“Are you really?” Teraeth raised an eyebrow at him.

“Yes, damn it.” Kihrin looked out over the lake toward the ruins of Atrine. “I’ve lost Urthaenriel. It only took three days—”

“Well, you do work fast,” Teraeth said.

Kihrin sighed. If he’d ever wondered how Teraeth would react to Kihrin becoming romantically involved with Janel, now he knew the answer: poorly.

It might have gone that way for a while, but the women had other ideas. “You two can catch up on your flirting later. Janel, how are you feeling?” Emperor Tyentso asked.

“Surprisingly well for someone swallowed by a dragon,” Janel admitted. “Have either of you seen Qown? I’d have expected to find him around the medical tents.”

Kihrin felt a dozen dull knives settle in his stomach. “Uh, about that—”

He didn’t want to be right about his suspicions. He certainly didn’t want to explain those suspicions to Janel.

Janel’s expression gave way to dread. “He’s not hurt, is he? I don’t know what happened down there—”

“That’s what we came over here to find out,” Tyentso said.

“I don’t think Qown’s injured, but Relos Var tricked us all. You see, I didn’t destroy a Cornerstone.” Kihrin felt sick. Somewhere out there, Relos Var had just checked off another item on his list, come one step closer to whatever horrible event he was attempting to trigger. Fulfilling the prophecies. As if that were a good thing.

Kihrin looked out over the water. Nearby, he heard people working, talking. Also moans and cries of pain.

Teraeth’s expression changed from simmering anger to caution. “Kihrin, I pulled both you and Thurvishar out of the water. Qown wasn’t there. Neither was Urthaenriel.”

“No, I think Qown took it with him after he knocked me unconscious.” It had to have been Qown. Kihrin had seen Thurvishar go down, and he’d been facing Relos Var. Qown was the only person who could have done it.

Janel blinked at him in horror. “No, that can’t be what happened. Relos Var must have done something, some trick…”

Kihrin pressed his lips into a thin line and met Teraeth’s stare. The vané had, at least for the moment, put jealousy aside in favor of being concerned with more important matters. And they had both placed recent events firmly in the “not good” category. Teraeth gave him a single nod of acknowledgment.

“No,” Kihrin said, “I don’t think so. Qown just figured out whose side he’s really on, that’s all. I’m really sorry, Janel.”

Janel’s eyes were wide and shocked. Teraeth walked over and put a hand on her shoulder.

“I know it looks bad,” Tyentso said, “but we’ll find Relos Var. Everyone will be looking for him now. I may not like the Academy witch-hunters, but they’re good at their job. We’ll find him—and we’ll find Urthaenriel.”