“You will cast these at the King’s feet,” said the girl in black. “And sometimes you will wear them. The King and all the citizens of Charis will be forever reminded of your faithful service. You will remember the meaning of every stone, and so will he. Elyon’s book says, ‘A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the King and honored his name.’ All your works are recorded here—every cup of cold water given in his name.”

I looked at the stones on my grate, not yet fashioned into a crown. In each of them I saw animated images. I saw in a diamond the moment I first met Gordy in the makeshift jail. I saw in silver the dark, cold day I stood up to David on the mountainside and protected Malaiki. In one very large ruby I saw myself caring for Cliff. But something was very strange—Cliff looked different now. His smoked-glass eyes burned into me, the scars on his hands … and feet.

“The Woodsman,” I said, voice trembling. “Cliff was the Woodsman? The King?”

“Yes,” Marcus said. “The King is not gone, you know. He walks the planet, disguised as the needy.”

I stared at him.

“Do not think it so strange. I sometimes do the same thing myself.”

Dumbfounded, I looked back at the other gems. In one I protected Shad from being beaten by the mob that killed Quon. In another, on the perilous ledge of Mount Peirasmos, I told Shaun about the King.

In the other stones I saw many different things, some I’d completely forgotten. Several gems contained images of things done while I was alone, including prayers to the King.

“But no one was even there,” I said.

“I was there,” said Marcus. “And the King is always there.”

“There’s no such thing as a private moment,” said the girl in black. When I’d heard that before, it had terrified me. Now it thrilled me.

“I have no stones,” Victoria said to the messenger, her voice breaking. “Can I not enter the city?”

“Entrance to the city is the King’s gift,” she said. “He paid your full admission and you accepted his gift. Therefore you may enter freely.” She paused and looked at Victoria curiously. “It is sad, though, is it not, that you bring nothing to him?”

“Sad,” Victoria mumbled, her eyes drooping. “Yes, very sad.”

I remembered then the words spoken by the girl in black when she first told us to pick up stones by night. “In the morning, you will be both glad and sad.”

The long night was over, and morning was here at last. I looked at the stones I’d picked up, knowing they were my tribute to the King. Seeing them, I’d never felt so glad.

Then I thought about all the stones within my reach, all those I could have picked up but didn’t.