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Chapters (61)
  1. Dedication
  2. Prologue
  3. Ashyn: One
  4. Two
  5. Three
  6. Four
  7. Five
  8. Six
  9. Seven
  10. Eight
  11. Moria: Nine
  12. Ten
  13. Eleven
  14. Twelve
  15. Thirteen
  16. Ashyn: Fourteen
  17. Fifteen
  18. Sixteen
  19. Moria: Seventeen
  20. Eighteen
  21. Nineteen
  22. Twenty
  23. Twenty-one
  24. Twenty-two
  25. Ashyn: Twenty-three
  26. Twenty-four
  27. Twenty-five
  28. Twenty-six
  29. Twenty-seven
  30. Twenty-eight
  31. Twenty-nine
  32. Thirty
  33. Moria: Thirty-one
  34. Thirty-two
  35. Thirty-three
  36. Thirty-four
  37. Thirty-five
  38. Thirty-six
  39. Thirty-seven
  40. Ashyn: Thirty-eight
  41. Thirty-nine
  42. Forty
  43. Forty-one
  44. Forty-two
  45. Forty-three
  46. Forty-four
  47. Forty-five
  48. Forty-six
  49. Forty-seven
  50. Forty-eight
  51. Forty-nine
  52. Moria: Fifty
  53. Fifty-one
  54. Fifty-two
  55. Fifty-three
  56. Fifty-four
  57. Fifty-five
  58. About the Author
  59. Back Ad
  60. Credits
  61. About the Publisher

“Go to the library and get a book.”

“I don’t want—” She stopped. “Give me that missive again.”

“You’re not—”

“I want to draw the seal. Perhaps I can find references in the library.”

“An excellent idea.” Ashyn sat up. “One that ought to keep you busy and allow me to finish my book. I’ll copy it for you.”

Fifty-three

Fifty-three

The buildings of the imperial court were quiet, the walkways linking them empty. The library was almost clear across the grounds. The most direct path to it cut dangerously close to the Chamber of the Divine, meaning Moria instead had to head through the smaller garden and the warren of buildings that followed. She took a wrong turn, and as she retraced her steps to the garden, she saw Gavril sitting on a bench, staring into the koi pond. Lost in thought. She wouldn’t disturb him.

She started retreating, but he seemed to sense her. He rose and gestured, too subtly for her to figure out what he wanted. Then he began walking away. She hesitated. He looked over his shoulder, jerked his chin, and mouthed, “Follow me.”

She did, keeping her distance. They wound through the manicured garden, eventually coming to a shed. Gavril glanced around and then went inside. She followed, entering as he lit a lantern. He motioned for her to close the door and keep her voice low.

“Is this a secret meeting?” she whispered.

“You should not be seen conferring with me,” he said. “I warned you about that. You cannot risk appearing to have aligned yourself with me. I must seem merely your escort from Edgewood.”

“And as I told you, I’m not concerned—”

“You must be,” he said, his voice harsh. “I mean it, Moria.”

His use of her name told her he was serious.

He peered down into the darkness. “Where’s Daigo?”

“Resting.”

“Is his infection worse?” He sounded alarmed.

“No, but the doctor advised him to rest, and he’s sleeping so soundly he never noticed me leaving.”

“You should have him with you at all times, Keeper.”

“In the imperial court?”

“Particularly in the imperial court.”

She peered at him. The flickering lantern light cast shadows on his face, but she still noticed a faint sheen of perspiration and a tightness to his features. Gavril was usually so good at hiding his emotions that she sometimes wondered if he even had any. But now the worry and fear was so thick she could almost smell them.

“I need to leave,” he said, before she could speak. “That’s why I called you in here. I’ll be gone before the emperor returns.”

“What?”

“I’ve realized my testimony may actually do more harm than good. I shouldn’t be here.”

“So you’re abandoning us?”