Yari’s drum thudded against her back. Awa longed to kill Hezram slowly, to slice his tongue, hammer his bones, and drive him mad. Sounds of torture kept transgressors awake all night. Awa wanted Hezram, his priests, and acolytes to know this same torture, even Tembe. What had she done except offer Awa and Meera crumbs?

Hezram, Tembe, Father—they murdered Yari.

“Grief often masquerades as bloodlust,” Djola said as cold winds buffeted them. “A vengeful spirit makes navigating Smokeland dangerous.”

“You would know.” She pointed at his mangled foot. “How is it?”

“Fine.”

“You lie.”

Bloody pus left a brown streak in the green below. With gentle urging, bees crawled in the wound and spit cleansing venom where it festered. Only a hundred hundred bees still flew with them. They buzzed along fearlessly. Survive.

“We should rest.” Awa veered toward a sweetgrass and wildflower meadow.

“No.” Djola tugged her up a warm updraft. She was heavy now. “Hezram will send a new horde to follow our blood.” He charged up to the speed of thought.

“Yari and the Elders were my family. This is the second time I’ve lost them.”

“You saved them.”

“Where are they if I’ve saved them? And don’t say in the crack in my heart.”

“Look!” Djola spun her around. The scar moon hung low on the horizon. Sails on a mountain lake reflected green and red aurora rippling in the sky. Distant cook fires twinkled like stars. Drums and voices carried Yari’s crossover rhythm.

Awa jolted, every sense alert. “Boat people. I haven’t seen them in years. They’ve taken refuge underneath the star bridge.”

“Lahesh rhythms shield them and us.” Whispering thanks to the boat people, he flew them through the aurora into a black velvet sky. Beyond the moon, a crossroads lattice of stars arched into darkness. “The light bridge.” He slipped his trembling arm through Awa’s. Agitated bees made a crown in her hair and a boot for his wounded foot as they headed down the bridge.

“It goes on forever.” Awa peered a thousand thousand leagues. The far end was invisible. How did the conjure woman travel to the winter region so quickly? “We’re too slow. Even at the speed of thought.” Awa shivered in thin, cold air.

“Everyone takes their own time on the bridge of stars.” Djola flew them past a swirl of rainbow spirits to the bridge. “I was a fool to stay away. She’ll help us get back to the everyday.”

Rocks colliding near the bridge exploded. “Then what?”

“I sat at Council,” he grinned ruefully, “more powerful than almost anyone, and—”

“Zst!” Awa was not eager for the saga of a monster.