He grunted. She’d change her mind once she was back in the city, and learned he’d already sent a herald north with documentation absolving her of Eskavord’s razing. However justified their actions, the Council would never forgive, and nor should they. But they would need Rosa, whether she liked it or not. The Hadari would come again. They always did. And the Republic needed a champion to stand against them.

“Where will you go?” asked Rosa.

“Someone needs to keep watch in case a piece of Malatriant survived. Blood travels far.”

“One witch to catch another?”

He grimaced. “I imagine so.”

Viktor didn’t feel like explaining the rest. That even with his shadow now locked deeper than he could ever recall, he didn’t trust himself. Better he was away from folk until he did. Rosa wouldn’t understand. Or perhaps she would. After all, her own being was at least as muddied as his own.

“Farewell, Rosa.”

She clasped a fist to her chest in salute. “Until death, Viktor.”

He set out through the gateway. A lone figure waited on the roadway. One Viktor had both hoped and dreaded to see.

“Brother.”

“Don’t call me that.” Josiri scowled and glanced away. “So it’s true. You’re leaving.”

“I think that’s for the best.” Viktor hesitated. Five days since they’d last spoken. Five days in which to find words for the terrible burden of his heart. A wasted search, for he’d no more notion what to say now than then. But still he tried. “I wish things had ended differently.”

“That’s not enough. It’ll never be enough. You came to me as a friend, but you’ve taken more from me than an enemy ever could.” He sighed. “To think, you were the Phoenix all along.”

Viktor blinked. “I don’t follow.”

“A phoenix shall blaze from the darkness,” quoted Josiri, his voice thick with emotion. “A beacon to the shackled; a pyre to the keepers of their chains. It was never my mother; never Calenne. But you. The man who killed them both.”

Viktor closed his eyes. He’d never considered that. Never thought to place himself in prophecy, but he had brought fire out of darkness, and freed Malatriant’s slaves.

But not all freedoms were equal.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I wish I could bring her back to you.”

“You didn’t even bring me a body to mourn.”

The urge to ease his anguish flared. Viktor forced it back. “There was nothing to save.” He cleared his throat. “I understand you’re leaving too. I’m glad. Malachi will need all the help he can find.”

“Even from a southwealder?”

“In my experience, there are few things finer than a southwealder’s friendship, and few losses weightier.”

Josiri’s brow flickered. His mouth opened for a response, then stone slabs fell down behind his eyes. “Goodbye, Viktor.”