“Sera, maybe?” Elorin bit her lip.

That didn’t make any sense, though. Something nagged at Leela, something she could not quite put her finger on. “We must go,” she said. “We cannot be caught out of bed.”

“Yes,” Elorin agreed solemnly. Then she threw her arms around Leela. “Thank you for trusting me with this,” she whispered, her breath tickling Leela’s ear. “It is scary and sad and worrying and so many other things, but . . . I would rather know the truth and be frightened than remain ignorant and live a life wrapped up in a lie.”

Elorin’s arms were hot in this cold place, her skin soft where it touched Leela’s, and she smelled of nutmeg and cedar. Leela felt a faint stirring inside her. It was so nice to be held.

They hurried back up the stairs, and Leela found herself once again startled by the normalcy of her world. Elorin stood beside her, steadying her, giving her courage.

And more important, giving her hope.

The next day, as the sun set and Leela continued her work polishing the temple doors, the bells began to ring out, calling the City to gather.

Leela climbed down from her ladder, putting it away before joining the other novices in laying out the cushions for the Cerulean to kneel on.

“What is happening?” she asked Novice Cresha as they worked near the Altar of the Lost.

“You will hear along with everyone else,” Cresha said. She was one of the novices who most resented Leela’s presence among them.

“The High Priestess visited the birthing houses this morning at dawn,” Novice Loonir whispered when Cresha left to gather more cushions. “I think one of the purple mothers is pregnant at last.”

Leela’s knees locked. Was it Kandra? She did not know why, but she was certain that if Kandra became pregnant, it would kill her. Maybe not today, or tomorrow, but slowly, the grief would eat away until she was nothing but a husk of bone and forgotten magic.

“My children,” the High Priestess said when the City had gathered. Her eyes were more vibrant today, her skin aglow like moonlight. Leela thought she could feel the heat of her from where she stood against the wall between Loonir and Cresha, but she may have only been imagining it. One thing was certain—she was stronger and more confident than she had been last night beneath the City.

“I bring you glad tidings from the birthing houses,” the High Priestess continued. “Plenna Skychaser is with child.”

The temple erupted in cheers. Leela saw Heena and Jaycin, Plenna’s wives, embracing each other tearfully as other Cerulean offered them their congratulations.

“Isn’t it wonderful, Leela?” Loonir said, grinning at her.

Leela forced herself to smile back. “Wonderful,” she echoed.