No one said anything. They all stared at her. Their gazes rested heavily on her.

Finally Rendor broke the silence. “Shyla, you know who Zirdai needs. Stop procrastinating.”

“I’ve been busy.”

“Yes, we know,” Gurice said. “Busy procrastinating.”

She crossed her arms and pouted. Her own people had turned against her. Well, that was a bit of an exaggeration. And they might have a small point.

The last thing Shyla wanted to do was talk to Jayden, but it appeared she’d run out of options.

Twenty-One

It had been thirty-two sun jumps since they’d locked Jayden in the testing chamber in the lower levels of Tamburah’s temple. Shyla went alone. An unpleasant odor greeted her first, one that reminded her of the black cells but not nearly as strong. Then she spotted Jayden. He sat with his back leaning on the wall and his forehead resting on his bent knees.

“Are you here to gloat?” He didn’t raise his head or attack her with his magic.

She scanned his supplies. A pile of empty water skins rested next to the low table. It had been overturned at some point—perhaps kicked over in anger. Two full skins and a couple rolls of jerky sat on the scrolls, which were as far away from the collection buckets as the chain attached to Jayden’s ankle would allow. He’d rationed his supplies. Smart.

The silence stretched. Eventually Jayden glanced at her. His golden brown hair was lackluster and a straggly beard covered his face. But it was the apathy in his gaze that alarmed her the most. She scanned his thoughts and emotions, reading his soul. He’d given up hope. He’d lost everything. Everyone he’d loved. No one would forgive him.

“I’m not here to gloat,” she said.

“But you won, didn’t you?”

“At a high cost. Too high to really call it a win.”

He shot to his feet. “Mojag?”

Ah, there it was. He still care about something. “Annoying as ever.”

Jayden sagged against the wall. “Gurice?”

“Promoted to one of my seconds.”

“Ximen?”

No matter how she worded it, it wouldn’t change the fact. “He died.”

He straightened as grief and anger blazed to life inside him. “The Water Prince killed him.”

Not quite a question. “No, the Heliacal Priestess.”

Jayden jerked as if slapped. His mind reeled and guilt twisted. My fault.

“Not your fault.” She explained about the explosions. “The priestess collected the toxic gases and released clouds of it underneath the prince’s complex. All it needed was a spark. We’re still not sure how she managed it. And I’m not sure we really want to know the details—it might be tempting for someone else to copy it.”

He was horrified.

“Regardless, two hundred and sixty-four people died. All because of her. The priestess who you conspired with.”