Aziza clasped her hands together with a sharp slap. “Simply excelsior. Now he can’t use this revelation against you during your fight.” She smirked, the process taking twice as long as it needed to. “And with my final gift awaiting outside, our tea party is now concluded.”

  I barely had time to shove the demonic ruby into my cape pocket before fumbling for my sword. “Don’t you dare think this is over—”

  “Good luck in fulfilling your Purpose once again! Try not to die first.”

  The room warped and wavered around us as the tables and chairs disappeared. Aziza herself was the last to dissolve into the forming muted gray fog, with her malicious, fanged smile hovering for a few seconds before it dissipated with a ghostly chortle. A shrill buzzing filled my ears as streaks of light cut through the haze, revealing the Wastelands once more.

  Nora whirled around. “Anhinga!” she cried, pointing at the disheveled demon several yards behind us. While the others drew weapons in response, something about their movements felt off—stilted, maybe even hesitant.

  “That way,” Anhinga said, thrusting a clawed finger toward the northwest. “Atop the cliffs lies his tower.”

  He was pointing at nothing.

  I glanced at Aleph, but he wouldn’t meet my gaze. Tetora, however, threw me a quick, tense glance before nodding toward Anhinga, signaling me to focus.

  “There aren’t any cliffs out—”

  “Hold the gemstone, human,” he said in exasperation. “And take this one with you when you leave.”

  With a snap of his fingers, a dark portal blossomed between us. Sir Sorne, unkempt and wild-eyed, led his equally confused and trembling horse by the reins from its center toward us. Relias rushed over, though it did not seem that either needed any physical healing.

  “Thanks to Lady Nora’s understanding of translocation, we’re now able to transport amity users with greater efficiency and safety.” Anhinga frowned, folding his massive arms. “I haven’t figured out why she’d want to do such a thing, but I suspect it's part of her plan to domesticate humanity.”

  “Domesticate humanity?” I asked shrilly.

  Anhinga grinned, his beak opening wide with silent laughter. “We’d be better off. I’d much rather feed off people like Count Matthis than subsist off the scraps tearing off from up there.” He pointed again at the empty horizon.

  What the heck is he talking about?

  Muttering under my breath, I ended up pulling out the gemstone. Flames leapt from its core, but they had no heat behind them. When I lifted my gaze once more toward the northeast, something shifted. The landscape distorted, revealing a sheer, jagged cliff face, as if the very earth had been torn open and thrust skyward. At its peak loomed a massive tower, encased in a pulsing crimson barrier. The bubble spun slowly, pushing continuous waves of animus down the cliff face, only to be caught in the wind and scattered across the Wastelands.

  “Nutritious, sure. But it lacks the spice of spirit,” Anhinga said with a sigh. “Every human’s flavor is a little different. They should be cultivated and savored!”

  Disgust churned in my stomach. I shoved the gemstone back into my pocket and reached for my sword.

  Anhinga cackled, already stepping backward into the swirling darkness of Sir Sorne’s portal as it shriveled up.

  Now what do I do?

  Anyone?!

  None of them answered.

  Some fair-weather heroes you are!

  “They took them!” Sir Sorne suddenly shouted, his hands trembling. “My powers! They’re gone!”

  Startled, I turned as Relias clasped the knight’s hands in his own.

  “Let’s go back to Bastion Bianco,” Relias advised, his face cloudy and unreadable. “I would confer with the priests residing there about this affliction.”

  Aleph, Tetora, and Vernie had already started walking back toward the fort in the distance.

  “They took them,” Sir Sorne repeated as Relias led him and his horse. “I saw them do it. They took my aura and put it in a jewel. They used it, Holy Sage! They can use amity. My amity!”

  “I do not believe they will ever be masters of it,” Relias replied, placing a hand on his shoulder. A subtle glow from his fingers seemed to calm Sir Sorne somewhat, his shoulders starting to sag. “Let’s concentrate on returning to safety for now.”

  “Yes…” Sir Sorne replied almost sleepily as he plodded forward, his breath steadying. “I wish to rest…”

  Only Nora remained beside me, her wide eyes full of unspoken questions.

