“Wow,” Likh commented. “Vernasha of the Roses was kind of a bitch.”

“Likh!” Rahim exclaimed, unsuccessfully curbing his laughter.

Althy had nearly drove the librarians insane, having them pull every conceivable book Istera had about rune magic. But despite our efforts, there was nothing much to find.

They are Little Tears’s seed, none of whom must come to pass. Vernasha had meant Dark asha. That was why Dark asha could command the daeva—only those who commanded the Dark could bring about shadowglass.

“Likh may have a point, Rahim,” Kalen said wryly. “It seems that Kion was built on a lie.”

“Nobody’s going to believe us,” Khalad pointed out. “The legend according to Vernasha has been too ingrained in people’s beliefs. They would cling to their faith rather than see it shattered. I suspect that was what Vernasha intended all along.”

“I can’t believe it.” Likh sounded disheartened. We had compared the letter Sakmeet had hidden to a collection of Vernasha’s other works, and the writing matched perfectly. “This isn’t why I wanted to be an asha.”

“This shouldn’t stop you from being proud to be one,” Althy said firmly.

Likh stared down at his lap, downcast. Khalad cast a worried glance at him.

“It’s late,” the older asha went on. “A day changes nothing, and we will be back at Kion tomorrow. We’d all best get some rest.”

“Althy,” I said, after the others had left, “how did Mykkie kill the last Dark asha before me?” Now that the urgency had passed, I wanted my answer.

“You are persistent,” my mentor said. “But I did promise you the story in our freer moments. Her name was Illara. She was a strong-willed novice in her own right. You remind me a bit of her, in fact. But unlike you, she was too free with drawing in the Dark, and she took on more than she could handle. She grew reckless and intractable. Her heartsglass had not even darkened yet when she botched a daeva raising and, in a moment of madness, tried to use it to attack Arhen-Kosho. She assaulted a small fishing community, swept it out to sea. And while Mykkie grieved, she never faltered. She killed her charge. It was the only way. Don’t think much of it, Tea. You’re different than she was.”

Althy excused herself after sharing the story, and I stared at the paper in my hand, as if I could rearrange the words if I willed it long enough. There was more to Vernasha’s letter beyond her admission of guilt.