There was also the question of whether these summons would cost them anything. Emperors and empresses had to give up a year of their life every time they called upon Sola. Would Vespre demand something like that, too? It was impossible to know, since gods didn’t usually appear to humans outside of the imperial family.

But if the god of night does require something, it will be worth it, Sora thought. Because if they couldn’t reach Vespre, there was no hope for the four of them and Kichona anway.

Sora and Broomstick did what they could to prepare a templelike space, clearing the ground in the chestnut grove and setting up a makeshift temple, with rolled-up sleeping mats as kneeling cushions and twigs to light in place of incense.

When Daemon and Fairy returned, Sora didn’t need to look at them to know something had happened up there in the trees. Daemon had shut his mental ramparts, and Broomstick said Fairy had, too.

It’s a good thing, Sora thought, although as before, it took work to convince herself. Fairy had been able to help Daemon when Sora couldn’t. I shouldn’t be upset about that.

And really, Sora wasn’t mad at Fairy at all. She just wished she was in Fairy’s place.

But since she wasn’t, Sora forced a smile as they approached.

“Welcome back,” she said, holding out a handful of twigs. “Here.”

“What are these?” Daemon asked.

“Incense sticks. Sort of. When one twig burns down, light another, and keep the entreaties constant,” Sora said.

He and Fairy each took a bundle.

“This is already kind of a gamble,” Sora said, “so I think we should all focus on our strengths to maximize the chance that Vespre will not only hear us but actually respond.”

“What do you mean?” Fairy asked.

Sora pointed at Broomstick, who was finishing up stacking a huge pile of sticks. “Broomstick is Mr. Charisma, so he’s going to pray with the equivalent of his blinding smile. Instead of boring entreaties, he should appeal to Vespre’s fascination with humans, like inviting him to hang out on earth.”

Daemon twisted his mouth. “We’re trying to be drinking buddies with my father?”

“If he brings me the alcohol of the gods,” Broomstick hollered from the other side of the chestnut grove, “I’ll not only be his drinking buddy, I’ll be his best friend.”

“I thought the myths only mention Vespre’s interest in earth’s female population,” Daemon said.

“That’s it!” Fairy’s eyes lit up. “I’m good with guys. I’ll try to tempt Vespre to visit us.”

“Absolutely not!” Daemon said.

“Ew, not like that!” Fairy waved him off. “I just meant that I’m good at getting boys to do things for me, like grabbing the best knives when a new weapons shipment comes in or saving me a good seat in class.”

Daemon crossed his arms.