“I was thinking the same thing. Yes, everyone who helped us pledged their loyalty. Only those in the upper levels bear the mark.”

“We need to do that for the new recruits.”

“I agree. Are you going to read their souls, too?” he asked casually.

“If I do, then I should do it for all the Invisible Swords as well. It’s only fair.”

He stopped. “No it isn’t. They all swore their loyalty. If you do that, they’ll be insulted.”

Just like Jayden was at the very idea. Except they’d made their vow before Shyla woke The Eyes. “Yet someone betrayed us.”

He rounded on her. “Not someone. Banqui. You just refuse to see it. Which is why no one believes you about Rendor.”

This was an old argument, but she couldn’t help saying, “There’s no evidence Banqui did it. And why would he? He has no reason.” Plus he’d promised her he’d say goodbye. And perhaps she was being naive, but she trusted Banqui to keep his promises.

“Coins are enough of a reason.”

Tired of arguing, she headed toward the temple. No matter what Jayden thought, she was going to figure out a way to test all the Invisible Swords.

Before they reached the common room, Shyla said to him, “I want to hide in the sand again.”

“You think the priestess will try to abandon another baby?”

“No, but I’d like to ensure no one is following our people.”

“All right. I’ll meet you here at angle three-fifty.”

Shyla squirmed into a comfortable position before commanding the sand to cover her.

“Better,” Jayden said of her efforts as he settled next to her.

It didn’t take long before Shyla spotted Gurice and Mojag. The siblings slipped from the south exit. The tight pressure around her chest eased a fraction.

“There’s Ximen,” Jayden whispered a few angles later.

While happy that he was free of the city and that no one had followed any of the Invisible Swords, Shyla worried about Rendor. Why hadn’t he left with Ximen?

They remained in place for another ten angles. Still no Rendor. The sweepers returned inside. Still no Rendor. The priestess finished her service. Still no Rendor.

When the area was completely deserted, Jayden said, “We better go back.”

“You can go,” she said.

“Shyla, he’s not coming out. Not if he doesn’t want to draw unwanted attention. I’m sure Ximen knows where he is and why he stayed behind.”

He was right. Yet Shyla was almost afraid to find out why. The citizens of Zirdai hated him, the Water Prince had ordered his guards to kill him on sight—if they could—and the deacons would happily end his life for no reason at all.