Ahkio sighed. “Can I have two minutes of peace with my cousin?” he said.

“Are you expecting Lohin to come in this late?” Liaro asked, gesturing back toward the foyer. “I passed him and some Garika militia on the way in. Seemed odd they didn’t show up sooner.”

“Kirana’s husband?” Ahkio asked. “With… militia? We invited Tir’s whole family – Lohin, Yisaoh – just as I invited Meyna and her husbands. No one responded. Are you sure it was him?”

“Could have been some dancing minstrels dressed like militia, I suppose,” Liaro said, “but I expect that’s even less likely.”

“How close?” Nasaka asked. She gripped the end of her willowthorn sword, and the branch snarled itself around her wrist. Ahkio’s stomach dropped. He knew what was coming, knew it and still tried to deny it.

“They’re just a few minutes behind me,” Liaro said. “On the plateau. What? Is that bad?”

“Blood and ashes,” Nasaka swore.

Roh woke in the infirmary, rattled awake by a seething tide of nightmares. The black spill of light trailing Oma clawed at him, engulfed him. The world was a sea of red rain that strangled the fields and washed away the Temple of Oma, cracking the great dome, showering jagged glass onto novices and Oras, severing limbs and making ribbons of their organs.

It was the smell he noticed first, like burnt black tea. Para’s light spilled through the glass ceiling – which he was surprised to see whole after the dream – blinding him in blue light.

“Roh?”

His brother Chali stood over him, round face scrunched with concern.

“Where’s the sanisi?” Roh asked.

“He left some time ago. Are you all right? The whole family came to see you. Ora Nasaka sent them away yesterday.”

“I need to talk to Ora Dasai.”

Chali held out a hand. Roh took it. Chali was almost thirty and acted like he knew everything, but Roh had never seen him look so scared. “Stay in bed,” Chali said.

“I feel fine,” Roh said. Hunger pinched his stomach. He wasn’t sure how long he’d been in bed. “What day is it?”

“The new Kai’s day of ascension. You’ve been out almost two weeks.”

“Two weeks? The Kai… is Kai Kirana dead?”

“I’m sorry,” Chali said. “You’ve missed a lot. Yes, she passed. Her brother, Kai Ahkio, has taken her title.”

“Where’s Li?” Roh said. “Was Lilia here? My friend.” She was always in the infirmary. He had a memory of her next to him.

“You mean the girl who went with the sanisi?” Chali asked.

“He took her and not me?”

“You should rest.”

“I need to see Ora Dasai. The sanisi should have taken me.”

“You were nearly dead. Rest. Ora Dasai is taking a group of scholars north. He wanted to make sure you were all right before then. I think he feels responsible.”