My stomach turned over with revulsion. “You’re a disgrace,” I hissed. “Cruel. Careless. You show none of Damyan’s love. None of Darina’s compassion.”

Thoman sneered. “How would you know anything about love, Bophan? You care more for shadows.”

“People died on Idris.” My voice hitched. “We were just at the memorial for the hundreds of thousands of people who perished when Idris rose. You say they deserved it, but you don’t know the people of Idris—and now you never will. They did not deserve to die. Even if their leaders were corrupt, they were no more corrupt than the people of any other island. Look at the Luminary Council. Worshiping the god and goddess of love didn’t prevent them from hurting the Daminan people, and now they’re dead. Murdered. Answer this: Since you think it’s right to punish people for the actions of their leaders, do you think you deserve the same fate, Daminan?”

The businessman and his friends were quiet a moment, and then Lilana sneered. “You think you know so much about the world, but you’re a child. A naïve child.”

Her words hit me with fears I’d only recently begun to understand—that I didn’t know enough about the world, that I couldn’t possibly make a difference, that my experiences didn’t matter—but she was wrong. I knew, even if I didn’t always feel it, that she was wrong. “Maybe I don’t know exactly how the world works, but I know how it should work, and I know that people like you are the reason it’s broken. Enjoy trading on the works of our dead brothers and sisters. It’s the only thing you have left.”

I turned and strode away, Aaru at my side, and we went straight through the dancers as we made our way to the main door, but an older woman stopped me. “Please don’t leave,” she said. “This ball was just getting interesting, thanks to you and your friend.”

Aaru and I glanced at each other, and finally I nodded. I hadn’t intended to be quite so interesting, but we still had to find Nine. We still needed to get into the summit in the morning.

And I still needed to know more about the empire. The eclipse. The bones.

“Good,” said the woman. “My name is Valmae. Let’s introduce you to some people who aren’t complete dolts.”

Moments later, I came face-to-face with Mother.

CHAPTER TEN

“ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE MY NEW FRIEND,” VALMAE said to my mother. “This is Caseye—”

I couldn’t stop staring. My mother. Right in front of me.

Part of me was so happy to see her as we clasped hands in greeting, but I couldn’t help but notice the way she glanced at my scar, like she couldn’t believe it hadn’t worn off yet. Even as Paorah’s captive, she still had the energy to judge me.

Valmae kept talking, completely oblivious to the uncomfortable way Mother and I looked at each other. “And this, I’m sure you know,” Valmae said, “is Mira Minkoba’s own mother. The Hopebearer’s mother.”