But Ged was leaning against the wall, clutching his bloody forearm. “The enemy already knew our location,” he said through clenched teeth. “Didn’t see the point in mutilating ourselves before abattle.And how were we supposed to know—” He took a breath. Though he tried to hide it, he too was shaken. “Fucking thing’s out now.”
“Leave it here,” Jacen told him. “Tell the others to do the same. It might add to the impression we’re staying here, conceal our real plan.” “You didn’t give it all up, did you?” Ged demanded of him. “What happened in there?”
“The gods know nothing of the plan,” Jacen snapped. He prayed this was true. It had to be. “But Hesaya had a stroke. Ogden’s dead.”
“So, that was a waste,” Ged said. “And we lost another telepath.”
Jacen shook his head. “It wasn’t a waste.” Ged didn’t appear to believe him, but he was not the one who needed to.
Jacen turned to Neri, still motionless on the prison threshold. No time to wonder how much he’d overheard. Jacen bowed his head. “Var Naxal.”
Neri said quietly, “To Zal Fel.”
“You heard him,” Ged roared, much louder. “To the Gate!”
Jacen ushered them onward. As Disciples tried to carry out Ogden’s corpse, Jacen called, “Leave him. We’ll bury our dead when we’ve won.” He nodded to them and to the others who remained to guard Seth. “All of you, go. It’s not safe for you here.”
The Disciples didn’t need telling twice. They obeyed Jacen without question.
Only Nines remained, on her knees near Ogden’s body, arms wrapped tight around herself. Behind them, Seth hung limp in his chains. It made Jacen’s heart seize to look at him, so he tried not to.
“I’m sorry.” Tears still coursed down Nines’ cheeks. “I thought she wouldn’t be a threat in Seth’s body. I was wrong.”
“No.” Jacen knelt across from her. “You weren’t.”
“But she used offensive telepathic powers. She—shekilled?—”
“Turildid nothing,” said Jacen. “Not alone. She was the conduit for Tharanoth’s power.” He spoke quickly, laying it out as he’d seen it. “Turil is largely powerless inside Seth—you were right about that—but Tharanoth’s host is still a telepath. Ileth’s, too. The two of them forged a channel to Turil, wielding their combined power—that’s why it was so strong. Turil was just an anchor, showing them where to target.” Whether that link was some inherent property of archdemons or something unique to the Six gods, Jacen wasn’t certain. But he knew this much: “She could reach out to them from Seth butonlyto them.” He paused, giving Nines time to process. “While Tharanoth and Ileth dothis, it’s as if they’re in a trance. I saw them. They’re pinned down.”
Nines’ lips parted. Her eyes narrowed.
“If we can bait them into doing that again,” Jacen said, “our warriors on the station might complete their mission without interference. They could get Neri close enough to finish this without a fight. Now that we know the other gods can use their powers through Turil, we can plan accordingly and defend ourselves.”
“You want to doanotherexorcism?”
“Not exactly.” Jacen hesitated. “I think I can find that tether again. It lets me speak directly to Tharanoth. I don’t have to beat them—I only have to keep them in that trance long enough forNerito beat them.”
Nines stared at him. “You need me. That’s why you’re telling me this.” “I’m so sorry, but after Hesaya?—”
“I’m all that’s left.”
“Yes,” Jacen said, even as guilt ate at him. He glanced back at Seth. “We’ll have to bring him through the Gate first, with Urien, Neri, and me. Urien is Firstborn, so his people will trust him more readily, and . . . this wouldn’t be the first time I’ve betrayed my own. You’re my novitiate. We’ll say I persuaded you.”
“I’m not a good liar,” Nines stammered.
“You don’t have to be,” said Jacen. “I’ll do the talking. You focus onnothingbut keeping Seth sedated. Monitor his mind, make sure he stays oblivious to his surroundings. I think Turil needs time to contact Tharanoth and Ileth. She also needs her host to be clearheaded and focused—or else she would have used their power during the fight at the Gate, or contacted them while Seth was unconscious. If she can’t reach the other gods, she can’t warn them.”
But Nines was terrified, so he added, “These parasites . . . they depend on their hosts for everything. We can beat them. You were right, and what happened here was not your fault.”
Nines stared at the sand as though she meant to count every grain. “I don’t want to hurt anyone again. Not even someone like Mother Akkani.”
“I won’t ask you to fight,” Jacen said. “You have my word.” “All right.” Nines bit her lip. “I’ll help.”
Jacen stood and offered her a hand. She took it. But as he pulled her to her feet, she asked, “How did you figure this out?” She hesitated. “I think I’m stronger than you. And I didn’t sense anything like you described.”
“Right.” Jacen blew out a breath. “You’re not . . . incorrect. But I have twenty years of experience on you. Some things, I’ve just learned to notice.”
It was one of the worst lies he’d ever told. Nines seemed almost insulted.
