“There’s a waiting period after becoming an asha before Likh can accept such offers, even if he were willing,” I told the man gently, “and he hasn’t quite finished his training yet.”

“Would…would the rates be different if he ain’t a girl?” Balfour asked, almost mournfully, and his fellows roared. The asha in question was already beet red, mouth open as he stared at the contrite Yadoshan. Khalad looked horrified. He stared at Balfour—I was pleased to observe—with almost the same look Likh had when Lord Cyran had taken Khalad’s hand back in Istera.

“Yadoshans,” Kalen said again, shaking his head.

• • •

Preliminary reports told us, as Lord Aden confirmed, that Kance’s army had yet to arrive at Mithra’s Wall but was expected to in three days. The Yadoshan army had already moved out to add to their numbers, itching to get to the fighting before the Odalians could. At Kalen’s insistence, I reluctantly agreed to spend the night in Thanh instead of setting out immediately.

“Azi or not, it’s suicidal to face down a Drychta army and a Faceless lurking within their ranks without rest,” he reminded me. “We’ll get there long before Stefan’s soldiers, even if you stay the next two nights. Let’s not head into a potential battle before conserving our strength.”

I’d fallen asleep quickly after dinner, after another round of Delving to ensure that there were no other traitors in our midst, but woke up around midnight, trembling. There were no visions or nightmares this time—I had not experienced those since leaving Odalia.

This time it was different. I had a strange feeling of fear and discomfort, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something bad was about to happen…and that I would be powerless to prevent it.

I stole quietly out of bed, so as not to disturb Kalen, and hesitated before the window, looking up at the moon. Slowly, I reached for the azi and felt its gentle presence reach out for mine. It was soaring with no particular destination in mind, enjoying the wind billowing underneath its wings, the fresh, cool air against its three heads.

That’s what true freedom looks like, I thought enviously. Nothing but endless sky before you, as far as you dare.

I retreated slightly. Despite my promise never to make contact with Fox again—for the fear that he would be accused of being an accessory to my actions—I stepped out, reaching across the miles between us. The door separating us that I had so carefully built in my mind, the painstaking seals I had placed to keep myself out, crumbled easily at my touch.