“I know you’re a smart boy,” he said. “Ora Dasai does not speak highly of the dim-witted, nor does he try to keep them from being exiled. Hopefully, you can learn this in a few afternoons.”

“I will. I promise.”

“Roh, this part is important,” Ahkio said. Roh sat up a little straighter. “You’re not to tell anyone else what you’re doing. Not Ora Dasai. Not Nasaka. No one but me. Put your trust in me, and if anything happens to you, know that I’ll do everything in my power to help.”

“I believe you,” Roh said.

Ahkio gestured to the massive wall of shelves. “Then select a few books, and let’s begin.”

Chapter 19

19

“If there are two Kais,” Lilia said, “it means there could be two of everyone, doesn’t it?”

Gian picked at the remains of the man’s liver. The suns had set, and cool darkness blanketed the clearing.

“I know it’s hard to wrap your head around,” Gian said. “It was hard for me, too, when I first came here. I had a sister over there, a twin. She had to stay. She couldn’t come through because she already existed here. We’re twins there, but here… just one of us. Just her. So I could cross. She couldn’t, unless we found the woman here with my face and… killed her. That’s the rules.” She shrugged. “I keep expecting to find my sister here someday. Keep expecting to look up and see my own face.”

“Two of everyone,” Lilia said. “Two of my mother?”

Gian’s expression was difficult to read in the low light of the fire. “Yes,” she said. “Two of your mother. But not of you. That’s why Kalinda could bring you here. You can’t bring someone over if they’re still alive here. That’s why my sister had to stay but I didn’t.”

“Where’s my mother?” Lilia said. “If there’s two of everyone, then, my mother–”

“Listen, Lilia, this may be difficult–”

“Where?”

“Your mother here isn’t the person you knew,” Gian said. “Kalinda already tried to get your mother here to join with us. But she’s… she’s Dorinah. And very loyal to Dorinah.”

“You’re a liar.”

“Believe me or don’t, but the version of your mother as she exists here, the one you’re so keen to find, serves the Empress. Your real mother, Nava… I’m sorry, Lilia, but she’s dead and gone and you must forget her. Come with us the way she wanted. Our worlds are coming together, and only one is going to live. You can help decide which one.”

“Why should I believe anything you say?”

“Has anyone else had answers for you but Kalinda? Trust me, Lilia. Your mother delivered you to Kalinda, and Kalinda turned you over to me. You have to trust that you’re on the right side.”