‘In that place, up is no longer up. Distance is irrelevant. Maps are meaningless. Would it matter where you entered it? Perhaps. Perhaps not.’

‘I’m going to go there. Will you help me?’

‘That depends on why you wish to go.’

Pari hesitated. She had feared they would ask this. To tell them the truth would place Arkav at risk of being branded an abomination. But to lie to the Bringers was a crime. To lie to their faces was insanity.

‘My reasons are my own. But perhaps we could come to some arrangement? What can I do in exchange for your help?’

The Bringers said nothing. It soon became clear this was not a pause, but a reply in and of itself. They’re not interested, thought Pari, and began to despair.

‘She wants to go for my sake,’ said Arkav.

Pari turned sharply towards him. ‘Don’t. We know where to start, we can work out the rest on our own.’

One of the Bringers at the back of the group snorted.

‘Imagine if our situations were reversed, Pari. Would you let me do this without help? Without even knowing the risks?’

She pouted. ‘No.’

‘Would you let me die for you?’

She felt the urge to cry but pushed it down. ‘No.’

‘Then I have to tell them. It’s our best chance.’ He broke eye contact with her to address the Bringers directly. ‘When I am reborn, a part of me doesn’t come back. Pari saw it when she was between lives. She wants to go and get it. To make me whole again.’

Pari felt their attention move swiftly to her. ‘You remember your time between lives?’

‘Not all of it. Snatches. And, I think I’ve seen Arkav there more than once. The memories are hard to hold onto though. It’s like trying to recall a dream.’

The Bringers formed a circle that excluded them and began to whisper amongst themselves. Pari didn’t need to be able to make out the words to know they were having an argument.

At one point, two of the Bringers came over to stare at Arkav. They moved their wands up and down his body, studying the way the light played on his skin, then they returned to the others and the whispers continued.

‘You seem very calm about this,’ Pari murmured to her brother. ‘I’m jealous.’

‘For the longest time, I’ve been lost, and I haven’t even been able to say why. At least now, thanks to you, I know that something will happen.’

‘Even if it means the end of your life?’