  I swallowed hard. “About what just happened… I—”

  Nora’s hand patted my upper arm reassuringly. Then she mouthed, "Not now," and pointed ahead, where the others had picked up their pace.

  With unease crawling beneath my skin, I fell into step beside her, and we both started jogging to catch up.

  “Guess… I’m going to need a new pair of gauntlets,” I said with a nervous laugh. “Or maybe just one. They don’t have to necessarily match, right?”

  No one turned or answered out loud, but Relias sent me a mental message.

  “They need a little time to process. Do not let their hesitancy trouble you.”

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Being one to routinely defy advice and reason, however, the extended, soul-crushing silence was the only thing I could focus on during my walk of shame back to base.

  Sir Sorne’s appearance at the gate along with us at sunset was a shock to many, and word of his return spread like wildfire through the camp. While we were initially credited with his rescue, I knew the truth.

  We hadn’t done anything to save him. Honestly, I had thought he died, and I hadn’t invested in any plans to retrieve him or his corpse.

  His squadmates rushed forward as we entered, flooding the space with cheers and whistles. But as Sir Sorne stood stiffly among them, his vacant stare unnerved even his closest comrades. The excitement died away, and slowly, the crowd backed off.

  Looking around, I realized Aleph, Tetora, and Vernie had already disappeared into the growing shadows, slipping away while everyone else was distracted.

  “Is it alright to let them just go off like that?” Nora asked.

  “Maybe I should say something to Relias—"

  But he was already engaged in a hushed conversation with a group of priests. Their body language was tense, and even without hearing them, I knew their discussion revolved around Sir Sorne’s condition.

  “On second thought, I should leave him be.”

  “Welcome back, Captain Lightbringer,” Captain Sonea called out triumphantly from behind. “To you as well, Lady Nora. I’m sure you both have quite the stories to tell.”

  Stories to tell…

  What if they tell?

  What if they tell someone about the contract?

  They wouldn’t.

  They… they wouldn’t, right?

  No one would believe it.

  I don’t believe it.

  I don’t want to believe it.

  “Captain Lightbringer, are you alright?”

  Captain Sonea was waving her hand just inches from my face.

  “I… Yes. I’m fine.”

  She pursed her lips and reached out for my right arm.

  “Don’t touch me!” The words ripped out of me before I could think. I stumbled back, my cursed hand clenched into a fist.

  “Forgive me, Captain. I overstepped my bounds,” she replied stiffly as she straightened. “You just looked a little… stricken.”

  Realizing my breathing was erratic, I forced myself to take a deep breath, then another, and another. I could feel Nora’s hand on my back, but it didn’t seem to be helping. From the corner of my tunneling vision, Relias broke away from his colleagues, striding toward us with swift, deliberate steps.

  “Our confrontation with the Mistress was not without consequence,” he said smoothly. “And I have not yet ensured that the Chosen One is free from corruption or harm. If you would be so kind as to escort us to a private area for treatment, I would appreciate it.”

  “At once,” Captain Sonea replied.

  “I can no longer feel the blessings of Euphridia,” Relias concluded in a whisper, his hand turning mine over once more. “The Mistress must have somehow stripped—”

  “She knows what I did,” I uttered, unable to tear my eyes away from the back of my hand.

  “I do not believe what we saw is the entire truth, Dear One,” Relias murmured. “Mistress Aziza would not be an entity worthy of—”

  “Not her,” I replied absently. “Euphridia. She knows. Why else would she have sealed it away?”

  “Ones such as us can never really fathom the actions of—”

  The wooden door slammed open, splinters scattering from around the lock. Nora stood in its frame, the violet orb atop her staff pulsing.

  “Vernie’s gone!”

  “What do you mean, she’s gone?” I shouted, jumping to my feet. “Another demon attack?”

  Nora shook her head. “She told the guards she had orders from you to return to Chairo with an urgent message.”

  Icy reality washed over me, not quite numbing my limbs but coming very close to it.

  Off to Chairo?

  As if!

  “Come on!” Nora pressed. “Aleph and Tetora are getting our horses ready.”

  “No, they’re not.” The words coming out of my mouth were sharp and cynical for reasons I didn't really understand. “They just told you that to distract you. Don’t blame yourself, though.”

