The boy swallowed another bite and nodded solemnly. "Sphinxes." He shuddered. "They have the bodies of lions, the wings of vultures, and the heads of men. They work for Raem, they said, and they're flying all over the north." He stared at the remaining cakes but seemed to have lost his appetite. He shoved the plate away. "We all escaped Requiem. Many of us died. Jeid and Laira flew north to hide but . . . I couldn't join them. I had to find you." He looked at Issari. "I had to tell you, my priestess."

The boy wrapped his arms around Issari and clung to her. She stroked his hair.

"Return to your tent, my sweet boy." Issari kissed Fin's forehead. "Lie down to sleep and do not worry about sphinxes or demons or any other monster. You are safe here in my camp. I'll visit your tent soon to tuck you into your bed."

Fin nodded. He grabbed a few honey cakes, stuffed them into his pockets, and left the tent.

Tanin placed his hands on the table, stared down at the empty plates, and felt as if he'd just eaten raw meat. His belly roiled and bile filled his throat.

"We have to return." He turned to look at Issari. "We must fly north to Requiem."

Seated in her cedar chair, Issari breathed deeply and folded her hands in her lap. She had replaced her harem silks with a white tunic and cloak. A string of coins hung around her brow, chinking as she shook her head.

"How can we return now?" she said. "We flew south to claim the throne of Eteer, to banish demons. Yet the children of demons now fly across the land, and Eteer lies in ruin, the gates of the Abyss open and spewing out evil." She caressed the amulet in her palm. "The people of the south need me—the people of Eteer, of Goshar, of the eleven other city-states of Terra. How can I abandon them?"

"Requiem needs us!" Tanin stepped toward her and clasped her hands. "Do you forget Requiem, our home? That home lies fallen now. Our people are fled, and enemies live in our marble hall. We must return to find Laira, to find Grizzly and Maev, to help them. To help our kingdom."