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Back Into the Dying Light Save as PDF
Chapters (72)
  1. Copyright Notice
  2. Dedication
  3. I
  4. 1
  5. 2
  6. 3
  7. 4
  8. 5
  9. BEFORE
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. BEFORE
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
  17. 12
  18. 13
  19. BEFORE
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. BEFORE
  25. II
  26. 18
  27. 19
  28. 20
  29. 21
  30. 22
  31. 23
  32. 24
  33. 25
  34. 26
  35. 27
  36. 28
  37. 29
  38. 30
  39. 31
  40. 32
  41. III
  42. 33
  43. 34
  44. 35
  45. 36
  46. 37
  47. 38
  48. 39
  49. 40
  50. 41
  51. IV
  52. 42
  53. 43
  54. 44
  55. 45
  56. 46
  57. 47
  58. 48
  59. 49
  60. 50
  61. 51
  62. 52
  63. 53
  64. 54
  65. 55
  66. 56
  67. 57
  68. 58
  69. AFTER
  70. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  71. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  72. Newsletter Sign-up

But Ephyra had meant what she’d said back in Pallas Athos—she wouldn’t give up on Beru. Even if she didn’t know what was happening to her.

Beru turned away, but before Ephyra could figure out what to say, her attention was drawn to the others, who were gathered in a tight knot near Jude and Anton’s tent, deep in discussion. Anton was running a hand through his hair, Jude close at his elbow. On his other side, Hector’s arms were crossed over his chest, face pulled into a deep frown. Hassan was speaking rapidly, his expression strained with worry.

Beru moved toward them, Ephyra at her heels.

“What’s going on?” Ephyra asked.

Jude glanced at them as they approached.

But it was Anton who answered. “I’ve been feeling the same esha for a few days now. Following us. Maybe tracking us.”

“Witnesses?” Ephyra asked.

“I think so,” Anton replied. “One of them felt familiar. I think it’s the Witness with the Godfire scars.”

Lazaros. Ephyra felt a chill. He had been Beru’s constant shadow for over two months, always staring at her with those oddly clear gray eyes.

“How far away are they?” Ephyra asked.

“Maybe a day?” Anton replied.

“Well, great,” Hector said to Ephyra. “If anyone saw you at the Galanis manor, the Witnesses are going to quickly make the connection. And since it sounds like Dracon Galanis was pretty friendly with the Witnesses in his town…”

“I was careful,” Ephyra protested.

“You were reckless.”

“Enough, both of you,” Beru said, with uncharacteristic rancor. “I can’t stand you two arguing all the time.”

Hector gave Beru a bewildered look, and then caught Ephyra’s eye. For once, he wasn’t glaring. He looked worried.

“It doesn’t matter how the Witnesses tracked us down again,” Jude broke in. “We’ll just have to take precautions. We’ll move out as soon as possible and double up on watches tonight.”

The others started moving at Jude’s command, but Ephyra held Hector’s gaze. She knew exactly what he was worried about because she was thinking the same thing. The others might not have noticed—at least not yet. But Ephyra and Hector understood Beru well enough to know when something was wrong.

And something was definitely wrong.

26

BERU

“No, that was my card!” Ephyra lamented as Hassan picked up the six of crowns.

Beru tried to muster a smile. Their nightly game of canbarra had become a ritual, although tonight Beru sensed that everyone was more on edge than usual. After three days, they still hadn’t shaken the Witnesses on their tail. Every morning, Anton returned from scrying pale-faced and worried. Lazaros and the other Witnesses were only getting closer.