“I know.” He gazes out at the city below us. The Heliana’s gentle arches, curved pathways, and pale stone faces make her glow in the sunlight. Our city is beautiful, but the sight of it doesn’t make me forget the silent threat currently threading through her streets.

Callen shakes his head. “I can’t wrap my mind around it. Have you heard from your mother? Did she already know?”

“I’m going to go to Storm’s End now,” I reply. “That’s all I can do. Because of a stupid oath I haven’t taken, I have to stay here and … what, do nothing? This is a chance, Callen. This is what I’ve been training for.”

“I’m sure the sentinels have their reasons, Ro,” he says. “They always think things out.”

“Well, they didn’t think out this one,” I mutter. “How are you doing? Did they tell you how long you’ll be gone?”

“Ten days, at least. No one’s been that far into Balmora in a century. Since before Garradin.”

We both look outward onto the city. My heart aches.

“I’m scared,” I say. “The people have no idea what’s coming.”

The truth comes so easily with Callen. Years of having no boundaries with each other will do that. Well, you kept some boundaries, I think, trying in vain to push it from my mind again. There are bigger things to worry about than your best friend telling you he loves you.

Except that the same best friend is right beside me.

“Rowan, any one of us could die,” Callen says. “If I don’t make it back—”

“Don’t say it,” I cut in. “You’re coming back. Everyone is coming back.”

“But you know what I’m getting at.”

I do. My pulse quickens as my stomach spins like a child’s toy top. There’s almost no telling how far they’ll have to travel and if they’ll come back. I don’t want to say the wrong thing, but I have to say something.

“Just never stop trying to come back,” I start. “Okay? No matter what happens over there. Because, skies alive, Callen, if you don’t come back, I’m going to go there and find you myself.”

“And give me hell for it.”

“And give you hell for it,” I echo.

A heart-wrenching roar sounds from above us. It’s another healer, different from the one I saw this morning, and he’s flying fast for the palace. Fear weighs down my stomach as if I’ve been swallowing stones.

“I have to go,” I say. “My mother will need me.”

He nods. “Okay.”

“Okay. Great.” I step forward, but something stops me. Maybe it’s our ancestors’ eyes on us. Maybe it’s something else.