Klia took him by the shoulders. “It’s your duty to Skala, Mika. I’m sorry you have to learn this while you’re still so young, but duty comes first, over friendship or even love. That’s how it has to be. If you don’t leave when you can, even if I can’t go with you, then you’re failing in your duty and that’s a very bad thing. I need for you to give me your most sacred oath that you will obey me.”

Mika pressed his left hand to his heart. “By the Light, by my heart, head, and hands, I swear I will obey you.”

“Good boy,” Klia said, relieved. “One last thing. If I don’t get out with you, tell Thero that I love him and always will, no matter what.”

Mika nodded solemnly.

She hugged him. “Good. Now let’s go see if there’s any supper left.”

She put on her coat and belts, noting the black feather in her dagger sheath. Perhaps Thero could learn something from it.

Rather than skulk and give their intentions away, Klia and Mika walked downstairs as naturally as if they were just looking for a snack. But the candles were out and the table was bare.

“Can’t we get food from the kitchen?” asked Mika, keeping close beside her.

“I haven’t found it yet. Perhaps it’s under the tower, too. Let’s look for the stairs again, shall we?”

They searched the entire ground floor, but found no staircase.

“What are we going to do? We can’t go without food,” Mika whispered.

“We’re going to be very brave and see what happens tomorrow. Eat all you can at breakfast, just in case.”

Later, as they lay curled together in Klia’s bed, she felt that tiny little flicker of movement in her womb again and wondered if she should tell Mika that, too. Tears stung her eyes as she decided not to. If she got out of this place alive, she would tell Thero herself. If only Mika did, then it was kinder for Thero not to know all he’d lost.

Chapter 20: Old Magic

LOST in pitch-black darkness, Alec guessed where he was by the chill, the dank air, and the plink plink sound of dripping water. The portal hadn’t been where he’d expected, and now he’d come out in the lowest of the three caves.