She and Icelus were too close—hit him, and I’d strike her. Aiming instead for the ground by their feet, I summoned a surge of hope—hope that maybe I could help these people. That I could save Phaedrus from himself.
Silence blanketed the world, and Icelus looked up in fear. The next moment, a crevasse cracked through the road, creating a narrow chasm at his feet. The splintering rock sounded like a powerful drum beat after the unnatural stillness.
Gasping, Icelus dropped the woman and staggered away. Grabbing her arm, I whirled her around and pushed. “Go!” I shouted.
Heeding my order, she stumbled in Phaedrus’ direction, disappearing into the smoke.
I intended to follow. To run. But I looked back.
Icelus’ silver eyes widened when he saw my face. I froze.
My body wouldn’t move, my mind wouldn’t think. I was back in the Duat, lying on the floor with his boot on my shoulder, the metal toe digging into my stab wound. Another blade plunged into my opposite arm, over and over.
Stumbling, I grabbed my throbbing shoulder. Icelus stalked toward me and grabbed my throat, fingers digging into my skin.
The visions cleared, and I found myself face-to-face with my torturer.
“I knew it,” Icelus whispered. “You areexactlywho I believed you to be.”
In the jumbled panic of my thoughts, I managed to think a single word.
“Seth!”
19
Eleos
Icouldn’t deny the jealousy plastered on Seth’s face was satisfying. Misplaced, but satisfying nonetheless.
Good. Let him squirm. A brother, lover, and friend all filled different roles in a woman’s life. He and I were no different—and not in competition. But this envy might make him realize he needed to grovel at Lady Aethra’s feet before she’d forgive him.
“What are you up to?” Percy’s voice jarred me from my thoughts.
I turned to see him peering at me through his ceremonial hood, where patterned cloth painted a mask across his face, casting a shadow over his gray eyes.
“You look smug about something,” he continued.
“I’m just thinking,” I denied, looking up at the Great Pyramid.
Fascinating. The Merchant Isles didn’t have any architecture like this. Jogging to catch up with Seth’s irritated gait, I fell into stride with him. “You said this city once belonged to another country?”
“Yes,” Seth said, glancing at me. “It fell to the Empty, before it stoppedspreading.”
“Does much of their culture remain?”
“Sadly, no. My father had most of their customs scoured and replaced with our own. My mother remembered, of course, but one voice cannot carry it alone.” He looked down. “And she far outlived her people.”
Disappointed, I turned back to the pyramid. There was no time to go searching for clues to the lost past—we had more important work to do.
Maybe we’d survive, the Empty would recede, and the lost truths would be laid bare.
A little library . . . I could cultivate old knowledge, and Aethra could tend a garden of flowers. She deserved someone who could love her properly, but . . .
It was a nice dream.
Adjusting his mantle, Percy skidded in front of us and started walking backward. “Remember—visitors come topray. Try to look pious.”
“I know Perse.” Seth rolled his eyes. “Ilivehere.”
