“It will turn around,” I assured him.
Twobble’s mouth opened, then closed, then opened again. He looked at me, and all the fight drained from him.
“You’re making me leave, too?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
His ears drooped. “I am very displeased.”
“I know.”
“I may sulk for weeks.”
“I expect nothing less.”
He shuffled toward me, and for a second, I thought he might hug my leg. Instead, he shoved something into my hand so quickly I almost missed it.
A tiny pouch.
“Emergency provisions,” he muttered.
I gave a slight nod, and he turned away before I could see his face clearly.
Gideon moved to the path first, scanning it with narrowed eyes. He lifted one hand, mage light flickering along his fingers, and the sconces burned brighter in response.
“It’s open,” he said. “For now.”
“For now,” I repeated quietly.
The Priestess heard me and smiled.
Keegan took Celeste’s hand, though she looked like every step away from me physically hurt her.
“Look at me,” I told her.
She did.
“You keep that pendant on. No matter what.”
She nodded.
“And when you see your grandmother, tell her I’m coming.”
Celeste swallowed. “Which grandmother?”
“Both.”
A tiny, broken smile touched her lips.
Gideon began moving, and Keegan guided Celeste with him, though his gaze kept cutting back to me every few steps. Twobblefollowed behind them with his shoulders stiff and his little hands clenched at his sides.
The path behaved, but I didn’t trust it.
The compound let them pass through the chamber without the floor splitting, without the walls shifting, without shadows snapping from the ceiling to drag them back.
The Priestess stood beside the pit, watching me watch them.
And I realized she enjoyed it.
