“Then think without being so sensitive,” Silvie retorted. “I’m sorry that Billos was so selfish to leave you behind in his betrayal of us all, but you don’t need to take it out on me.”

In that moment Darsal wanted to reach out and slap Silvie’s pretty little face. She, with her man standing pompous in the corner, loyal to the bone. But Billos was as loyal as Johnis, even if he did express that loyalty with more subtlety.

“He didn’t betray us,” Darsal snapped. “He’s forcing the issue as any good leader would do.”

“Forcing the issue by breaking his word,” Johnis said, walking back from the window.

“And did you break your word to Thomas of Hunter in the desert this last week?”

Her accusation caught him flat-footed.

“Of course, you did. So watch what you say against Billos, both of you! As of yet he hasn’t gotten anyone killed.”

She stood and crossed to the same window Johnis had parked himself by. Outside the village bustled with people as the afternoon sun slipped farther into the western sky. The nightly celebration would soon sweep the beach. Song and dance and stew over blazing fires—with the Horde snatching life from them faster than they could make it, any excuse for a celebration of what remained was not only justified, but demanded.

But Darsal had no life left to celebrate. Not without Billos. He should have known better than to leave her in this fretful state. If and when she did catch up to him, she would wring his neck!

“We can’t stay here,” she said.

“We have to,” said Johnis.

“We have to find another book.”

“You talk as if it’s a matter of going to market—just go out and select another book. And we can’t undermine Thomas.”

“You had no problem undermining him when it served your own—”

“And I was wrong!” he snapped. “We all know that now. I can’t—I won’t—do it again.”

Darsal seethed. “We have to find another book and follow Billos. You know it’s the only way!”

“For all we know Billos will pop out of thin air right here, in a few moments.”

“We can’t just stay here,” Darsal repeated. “Elyon has given us an order. Our mission is to find the seven original books, four of which are still missing.”

“All seven are missing, if you count the three with Billos,” Silvie said.

Johnis sat down on the stool Darsal had vacated and crossed his arms. “We have to find the books, and we will. But we can’t just run off and defy our commander, not again. Michal will come to us. Patience.”