Yeah. You ready to go, Silent?

Silent nodded.

Darling, come here. I squeezed her in a long, tight hug. You be good for Raven. I unfastened the amulet One-Eye had given me, fixed it on her wrist, told Raven, Thatll let her know if any unfriendly Taken comes around. Dont ask me how, but it works. Luck.

Yeah. He stood there looking at us as we mounted, still baffled. He raised a hand tentatively, dropped it.

I told Silent, Lets go home. And we rode away.

Neither of us looked back.

It was an incident that never happened. After all, hadnt Raven and his orphan died at the gates of Charm?

Back to the Company. Back to business. Back to the parade of years. Back to these Annals. Back to fear.

Thirty-seven years before the comet returns. The vision has to be false. Ill never survive that long. Will I?