“That’s not to say she’ll catch us,” Osan added quickly. “And I’m sure the Commander will be trying her best to get in Celane’s way. For all we know, that battle is already won.”

I tried to smile. “Maybe. And we have a long head start.”

But they’ll have Cats. And far more lace. Not to mention that if Celane was desperate before, she would be frantic now.

Millie nudged me. “We’ll get moving as soon as it’s light. For now, I think we should rest.”

I nodded, my mind still churning.

“I’ll keep watch,” said Finn. He rose to his feet. “It’s not like I’ll be sleeping anyway.”

“Do you want any company?” asked Osan.

“I’ll be fine. I might wander a little further, see if I can find more wood for the fire.”

Millie stacked the remaining tinder, and I helped Osan clean up the food and repack the bags for tomorrow. My thoughts kept spiralling back to Reverend Cyde and Lariel, wondering what I could have done differently, wondering what had happened to them. I kept hearing Cyde say that she was relying on me.

“Hurry up, El,” said Millie. “I’m getting cold.”

Osan spread out a second ground sheet on the far side of the fire. I lay down beside Millie and she curled up against me.

“You’re shivering,” she murmured.

The stars overhead gleamed bluish and bright; the clouds had all been swept away. Aytrium was wholly dark, blocking out the sky to the north.

“I’m sorry about Lariel,” I whispered.

She sighed.

“It was complicated,” she said. “And it ended a long time ago.”

“Still. I’m sorry.”

“She wasn’t always like that. She used to be wild, intense, but not—” Millie shook her head. “It’s not like I could ever forgive her for what she did to Finn, but I … I guess I just wanted her to say sorry.”

“I think she was trying to.”

“Maybe she was, but not to me. Get some sleep, El.”

The fire dwindled to dark red embers. Beyond, Osan lay on his side, facing the bluff. My body was tired, but my brain could not stop turning.

Make it count, Elfreda.

Was I strong enough? The mountains called to me, a faint aching, a kind of thirst. She was waiting to be made whole. I could smell flowers and feel the brush of her thoughts against mine. The closer we drew to the temple, the more she would rouse.

Finn returned and quietly restocked the pile of tinder. I watched him from under my eyelashes. He moved so carefully, trying not to disturb us. Millie’s breathing had grown even and slow, each exhale stirring the hair on my arm.

When he walked away down the path, I waited a few minutes. Then I eased away from Millie and tucked the blanket close around her. She slept on.

My heart beat faster as I padded beyond the ring of firelight. The air drew goose bumps over my skin.