“I told you not to take her out of your world. Why do you think I asked Uriel to help us?” Patience said. Her face was relaxed, her tone almost offhand. Chance stared at her, but her attention was almost entirely on Miranda. She crouched closer, put her arms around Miranda’s silent, shivering form, and rocked back and forth. Chance began to reach toward Miranda, awkward in his guilt and shame.

There was a blurring of vision, a subtle shift as if a too-heavy foot had shaken reality, and Uriel stood before them, casting a massive shadow that was slashed with light and color. The angel did not look angry—yet—but the tension in the air was frightening. Both Chance and the Trickster stopped short, speechless.

“You should not have brought her outside,” the angel said.

“It was only for a moment. A blink of an eye. She was never in the world, just on the edges,” the Trickster tried to explain.

“You took her from our protection. There is nothing we can do for her now.” The angel turned away from them, and there was a sighing and drawing up of the very fabric of the place as it warped under the strain of their leaving.

“No, wait!” Chance shouted. “Please, you promised your help! We still need you!”

The angel refused to turn around as they stated with finality, “You brought her out. He has the feel of her thread now. There is nothing that can be done. We did what we said we would do. We can do no more.”

They became one with the overwhelming light at the horizon and disappeared.

“Well,” said Patience sadly, “that’s that. I will have to step in after all. Now that you have the trail, you can go find him. I’ll take care of Miranda.”

“Who was that undying one? You already know—why don’t you tell us? Why send us to waste time chasing him down?” The Trickster sounded angry, but Chance knew he was still scared.

Patience looked up at him, and her smile was strangely sorrowful. “You of all people should know that I cannot pick and choose when it comes to which of my children I can help. I have decided to allow free will, and I am holding to that decision, as much suffering as it may cause me from time to time.”

She looked down at Miranda again with pain and regret. “Now go, before he causes more disruption.”

Chance went on one knee before Patience and touched Miranda’s arm lightly. His gaze fixed on Patience. “I am sorry.”

Patience bowed her head in acknowledgment, and her grieved expression eased somewhat, but she only repeated softly, “Go.”

Chance stood and turned to the Trickster. In silence they agreed on their destination, and in silence they vanished.

CHAPTER NINE

“You are far too calm about this,” the Trickster snarled.