“No. The oath of the oracle is a much different path from an asha. For as long as I continue to provide counsel, the elders take little interest in my affairs. They are not a group to question custom or tradition. They believe I have no power beyond the walls of my temple, yet many of my steadfast followers—like Altaecia—are eager to carry out my orders without question. The elders have no inkling of how much we have accomplished under their noses.”

“You personally inflicted people with the Blight rune.”

“An unfortunate necessity. A secret passed down from the first oracle, should another Dark asha prove too intractable. In the past, such insubordinations were taken care of quietly, without drawing attention. But with the time for shadowglass close at hand, I no longer see the need to hide.”

They killed asha, I thought. They used Blight to kill Dark asha who knew the truth but spurned their offers. I redoubled my efforts, the azi lurching forward. It paid off, and two of the three heads found daeva flesh, biting into the akvan’s neck.

The akvan wailed, but one of its tusks pierced the azi’s hide, preventing it from retreating. The azi struggled, but it was too strong. I pushed back, frantically searching for another way to disentangle it from the akvan. Without thinking, I drew my knife.

And then, to my shock, I threw it in Kalen’s direction. He whirled, deflecting the unexpected attack with another Shield, but his distraction was costly. One of Altaecia’s cutting winds sliced at him, and he stumbled backward, gasping for breath as blood pooled from his stomach.

“No!” I was immobile, compelled without my knowing it. I couldn’t move my hands, my feet. Druj spoke again, but this time she was the only voice inside my head.

I have been doing this for a very long time, Tea, she murmured. I have been given instruction by teachers greater than Aenah or Usij. Did you think you could overcome me so easily?

The azi slipped from my grasp and collapsed. The akvan continued to wrap itself around its brother, rumbling.

Kalen was down on one knee, his hand pressed against his midsection. “Tea,” he rasped. Altaecia stood over him with one hand raised over his head, her face sorrowing. “Don’t listen to them.”

There is still time. Pledge yourself to me, and I will promise to heal Kalen. I will promise to keep him safe from what follows.

“Listen to her, Tea,” Altaecia said. “We can do more as allies than enemies, and I do not wish to kill any more friends today.”

“Did you kill Sakmeet?” I demanded.

“Does it matter?”

“You killed her.” Althy’d betrayed us from the very start. “You were never a friend,” I spat.