Vessel

“Keep fighting,” Liyana whispered to her. “You can survive this. Stay in your body.”

Inside, Bayla reared like a sandstorm, and Liyana felt herself blown backward. The world went black and silent, and she kept falling back, back, back. Liyana forced her mind into her body, flooding her arms and legs and fingers and chest and feet.

Subdued again, Bayla was silent. At last she said, You seem to have forgotten your role, vessel. You promised me this body.

Liyana blinked open her eyes to see Korbyn only a few inches away. He cradled her in his arms. “Still me,” Liyana said. Guilt washed through her—it shouldn’t still be her. Bayla was right. Liyana had promised to leave. But if there was no harm in staying a little while longer . . .

A look of relief flashed across his face.

Korbyn? Bayla’s voice was tinged with pain and confusion.

“Bayla, is she—” Korbyn began.

“Inside,” Liyana said. “Angry. Confused.” She thought of what Talu would say if she knew Liyana remained. She wouldn’t understand why Liyana delayed. Of course Liyana intended to leave as soon as it was truly necessary. She got to her feet and checked on Raan. She was unconscious again. Liyana felt her pulse—stronger than it had been. “We’ll tie her to one of the horses, a calm mare preferably, and someone will ride beside her.”

“And what about me? How do you expect me to ride?” Oyri demanded. “Will you tie me to a saddle like a sack as well? It is insupportable that I must rely—”

Liyana cut her off. “Pia learned to ride. Fennik . . . Sendar, would you please choose their horses and help them mount?”

Sendar looked at Korbyn quizzically. “You allow the mortal to give orders?”

Korbyn shrugged. “She gives good orders.”

He cares for you, Bayla said. More than for me? I will see you suffer for this outrage.

Liyana felt a wave of fear crash through her, and she knew Bayla must feel her reaction too. She’d never thought she would fear her goddess. Any harm to me is harm to your future body.

Then I will break you from the inside out, Bayla vowed.

Sendar prepared the horses while Korbyn packed the tent. Leading Oyri and Raan and the supply horses, they rode out. Liyana tried hard not to think at all.

* * *

Once the border hills were distant silhouettes, the deities and Liyana halted and set up camp under the light of the moon. Liyana and Korbyn pitched the tent and started a fire while Sendar tended to the horses. He cooed to their mounts as if they were kittens. As he curried them, Liyana and Korbyn helped Oyri off her horse and into the tent, and then they slid Raan off her horse.

No one spoke.

Korbyn laid Raan next to the fire, and Liyana checked her pulse. Strong again. She wondered if that was a good sign or not. Adding more fuel to the fire, Liyana turned away.

“She’s awake,” Korbyn said. He pointed at Raan. Or Maara.

Liyana knelt in front of her. “Are you . . .” Her throat closed, and she couldn’t complete the question. Please, please, she silently begged.

Acidly, Bayla asked, Who precisely are you praying to?

Liyana stopped.

“Raan.” Her voice was a croak. “You?”

“Still Liyana,” she said. Relief poured through her and made her head swim. She felt her cheeks stretch from her smile, though she hadn’t realized she was smiling. Her eyes felt hot. She blinked hard, holding back the hot tears. She didn’t know why she felt such relief—the fact that she and Raan remained was unnatural, and she should have abhorred it.

“I should have practiced more,” Raan said. “Never could get the sense of my full self. And now . . . Liyana, I can’t feel my arms or legs.”

Liyana suddenly understood. She met Korbyn’s eyes. “It’s the magic, isn’t it? All your training. That’s why I can hold my body. And Raan . . . She’s only partially trained.”

I knew this was his fault! Bayla said. She swirled fast and furious. Liyana tried to keep her breathing even, but her head whirred and her heart thudded.

Coming out of the tent, Oyri stumbled toward them. “You taught them magic?”

Of all the arrogant, ignorant . . . , Bayla raged.

“Vessels should never be taught magic!” Oyri said.

Raan coughed, and her body spasmed. “Because that makes us harder to kill? Do you feel any remorse for murdering Pia? She was the purest person I have ever met, and you displaced her!”

Joining them by the fire, Sendar glanced at Raan. “She’s not Maara,” he observed.

Oyri spat into the sand. “It’s Korbyn’s fault. He taught them magic.”

Korbyn rose to his feet. “Did you know? Any of you, did you know that training a vessel could save him or her?” He turned to Liyana, and he knelt on one knee. “I swear to you. I did not deliberately keep this knowledge from the desert people. If I had known . . .”

Bayla churned. If you had known, what would you have done? Saved your vessel? I doubt that. You know as well as I do that we have responsibilities, and we need bodies to perform them.

Taking a breath, Liyana repeated Bayla’s words.

“If we can fulfill our responsibilities without causing death . . . ,” Korbyn began.

Sendar waved his hand at Liyana. “You aren’t revolted by this creature? A mortal is keeping her goddess caged inside of her. You should hate her for this crime, especially since the victim is your purported love.” Sendar lifted Liyana’s chin and stared into her eyes as if he could see Bayla within them. “Bayla, I love you enough to set you free, if there were but a way.”

Liyana felt Bayla’s emotions roil inside her—betrayal, pain, anger, all directed at Korbyn. I gave you my heart, and this is how you repay me. Loyalty to a sheep.

Just because he doesn’t want me to die doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you, Liyana thought at Bayla. It only means that he has a good heart.

The raven has no heart, Bayla said.

“Of course I love Bayla,” Korbyn said. “I simply do not see why Liyana should have to die if both souls can inhabit one body.”

“I think it’s her fault,” Raan whispered. “Maara. She won’t let me move.”

“Focus on your body,” Liyana said. She clasped Raan’s hand. “You don’t lack for willpower, Raan. You’re strong. You can do this.”

“You’re the strong one.” Raan closed her eyes as she winced. “It hurts. Why does my goddess hurt me?” She started to whimper.

I could hurt you, Bayla whispered.

Liyana froze. She felt as if her blood had chilled. Bayla churned inside her. “Our stories claim you choose vessels because of your great love for us. So why do you do this?” Liyana asked. She looked up at Korbyn and at Sendar, but her words were for Bayla. “You’re supposed to love us! To help us! If we don’t have to die, why kill us? Mulaf believes deities are parasites. Please, tell me he isn’t right!”

Korbyn looked ill. His hands shook, and he turned away from her.

“Bayla, fight this human,” Sendar said. “She poisons the very air with her words.”

Raan coughed again. “You are the poison.” She then closed her eyes, and her head lolled to the side. Her body twitched. After a moment she lay still, unconscious again.

“Raan!” Liyana shook her.

“I have had enough of this sacrilege,” Sendar said. “At dawn we split ways. I will lead my clan to intercept the army at the foot of the forbidden mountains. You will join us there. United, our clans will eliminate this scourge.”

“If this is a ploy to seize power—” Korbyn began.