I jogged in their direction, buffeted by wind and drops of rain. More footprints appeared in the wet soil, leading toward the wall.
I’d never realized how close Tirnanog stood to the wall. It came into sight, a menacing shadow on the horizon, the barrier between the world governed by Forlaith’s god and the land of shadows where all evil was born.
My heart seized. Why would Liam leave camp and head this way? Why?
A hand wrapped around my wrist. Gasping, I yanked from its grip and pointed my blade at my attacker.
Brighid stood behind me, red hair flying wild. “Your brother has felt this pull since Galasvar. Has it finally claimed him?”
“What?” I lowered Cierthine, confused. “What are you talking about?”
Brighid stepped closer, voice lowering to a hiss. “I have seen your tale, Mare—every moment, since that fateful day during Winter’s Tide. I know who you are. And I have an idea who he is.”
My hand wavered on my blade. That fae—Vaf—he’d shown me a play as real as life. No wonder Brighid had found us at such an odd time—she’d been shown the same thing.
Only the play had been about me.
“What do you mean, pull?” I demanded. “What hasn’t he been telling me?”
“I’m not exactly sure,” she said, marching around me. “But no one survives the Ceorthan Shadowlands. No one.”
The worry spun out of control. It felt like the nest of snakes writhing in my stomach would burst from my skin.
I chased after Brighid, watching with dread as the wall drew closer. And closer. Until it loomed just before us.
And I saw the hole torn through its stone. A crumbled section, like the dragon had torn in Gwynford. In Galasvar.
But this one was silent, empty. A veil of darkness hung where stone had been, shielding whatever lay beyond.
I had to go after him. And when I got my hands on my stupid, delinquent brother, I would wring the answers from him.
Who he was. What was wrong with him? And what did I have to do to keep him safe?
Ifhe were still alive.
The thought echoed in my head.
Never in my life had I considered the possibility of losing my brother. He was all I had, aside from my father. My only friend and companion.
In every interaction, I hid behind a mask, showing the other person only what I thought they wanted to see. No one had seen what hid below.
Saints, not evenIknew who the woman beneath the mask was.
But Liam did. He might be the only one. And I could not lose him.
I took off running toward the wall, heart thudding against my ribcage. My hand slammed into the ancient, cold stone, and I gazed into the darkness.
Brighid caught up to me, peering into the depths at my side. Her ruby eye pierced through the night. “To walk beyond the wall is forbidden. To be summoned by something that lives there?—”
“Is heresy,” I breathed. “If the Solhearts learn . . . ”
“Then we go without telling them,” Brighid said. “And we hope Bláth can lead Reese in the wrong direction.”
I met her eye, but said nothing.
This was it. The moment where my life fell apart, where the darkness claimed me, where my secrets came to light.
“Why would you come with me?” I asked, voice hollow and hushed.
