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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

“That’s a risk,” Anton agreed. “But this is the only idea I have. You don’t have to do this with me. When we get to Pallas Athos, you can wait on the ship. If it comes to it, I know you don’t want to risk facing Pallas.”

The Wanderer looked away, gazing out at the black sea surrounding them. “Do you really think me such a coward?” There was no bite to the question, no recrimination. She sounded like she wanted an honest answer.

“No,” Anton said. “But you showed me what he did to you. And if it were me, I’d do everything I could to stay away from him.”

“If it comes to it,” she said. “I am not afraid. Perhaps it’s finally time I face him again.”

BEFORE

“How did you find us?”

Pallas the Faithful stood before Ananke, on the threshold of a hut at the edge of the world.

“It was not easy,” he said. “It took nearly all my strength.”

And indeed, he looked frail.

“May I come in?”

Ananke didn’t move.

“I am not here to hurt you,” Pallas said. “Nor your beloved.”

“Then why did you come?”

“To offer an apology,” Pallas said.

“I don’t believe you.”

Pallas sighed. “I am sure you have seen the destruction the god has wrought on the world since your defiance.”

“Of course I have seen it,” Ananke said. “Every night when I close my eyes, I see it.”

“The blame does not fall solely on your shoulders, Ananke,” Pallas said. “I was the one who chose Temara as a sacrifice. I wanted to test your faith, and I should have known that you would fail.”

“If that is what you came here to say, leave now,” Ananke said. “You claim you know about faith, but you have none. You were the first of the Creator’s Prophets, but you weren’t enough, were you? The Holy One had to create six more, to make up for your failure. And now you show up here, preaching to me about faith?”

Pallas stared at her, his bright blue eyes penetrating. “Perhaps coming here was a mistake.”

“Perhaps it was,” Ananke agreed, moving to close the door on him.

“I was wrong to test your faith by telling you to sacrifice Temara,” Pallas said, stopping the door.

There was something about his tone that made her pause.

“I have had much time to think on what you did,” Pallas continued. “Why you did it. And I wonder—Would a just god demand a sacrifice in the first place? If the Creator made us with love in our hearts, why then ask us to betray that love?”

“I have never believed the Creator to be just,” Ananke replied.

“Then perhaps it is time the world has just rulers,” Pallas said. “Faithful rulers. Wise rulers. Merciful rulers. Brave rulers.”

“What are you saying?” Ananke asked.

“That we need your help, Ananke.”

8

HASSAN