“You’re right,” the Wanderer said. She almost sounded sad. “In fact, that was something I used to say to the other Prophets. For centuries, I argued that our power of prophecy wasn’t helping the world. That, in fact, we were harming it. Setting people down paths they never would have taken otherwise. People made choices, to love or to hate, to harm or to heal, based solely on the stories we told them. Empires rose and fell, wars were lost and won in accordance with our words. I never thought it should be so—I resisted doing what the others had done, establishing a place for myself to impart my visions on subjects. And now I have found myself doing exactly what they did, guiding you toward an end that we predicted. The irony is not lost on me.”

Beru thought about this. For so long she had felt bound to a destiny, one she didn’t even understand, just the feeling that she was meant to die in the village of Medea. And later, she believed she was meant to bring darkness to the world. And now she was living with a god shackled inside her head. Was that what it had all meant? That her purpose was to become a vessel of destruction?

“So bringing us all together,” Beru said. “Bringing Hector back from the dead … that was all so we could fulfill our destinies? To stop the Age of Darkness.”

“That is what I hope, yes,” the Wanderer replied.

“And what if you’re wrong?” Beru asked. “You say you can’t see the future anymore, so what if we only make things worse? What if none of this would have happened without your—your meddling?”

“That is always the danger of prophecy,” the Wanderer replied. “But I only brought you together. It was your choices that got you here. And it will be your choices that determine the fate of the world.”

20

JUDE

The ship pulled smoothly into the river harbor at Kerameikos Fort. Seeing the signs of destruction sent Jude’s heart buzzing in his chest.

The Temple of the Prophets still stood, a rotunda perched over a cascade of waterfalls, but half of its exterior wall had crumbled. Some of the gates seemed to have been damaged in the siege, but most of the structures, with their delicate, vinelike pillars and rails, were still intact.

It was decided that the others would remain on the ship with Hassan’s countrywoman, Khepri, to protect them. Hector had insisted on disembarking with Jude, refusing to let him bear the brunt of the Order’s ire alone. Jude hadn’t had the strength to refuse the offer, particularly after the grueling argument he’d had with Anton over whether he would be coming with Jude.