The path looped around the edge of the reservoir. I could see my footprints in the mud above the waterline, evidence of where I had strayed last night. No Haunts had troubled us again after the incident, but I remained uneasy. A moment of thoughtlessness, and it had nearly cost me everything. I could not afford to make the same mistake again.

The sun rose. Reflections gleamed off the water, dazzling our eyes. On my right, the land dropped sharply to a valley of dense scrub and bristling thorn trees; the vegetation growing denser toward the foothills of the mountains. The hair on my arms stood on end. There was an electricity in the air—even though the skies were clear, it felt like a storm was approaching. I knew Millie and Osan could feel it too: that tense, prickly tightness hanging over our heads. We moved without speaking, faster than yesterday.

Too fast, thought a traitorous, stifled part of me.

I wished my friends would talk. I didn’t want to think about the temple.

By midmorning, we reached the far side of the lake, where a wide river drained into the reservoir. Our canteens were empty, and we drank directly from the rushing channel of water. The hills ahead were taller, scattered with huge circular boulders.

“We won’t make it,” said Osan abruptly. He stared across the lake in the direction we had come from.

“It’s not much further.” I followed his gaze. “It can’t be much more than an hour. If we run—”

“Even then. They’re closing the distance too quickly; we have to do something to slow them down.” He glanced at Millie. “Kamillian, you’re a reasonable shot with a crossbow, right?”

“I think so,” she said.

“No, we can’t fight them,” I protested. “I don’t have enough lace to hold off one Reverend, never mind a group.”

“It doesn’t have to be a fair fight.” Osan narrowed his eyes, still watching the path behind us. He nodded to himself, as if he had reached a decision. “Give me your bag, El.”

I handed him my rucksack, expecting him to open it. Instead he slung it over his own shoulder.

“Right, you’ll need to run.” He reached beneath his shirt and drew out his belt knife. “Don’t stop. We’ll buy you enough time to reach the temple.”

“Have you lost your mind?”

He pushed the knife into my hands. “Like I said, I have no intention of fighting fair. We’ll hide and ambush them, try to pick them off one at a time. If Kamillian and I keep our distance, their lace won’t be able to reach us.”

“They will just close that distance.”

“Then we’ll keep moving. Besides, with the threat of Haunts hanging over them, I think they’ll want to stick to the path.”

“No.” I shook my head fiercely. “No, if they see you, they’ll break your neck in a heartbeat.”

Millie stepped forward and hugged me.

“You’re wasting time,” she said.