she said. “If I survive, I’ll take him home and bury him. If not, do it for me. Back in the Eastern Cliffs.”
“Yes, Mistress,” Meer said, lifting Hero again. With a soft swish, they were both gone.
Kaelan thumbed aside the tears from her cheek. “What did he say?”
The snakes of pain writhing in her chest multiplied and thrashed wildly as her blood began to boil. “Honey took the Enneahedron.”
He stared. “But . . . why?”
“The voice told her to do it.”
“But... we have to find her. Call Meer. Tell her to bring Honey here. She has to tell us where it is—”
“It’s too late for that. The Crown has made her decision. Even if I could get the Enneahedron back, I would still have to fight.”
He gripped both sides of her face and pressed his forehead to hers. The silver melted from his eyes until they were burning green again.