  Nora and Relias exchanged a quick, frantic glance but insisted on leaving to rendezvous with them.

  “Hurry up!” Nora wailed, going so far as to pull me along with her. “Why are you dragging your feet?”

  Because it's already over.

  “Ah…” I said with a mournful sigh, seeing the two of them at the gate with only their mounts. “Looks like we’ll have to see them off after all.”

  Nora blinked. “What in the name of Euphridia has gotten into—”

  “I would advise you to wait until morning,” I called to Aleph. “It’s dangerous to ride at night.”

  He turned slowly, his long face filled with disgust and loathing. “Captain Lightbringer,” he rumbled through gritted teeth.

  Tetora looked more torn in his actions, his tail lashing about wildly as the tips of his ears remained pinned to the back of his head.

  “Lady Nora,” Relias whispered. “Please ensure the secrecy of our conversation.”

  Nora’s jaw hung in the air for a moment, but she complied, casting the same spell she had used for our private girl talks. A lavender sheen rippled through the air as she lowered her hands.

  “I have nothing left to teach you.” Aleph’s voice was heavy with the finality of the words. He stepped into the saddle with ease, barely having to rise to meet it.

  “And I no longer have faith or trust in you.”

  Tears filled his eyes, but they never fell. “Worse still, I no longer trust myself to keep you safe.” His voice cracked, but he did not falter. “Therefore, I will stop the line. My presence is not only unnecessary, but also detrimental to you.”

  Tetora yelped. “You should at least give her the chance to explain!”

  Aleph tilted his head back and forth, his cold gaze settling on me but never meeting my eyes. “Go on then, Captain. Why did you do it? Why did you forsake this world… its inhabitants… my kin?”

  His lips pressed together, his pained expression hardening in the torchlight. “Why did you hand everything over to another demon? Why did you defy our creator? Why did you abandon your Purpose?”

  Relias raised a hand before I could even pretend to answer. “Why are you so quick to believe that the Mistress would show us the truth, Aleph?”

  “Are you saying it was an illusion?” Aleph stared stony-faced at Relias.

  Relias hesitated. “No, Old Friend. I would not say it was as such. But I believe—”

  “The inheritance you left was insufficient to protect us, Captain,” Aleph continued. “Did you think you could fix everything with money? That you could walk away from your duty, from us, and we would simply accept it?

  He gathered up the reins in his massive hands. “I do not know why Euphridia continues to put her faith in you. Perhaps she truly is merciful to allow you this chance to repent. But I cannot follow you any longer.”

  He snapped the reins once.

  “May the Goddess be with you in my stead.”

  And with that, he rode away.

  I turned my eyes to Tetora.

  “Well?” I asked. “What are you waiting for?”

  His eyes flashed, both ears righting. “Your explanation.”

  “I don’t have one for you because I can’t remember any of it.” I folded my arms, feigning indifference. “You should hurry.”

  He’s going to need you more than ever now.

  Tetora’s tail flicked sharply. “Are you kicking me out?” he asked, his voice full of disbelief.

  “Are you saying you have something of substance to offer, Tiger?”

  “Raelynn!” Relias objected. “That was uncalled for!”

  Tetora snarled and leapt onto his horse. With a sharp pull of the reins, they bolted into the darkness, an angry cloud of dirt forming behind them.

  “Why didn’t you stop them?” Nora demanded. “It was like you wanted them to leave!”

  “I would second that observation, Lady Nora.” Relias’s voice was much calmer. “Would you care to enlighten us, Captain?”

  I turned away, forcing my shoulders to stay stiff as my tears started to spill. “They made their choice. I’m not going to beg them to stay. If either of you has a problem with that, you’re free to go find your horses, too.”

  I lost their trust, and I don't have anything at my disposal now to win it back.

  Relias sighed. “Dear One, your acting is not nearly as convincing as you believe it to be.”

  I flinched hard enough to stumble.

  “The only reason they fell for it is because they are still drowning in disbelief. But I see through it.” His hand touched my shoulder. “I know you, Rachel. I know your heart. And I know, without question, that whatever you did, you had no choice.”

  His next words shattered me.

  “Know that I will not abandon you.”

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