“My emi-ehran is down there, somewhere,” The Lady sighed. “They refused to come with me when I left the parade.”

“I bet they miss you,” I replied after a moment. “What do they look like?”

The corners of her eyes creased with fondness. “A fox,” she said. “As stubborn and cunning as I am—though its eyes are soft, as mine once were. We understand each other, my Ifaya and I. They were the first to name me—and I, them. I’ll go back to them. As soon as I’ve made amends for my sins.”

“You mean, after you help me?”

She blinked slowly. “Yes,” The Lady said, squeezing my hand just a little too tight. “After I help everyone.”

We flew higher, leveling out over the plateau of a charcoal mountain. A glittering amethyst lake covered most of the plateau, and in its center lay a tiny island mound with a shrine of polished black marble.

“We’re here,” The Lady announced, flying over the water and landing on the island.

Immediately my nose wrinkled. A faintly familiar, metallic smell wafted from the shrine, which featured a tall, narrow statue. Fog, so cold it stung the back of my throat, curled over the glittering amethyst water.

“What is this?” I asked, rubbing goose pimples on my arms.

The Lady didn’t answer at first, pulling me into a tight embrace. Her child’s form barely reached my chest, and her skin was chilly, as were the tendrils of her robe as they wrapped around me.

“It’s your way home,” she whispered.

“Oh.” My brow wrinkled with confusion. The statue depicted Warlord Fire, flames bursting from the god’s handsome face in a malevolent halo. One hand was clenched above his head in a fist, as though ready to smite, and the other held an outstretched spear, its tip capped in pearly ivory and pulsing with pale light. It didn’t look like the Oruku Breach, but then again, I didn’t have much experience with supernatural portals.

“You’re supposed to touch it,” The Lady explained, nodding at the spear. She swallowed hard. “You won’t feel any pain. Or loneliness either. That should make up for Bhekina House, shouldn’t it?”

I stepped out of her embrace, unsure of what she meant. “Well,” I said, glancing warily at the spear. “It’s better than climbing the stairs, at least.”

The Lady nodded, her eyes wet and wistful. “Best do it quickly.”

“All right.” I leaned in to plant a kiss on her stony cold cheek. “Goodbye again, Mother. Until we meet again in Core.”

Then I turned toward the statue. The strange scent intensified, making my eyes water. Where had I smelled it? I had been in the Underworld so long, memories jumbled together. Ah well—it wouldn’t matter, once I was back home. With a last look over the sprawling shadowed landscape, I lifted my hand to touch the spear.

And then The Lady’s arms locked around me from behind, yanking me to the ground.

“Get back,” she shrieked. “Don’t go anywhere near it!”