Morag understood death so well. That was why she revered life so much. For her to strike out with her gift…Mother’s mercy. She could ride through a Clan or a human village and leave nothing but corpses in her wake.

“Morag?” Ashk asked quietly. She waited until Morag looked at her. “Why don’t you sit down and rest? I think Aiden will be a while yet.”

Morag hesitated, then sat on the stone bench near Ashk, twisting around to continue watching Aiden.

“What’s wrong, Morag?” Ashk said.

“Nothing,” Morag said flatly.

Ashk suppressed a spark of temper. “How can anyone help if you won’t confide in anyone?”

“There’s nothing to confide.”

Ashk let her breath out in a huff. “Then at least accept Morphia’s offer to help you get a decent night’s sleep.”

“No.”

She might have given up if she’d hadn’t heard a quiver of fear beneath the sharp denial. “I thought we were friends.”

“And you’d do anything for a friend?”

“Yes, I would.”

Morag looked at her. Really looked at her. Then turned away again to watch Aiden. But after several moments’ silence, she said very softly, “I’ve had dreams. Terrible dreams.”

“Will you tell me what they’re about?” Uneasy about what kind of dreams could have affected Morag so much, Ashk worked to keep her voice low and soothing.

“Insatiable hunger,” Morag whispered, shuddering. Then, “Shadows and light. Isn’t that what all dreams are about in the end?”

Shadows and light. Death and life. Why would those be terrible for the Gatherer of Souls?

“I’ll let Morphia give me a dreamless night if you’ll make a promise to me,” Morag said abruptly.

“What is the promise?”

“If I can’t stop this…If I fail…Promise me, Hunter, that you will do what needs to be done.”

Ashk stared at Morag.

Hunter. Morag wasn’t asking for a promise from her friend Ashk. The Gatherer was asking the Hunter. Considering who they both were, Ashk understood quite well what might be asked of her.

She held out her hand. “I will do what needs to be done. This I promise.”

Morag hesitated, then took Ashk’s hand.

“Come along, now.” Ashk stood up, tugged Morag’s hand until Morag stood beside her.

“But…Aiden…”

“He’ll tell you everything in the morning. Now you need to rest.” Ashk looked over at Morphia, who was standing with Sheridan and Lyrra at the other end of the terrace. When she nodded, Morphia hurried over to meet them as Ashk and Morag walked into the Clan house.

Despite Morphia being the Lady of Dreams and Ashk’s continued assurances that she would do what needed to be done, it was an hour before Morag finally sank into a deep, peaceful sleep.