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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

Hector’s hand tightened a minuscule amount on Hassan’s shirt. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea, sir.”

Hassan’s pulse hammered in his throat as the Sentry eyed Hector. Did he suspect that he wasn’t who he said he was?

“You and I both know that the Prophet will want to hear exactly how I found him,” Hector continued. “I wouldn’t want to get caught trying to deceive him, would you?”

The older Sentry narrowed his eyes at them. “What’s your name, cadet?”

“Kostas, sir,” Hector replied without missing a beat.

The older Sentry nodded. “You’re a very good cadet, Kostas. Trustworthy. Smart. It was very fortunate you were able to capture the prince under my orders.”

He held Hector’s gaze, and Hector nodded hesitantly, catching on. “Very fortunate, sir.”

Hassan resisted the urge to roll his eyes, relief coursing through him. The Sentry wasn’t suspicious at all—he just wanted credit.

Stavros appeared at the gate again, racing toward them. By the time he reached them, he was panting.

“Sir,” he said, addressing the older Sentry. “The Prophet has requested that the prince be brought to him immediately. He said—” He cut himself off for a moment, his eyes darting to Hassan nervously. “He said they’re about to begin the execution. And there’s time for one more.”

Hassan resisted the instinct to catch Hector’s gaze, cold dread seeping through him. They’d banked on the fact that the Hierophant would want Hassan brought directly to him. But an execution? That wasn’t part of the plan.

“Well?” the older Sentry said with an expectant look at Hector. “What are you waiting for? Let’s go.”

“Of course, sir,” Hector said, nerves threading through his voice.

Hassan took a stumbling step forward at Hector’s prodding. The older Sentry led them through the gates at a brisk clip.

“Time for one more?” he hissed under his breath. “Hector—”

“Be quiet,” Hector barked loudly, still playing his part. Lowering his voice, he whispered, “We’ll still get to the amphitheater. This doesn’t change anything.”

Hassan fell silent, but he couldn’t calm the sick lurch of dread in his gut as they entered the citadel.

9

BERU

The eyes of the Sentry followed Beru through the citadel’s central courtyard.

Lazaros had told her nothing when he’d come to collect her from her room this morning. He’d just waited while the servants dressed her in yards of white robes, threaded through with intricate gold and silver. Robes fit for a god.

She had waited there for Lazaros to remove the Godfire collar that kept the god, and Beru’s access to its power, subdued. But this time, he’d left it on.

The Godfire collar twinged now as they crossed through the courtyard, beneath a broad walkway and into a tunnel that penetrated the cliff itself.