He drew a thick fur cloak about himself, then pulled up another stool and sat facing me, close. His manner was light and jovial, but I saw the apprehension underneath.

“I brought you this,” I said, and took the Book of Hamash from under the folds in my cloak.

Amasai took it to the tent entrance, unrolling it in the pale morning light. He did not speak while he read. Then slowly he rolled the scroll again, and stood for a time looking out across his army and the mountains beyond. I waited, hardly daring to breathe. At last he came back and sat down. He held the scroll across his knees, his knuckles white, as if it were a heavy thing.

“I had heard that such a book existed,” he said quietly, “but I had not believed it. Where did you find it, Elsha?”

“In a concealed room in the libraries.”

“The libraries are guarded – and now I see why.”

“I was shown a secret way to them, through the infirmary.”

“You have friends in Kasimarra, then. Be careful. Maelmor has spies everywhere.”

“That is why I came here now, before day. But soon everyone will know the Book of Hamash.”

He lifted his head, looked straight into my eyes. He looked suddenly immensely weary, as if all the burdens of the world lay on his soul. “I cannot say I will publish it openly,” he said, “but I will read it to my men. And then I will ask them to fight not for the Quelled, not for a Firewoman, nor even for right … but for truth.”

He sighed, deeply. “It is a hard thing, Elsha, to suddenly know that everything I have believed all my life is a lie. I am glad for your sake that we have the scroll. I grieve for the Chosen. And I fear the Quelled and the fury this will fire in them. This parchment has the power to change the world. It has already done much. Now it must undo. You must be very careful where you take it.”

“I will take it nowhere,” I said, standing up. “It is yours, Amasai. You have more wisdom than I have in these things. I’m a diviner, not a strategist.”

“You could have fooled me,” he smiled. Then he stood also, his face very grave. “You trust me with a great thing, Elsha.”

“I trust you with the future of my race, and with my life,” I said.

Laken met me at the entrance to my apartments, and told me that Zune sought an audience with me. “It is urgent, woman,” she said, her old face creased in anxiety. “He is very angry.”

I met him in the small private library that I loved. I felt my Firelord’s presence strongly here, and the place was holy to me. Tonight, with Zune, I wanted us both to feel his influence.