He bent over it and read, “To the sirens, as demi-gods, they gave them their dominion as was their wont, fearsome power to play with those on the seas, so the sailors would revere them and pray to them. To the Mer, their chosen, the ones that sprang forth from their love, they gave the bounty of The Deep. To the beings, they gave them land to sew and reap and make plenty. To the charmed, they gave magic, to hold and protect. To the demons, they gave havoc, in order that all their creatures would know adversity, and how to draw together to overcome it.”

Ry pushed that tome away, pulled another out from under one to his left, opened it at a marked page, and read.

“But the demons did not lose their purpose. And when the land was locked in turmoil, the Beasts would sleep. But when the land sought serenity, the Beasts would awaken. And those proclaimed would face the challenge. In victory, this homage to the goodness of the gods would make them rise. In defeat, the demons would kill the gods to become gods themselves and the realm of Triton would grow dark for eternity.”

He turned to another marked page.

“For the proclaimed would be born holding the power of the gods. And they would wield it. But the god would call his sacrifice. And he would have it. And then the power would be unleashed.”

“What sacrifice?” Farah whispered.

“You have all sacrificed along this journey, have you not?” Ry, catching her mood, said soothingly.

I sat, struck.

“Yes,” Farah answered.

“No,” I said.

They both looked at me.

“You…” Farah began, but she didn’t go on, for it was true. I hadn’t. Not like the rest of them. Then she said, “Aramus lost his man in Fire City.”

“Aramus did, but I barely knew him.”

I said these words at the same time I felt my blood run cold.

Farah reached a hand to me and murmured, “Ha-Lah.”

“Is there more about this sacrifice?” I asked G’Ry.

He shook his head. “That is the only mention of it, my dear.”

“You barely knew Aramus when you married,” Farah tried. “You didn’t get along.”

My eyes drifted to the window.

“You might not have known Aramus’s man, but your husband mourned his loss and he is a part of you,” Farah continued. “You definitely knew Jasmine. You—”

“Triton will require of me,” I whispered.

“Ha-Lah,” Farah curled her fingers around my forearm, “don’t say that.”

“I have not sacrificed for the prophecy,” I said tonelessly.

“There is but one note about it, my queen. We have already learned some of the words were written in error. Perhaps it means nothing,” Ry suggested.