“So that’s where we’re going?” Hector asked.

“We aren’t doing anything,” Anton replied. “I’m going. And Beru’s coming with me.”

Hassan knew that meant Jude and Ephyra would both be going, too.

“But none of the rest of you need to come along,” Anton went on. “The Wanderer is taking this ship to meet up with some other members of the Lost Rose. They’re going to try to track down wherever Pallas hid the Relics in case—well, just in case.”

In case they failed.

The Relics weren’t a real solution to stopping the god, but they could be used to seal the god again, buying them time. Time for what, Hassan didn’t know.

“If all goes well, the Wanderer will meet back up with us at a Lost Rose safe house on the other side of the valley, at the foot of the Unspoken Mountains,” Anton continued. “The rest of you can choose to stay on the ship, and she’ll take you to find shelter at another Lost Rose location.”

Anton’s gaze flicked to Evander. Of all of them, the merchant’s son had the least amount to do with this.

Hassan avoided looking at Khepri. He didn’t know what arrangements, if any, she’d made with the Wanderer to return to Nazirah. Selfishly, he wanted her with him. Even after they’d hurt each other, he still didn’t want to let her go. But she had made her intentions clear on the ship. He wouldn’t stand in her way, even if the thought of being separated again made him want to get on his knees and beg her to stay.

Hector cleared his throat, shooting Beru a furtive look. “Jude’s obviously going with you, Anton, so I will, too.”

“Me too,” Hassan said firmly. “I’m part of this. I’m with you, whatever it takes. We were brought together for a reason, weren’t we?”

“I’m coming, too,” another voice said from the open doorway.

Hassan turned and found Anton’s brother in the threshold.

“No,” Anton said. “We don’t have room on this quest for evil brothers who work for the Hierophant. Sorry.”

Hassan still wasn’t sure what to make of Illya Aliyev. He’d seen him turn on the Hierophant, and then turn back. And yet he was the reason, really, they’d all made it out of the citadel alive.

It didn’t necessarily mean they could trust him. Anton certainly didn’t.

“My help was certainly good enough when you needed me to rescue your swordsman,” Illya replied haughtily. “I may have worked for the Hierophant briefly, but I turned on him. He had me executed! If that doesn’t prove that we’ve cut ties, then—”

Anton’s jaw clenched. “You’re not coming.”