Afterward, the prince asked, What can we do? Even if hes as contrite as he says, the Shadowmasters have a hold we cant break. I dont want to kill him but he is a wizard. We couldnt keep him locked up.

He can stay locked up in his mind. Youd have to force-feed him and clean him like a baby but I can put him back into the coma.

Will he heal?

His body should. I cant do anything about what the devil did to his soul. Smokes past cowardice looked like outrageous courage now.

Do it. Well deal with him when theres time.

Croaker did it.

Chapter Fifty-Six

Chapter Fifty-Six

Shadowspinners shadows remained blind to my whereabouts. He did not seem able to adjust. And his bats were useless. Were in fact extinct in that part of the world where my band stole through the night.

I signalled a halt a mile from where my scouts said Spinner had established his camp. We had come a long way in a short time. We needed rest.

Narayan settled beside me. He plucked at his rumel, whispered, Mistress, Im of a divided mind. Most of me really believes the goddess wants me to do this, that it will be the greatest thing Ive ever done for her.

But?

Im scared.

You make that sound shameful.

I havent been this frightened since my first time.

This isnt your ordinary victim. The stakes are higher than youre used to.

I know. And knowing wakens doubts of my ability, of my worthiness... even of my goddess. He seemed ashamed to admit that, too. She is the greatest Deceiver of all, Mistress. It amuses her sometimes to mislead her own. And, while this is a great and necessary deed, even I, who was never a priest, notice that the omens have not been favorable.

Oh? I had noticed no omens, good or bad.

The crows, Mistress. They havent been with us tonight.

I had not noticed. I had grown that accustomed to them. I assumed they were there whether I saw them or not. He was right. There were no crows anywhere.

That meant something. Probably something important. I could not imagine their master allowing me freedom from observation for even a minute. And their absence was not my doing. And I doubted it was Shadowspinners.

I hadnt noticed, Narayan. Thats interesting. Personally, its the best omen Ive seen in months.

He frowned at me.

Worry not, my friend. Youre Narayan, the living legend. The saint-to-be. Youll do fine. I shifted from cant to standard Taglian. Blade. Swan. Ready?

Lead on, my lovely, Swan said. Ill follow you anywhere. The more stressed he became the more flip he was.