“He broke the Four-Petal Seal,” Anton said.

“Yes,” Pallas said. “And while Vasili’s endeavors drove him mad, they also succeeded in doing what he had planned—they brought an end to our power as Prophets. The return of the god meant the end of our foresight. The last prophecy came to us the moment Vasili cracked the Four-Petal Seal.”

Beside Beru, Illya tensed at the mention of his ancestor. He slid his gaze to her, his expression grim.

“The other Prophets saw it as a disaster,” Pallas continued. “They hid themselves away, plotting to undo what Vasili had done. But I saw it for what it truly was—an opportunity. I had never wanted the Wanderer and her followers to seal up the god’s esha. I wanted to wield it. With the Four-Petal Seal finally cracked, I sought to open the floodgates and take the god’s esha to restore us to our power. So that we might guide the world again.”

HE WANTED TO TWIST MY POWER TO HIS PURPOSES, the god said. I SEE NOW THAT HE WAS NEVER WORTHY OF DELIVERING MY MESSAGE—NO HUMAN CAN BE, FOR YOU ARE ALL SELFISH AND HUNGRY CREATURES. HE THOUGHT HE COULD BECOME LIKE ME, A TRULY DIVINE BEING, BUT HE WILL ALWAYS BE CORRUPTED BY THE WEAKNESSES OF YOUR KIND.

“The other Prophets feared my plan, but theirs was destined to fail,” Pallas went on. “So I killed them. It broke my heart, but it had to be done. I could not let them stop me from saving the world from the Age of Darkness. And now, I’m afraid I cannot let you stop me, either.”

HE IS LYING, the god boomed in Beru’s mind. I CAN SEE INTO HIS HEART AND I KNOW THAT HE IS LYING. HE KILLED THE OTHERS BECAUSE THEY THREATENED HIS POWER AND NOTHING MORE.

“So,” Pallas said, his gaze zeroing in on Beru. “Beru of Medea. Return to my service and I will let the rest of your friends live.”

Beru froze under Pallas’s bright blue gaze. Paladin emerged from behind the other monoliths, closing in.

Hector, Khepri, Jude, and Hassan shifted their positions, surrounding the others against the advancing Paladin. Beru stood at the epicenter with Anton, Ephyra, and Illya.

They were outnumbered by Witnesses and Paladin four to one.

“Very well,” Pallas said to Beru’s silence.

Before Beru could react, the Witnesses attacked, rushing forward with inhuman speed.

Jude unsheathed his sword. Wind and leaves whipped around him, swept up by the force of his Grace. To their left and right, Paladin closed in on Khepri and Hassan. And behind Beru, Hector fought off even more of them. The ringing of clashing swords and cries of pain filled the air, and in the chaos Beru could only hope that none of her friends were the ones being wounded.

“We need to get her out of here,” Illya said to Ephyra.