“Father Zajhera. He’s the leader of my faith.” Brother Qown put a hand to his chest. “When Xaltorath possessed Janel, no one could make the demon leave. The emperor hoped Father Zajhera might have better luck. Which he did. Father Zajhera cured Janel’s possession and then watched over her and made sure—”

“Made sure what?” Ninavis said.

“Possession has a disastrous impact on the mind. Most people are never sane again. Father Zajhera made certain Janel recovered. She needed mental and spiritual healing, not physical.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Dorna said. “The father’s all right, I suppose. Janel stayed with him in his fancy temple for six months while he fished that demon out. When she came back to Tolamer, the father came with her. Stayed another three or so years, making sure she was right in the head. And she was … but that don’t mean she was ever the same. I guess those six months must have seemed like years. She came back strong as an elephant and with that curse sending her back to Hell every night, like Xaltorath still has a hold on her soul.”

“I’ve told you, it’s not Hell,” Brother Qown protested.

Ninavis stared down at the girl. “So what is she?”

“Ain’t you been listening?” Dorna settled back down and shook her head. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you: I ain’t got a clue.”

14: THE NIGHT HUNT

Jorat Dominion, Quuros Empire. Two days since the last sighting of High Lord Therin D’Mon

“Okay, now it’s your turn,” Kihrin said.

“Are you sure you wouldn’t rather have a break?” Janel smiled, even as she clearly still teased him. “Obviously, it doesn’t have so unhappy an ending—for me, anyway. I’m still here.”

He shook his head. “Just tell me the story.”

“All right, all right. You come up again in this next part, you know. I didn’t know your name at the time, but still…” She shrugged. “I do think we know all the same people.”

Janel’s Turn. The Afterlife.

Something large thundered through the Afterlife’s forests. Several large somethings. I heard toppling trees crash as beasts moved through the dark woods, ravens scattering at their approach.

Kasmodeus paused, lowered his hammer to the side, stared in shock.

I couldn’t blame him. The Hunt’s arrival boded ill.

And not just for him.

I rolled to the side and hefted my shield as high as my broken ribs allowed.

He glanced back at me. **WE COULD TAKE THEM TOGETHER. LET US PUT THIS PETTY SQUABBLE BEHIND US AND JOIN FORCES. THEY’LL KILL YOU AS SURE AS ME WHEN THEY ARRIVE.**

I brushed blood from my face with my gauntlet, although I suspect I just spread the muck about.

“Interesting idea,” I said. The approaching elephants grew closer, and Mereina’s ghosts emptied out as demons took the opportunity to run for their lives.