“Scripture says–”

Kirana sighed. “We could sit here all day philosophizing about the nature of the link between our worlds and between our other selves. I know philosophers, hundreds of them, who do just that. I do not expect we will solve the riddle any sooner or more satisfactorily than they will. I am not looking to solve philosophical problems but immediate concerns of survival.”

Zezili clenched her fists. She wasn’t feeling terribly well. It was the armor, she realized. Dhai people in armor. It made her sick. “But I should know–”

“What you need to know is that my people will take your world,” Kirana said. “We can do it with or without your aid, but without will take longer. That black star will continue to decay, raining death and poison until not one of us is left living. I assure you, I am very motivated.”

“So what?” Zezili said. “You’ve outsourced your killing over there to me and my legion?”

“We’re busy people,” Kirana said. “You’ve seen how many resources it takes to send our people through. It’s easier to rely on native faces to eliminate the Dhai on the other side.”

“What?” Zezili said. “All of them?”

“Your mission is the dajians in the camps,” Kirana said. “Let’s focus on that.”

“But you’ll want to kill the Dhai, eventually,” Zezili said. “Your double. Her family. The ones I didn’t kill, anyway.”

“Focus on your mission. I’ll focus on mine.”

Zezili gazed out the rainbow gloss of the broad windows behind them and saw a great construct along the horizon, in the valley behind the tower.

“What’s that?” Zezili asked.

Kirana glanced back. “Ah. You noticed it. That’s the mirror.”

“Hard to miss.”

“Your predecessor worked on it.”

“My predecessor? What, so I do have a double?”

“You did,” Kirana said.

“Where is she?” Zezili asked.

“She was no longer of interest to me,” Kirana said. “We needed you to come through, and you can’t come through if your other face still breathes.”

Zezili sucked her teeth. “Ah,” she said, and understanding blossomed like some dark flower in her mind. “So those slaves I’m killing are the twins of your people already, maybe even you. You can’t go through that gate unless the Dhai are dead.”

Kirana smiled. “Retain your focus, Zezili. Focus has never been your strong suit.”

“And the mirror? Why do you need one that big out there?”

“Impress me with your boundless intuition, and perhaps your fate will be brighter than your predecessor’s.”

Zezili thought it was meant to rankle, so she barked out a laugh instead. She half expected to wake up back in her tent, still smeared in dajian blood and ranting to Monshara about hallucinations. “You had my other self build it after she killed your family?”

“She had a few talents,” Kirana said, “but ultimately, she would not cooperate.”