It was with those words that Billos knew his fate was sealed. How he’d missed the plain signs along the way he didn’t know, but his meeting Marsuvees Black had not been a chance encounter.

Billos had been warned that entering the books was dangerous, and he was now snared by that danger. Black was the Dark One, and he’d wanted nothing but the books the whole time. Now that Billos was powerless to deliver the books, Black would simply kill him.

“I believe you,” Black said. “You’re a complete idiot and know nothing. Which means you have only one slim chance. Short of that, you take the long trip to the place of wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

Billos’s vision blurred. What have I done? His heart broke, nine feet from the ground, facing down at death. And all he could think was, What have I done?

“Darsal,” he croaked.

“The name’s Black,” the man said. “Marsuvees Black. Cut him up!”

The throater with the sword drew it back. One cut was all it would take to spill his intestines to the ground.

Billos began to weep.

“No! Let him go.”

He twisted in his ropes and looked at Darsal, who stood beyond the circle of throaters, staring up at him.

Karas, the little girl, stepped up beside Darsal. “Let him go,” she said, matching Darsal’s intensity.

Darsal whispered something in harsh tones, but the young girl didn’t appear interested in listening. She held her ground, jaw set.

Darsal faced Black. “I’m the one you want. I know where the books are. Take me.”

“We’re the ones you want. We know where the books are. Take us,” the young girl repeated.

“Well, well, well,” Black muttered. “Lucky for you, Billy-boy, fools come in pairs.” Then louder so that they could all hear: “Cut him down!”

It took only a few jerky, painful moments for Billos to reach the ground again. But it was more than enough time for the implications of what was occurring to rack his mind.

Darsal was giving herself for him. Did she think she could survive the experience? Surely she wasn’t doing this out of some misguided sense called “love.” He couldn’t accept that. Wouldn’t accept that.

Two throaters hauled Billos to his feet, where he stood shakily.

“You may leave,” Black said. “If I ever see you alive again, I’ll fix the problem.”

Claude shoved Darsal and Karas into the circle.

“Go, Billos,” Darsal said.

“Darsal?” What could he say? “You can’t do this.”

“Go, Billos!” she snapped. “Before you do even more damage, just go!”

“And do what? I don’t know where the books are! I can’t get back! And what about you? I can’t let them—”

“It’s too late!” she interrupted. “Do you have any suhupow in your fingers?”