They sensed her.

They might be sacrificing her.

But she would do the same.

Their home must be defended at all costs.

Death was close, she knew as her blood seeped into the soil, and all she wished was to drag herself a few feet so she’d die in her beloved home.

Instead, before she could begin her last endeavor on this earth, she felt herself dragged farther away from the melee, but on the Wodell side.

She was then lifted.

Put on a stretcher.

A man ordered a terse, “Go. Fast.”

She blinked up at him as he jogged beside the stretcher.

She knew him.

“Please, I wish—” she began.

G’Liam of the Go’Doan, their Education Minister, looked down at her.

“Don’t speak. Save your strength,” he ordered. “I am uncertain I can repair the damage. This effort will be impossible if you do not help me.”

She was near to losing consciousness, therefore she’d have no choice but to “help.”

She was also confused.

“You wish to repair the—?”

“We are not all like them, and we are not all ignorant of their intrigues. Last, there are some of us who do not fear them, but instead are intent to do something about it. Now be quiet. I have a makeshift operating theater up ahead. It is not the best, but it will have to do.”

Melisse had no choice but to be quiet.

She’d blacked out.

78

The Decryption

Princess Serena

Go’Doan Temple, East Side, Notting Thicket

WODELL

Chu had managed to find Serena a better-fitting disguise, but still, she would be glad to see the back of that heavy gown with its tight bodice and never-ending skirts.

This thought was only vaguely on her mind.

Mostly, she was considering those notes they’d stolen.

She was doing this with her hands on the handle of a broom, her hair bound up and hidden under a kerchief, not doing very well sweeping a hall in a Go’Doan temple.

In disguise, she had approached the priests, declaring her desire to become a Go’Ella.

They had explained that, before she could be initiated into the sect, she would have to demonstrate her faith in all three of their gods as well as her desire to serve its priests.

And wouldn’t you know it…

The way they expected her to do this was by sweeping floors, polishing candlesticks, cleaning windows, and the like.

This was not surprising.

But it was annoying.

Though it had to be done for her to get close enough to overhear.

So it was done.

Chu had likely become one with a wall somewhere, such was his ability to grow invisible.

But he was never far.

Not ever.

And not because he didn’t trust her.

Also not because he had a mission he wished to see through (or not only because of that).