“Killing?” Monshara said.

“Killing Dhai,” Zezili said, and urged her bear onward before she could see the look on Monshara’s face.

Chapter 18

18

Ahkio clung to the banister looping about the tongue of the grand stairway where Kirana’s husband, Lohin, had fallen. Gaiso huffed blood on the landing just above them, her attempt at joining Lohin and his band of Garika militia cut short by a snarling attack from Nasaka that happened so fast, Ahkio had barely had time to process it.

He felt the heartbeat of the temple beneath his fingers. His mother had told him the temples were living, breathing embodiments of the gods. Oma was already here, pulsing through this temple, bathed in the blood of militia from Clan Garika.

And to what purpose?

Lohin’s breath was ragged. He was a stringy young man with a twisted mouth and kind eyes. The weapon he carried was plain metal; only the militia were issued weapons infused with the power of the satellites.

Below, in the foyer, half a dozen dead Oras and more than twenty of the Garika militia lay dead or dying. Ahkio knew because he’d counted them as he came limping out of the Sanctuary after the novice, Rohinmey, incapacitated Almeysia. But one body he had expected was missing.

“Where’s Yisaoh?” Ahkio asked Lohin.

Lohin huffed at him, something like a guffaw. “I led this coup myself.”

“You’re the sort who doesn’t act without a stronger person’s backing, Lohin. It’s why you married my sister.”

“Kai?”

A young novice named Caisa stood below. She was a lean young woman, freckled and high of forehead, with an affinity for Para. She was the one who had pushed him toward the Sanctuary when the militia burst into the foyer. She may have saved his life from the Garikas. And the boy, Rohinmey, had surely spared him from Almeysia’s wrath – whatever that may have been. Almeysia was bound and drugged now, spirited off into the bowels of the temple at Nasaka’s order.

It should not have surprised Ahkio that novices would be more trustworthy than Oras. They’d had less time to choose sides, so they fell on the side of the divine Kai. It gave him an opportunity, and though he abhorred politics and twisted ethics, sitting here in this pool of death made him realize that however much he hated it, if he wanted to live, he had to embrace it.

“Do you have the physician for Lohin?” Ahkio asked. “He’s fading.”

“Ora Matias has been killed,” she said. “The physician.”

“I see.” Ahkio finally saw fear in Lohin’s pained face. “And my cousin?”

“Liaro’s in the infirmary. We’ve called physicians from Clan Sorila. But Liaro isn’t that bad, Kai. He’s just a complainer.” Her color deepened. “I’m sorry. I meant–”

“I know what you meant,” Ahkio said. “Thank you.”