“I stole this,” he announced, tossing the glowing ball over the heads of Tarja and Jenga. Brak snatched the ball out of the air and examined it curiously.
“What is it?”
“It’s her intellect.”
Jenga stared at the boy uncomprehendingly as Tarja took the glowing sphere from Brak. “What do you mean, her intellect?”
The god shrugged, as if it hardly needed an explanation. “It’s all the bits that go into making her what she is. I couldn’t steal it all; that would kill her, and I’m not allowed to do that. But I took all the icky bits. Now she’s just like a little child.”
“What happens if this is destroyed?” Tarja asked, holding the ball up to the light. “Will it kill her?”
“No. She’ll just stay like this. It’s pretty clever, don’t you think?”
Tarja did not answer. He simply dropped the ball to the ground, crushed it beneath the heel of his boot, and then looked at Jenga.
“My Lord, the First Sister appears to be incapacitated,” he said, as if she had come down with a cold. “We have an offer of an alliance to discuss. Would you be so kind as to act in lieu of a member of the Quorum?”
Jenga barely hesitated as he finally crossed the line into treason. He glanced at Tarja before he turned to the Warlord.
“We must talk,” he said to Damin.
Out of the corner of his eye, Brak saw Mahina leading Joyhinia away. Mahina nodded patiently as Joyhinia said something to her and then giggled. She sounded like a five-year-old child. As he turned back, Brak caught sight of Draco approaching Tarja cautiously. Tarja deliberately turned his back on him and walked away. All around them, the rebels, the Defenders, and the Hythrun wore expressions of complete bewilderment.
“You’re going to have to do something about the rest of the Sisterhood,” Damin said as he swung a leg over his saddle and jumped to the ground. “You can’t fight the Kariens effectively with one arm tied behind your back.”
“I must reluctantly agree,” Glenanaran added. “This moment, while historic, is only just the beginning.”
“Aye,” Jenga agreed heavily.
Brak was saddened by the expression on Jenga’s face. The weight of his treason pressed on him, as it would for the rest of his days. For this to be resolved now he would have to do more than defy the Sisterhood; he might well have to destroy it. Dace sidled up to Brak, looking rather pleased with himself.
“Well, it looks like it will all work out for the best, after all.”
Brak shook his head. “That depends on how you look at it, Dace. Zegarnald has his war and Kalianah has been able to impose her idea of order on a few hapless souls, but I’m not sure R’shiel would agree with you. Or any of the Medalonians for that matter.”
“You worry too much, Brak.”
“And you should stay out of things that don’t concern you. That goes for the other gods, too.” Dacendaran did not deign to answer, but as Brak walked away from him, the god called him back.
“Brakandaran!”
“What now, Dace?”
“Do I
Glossary
Adrina — Princess of Fardohnya. Eldest legitimate child of King Hablet.
Affiana — Innkeeper in Testra. Brak’s great-great-grandneice.
B’thrim Snowbuilder — Villager from Haven. Elder sister of J’nel. Died in a raid by the Defenders who destroyed her village.
Bek — Prisoner at the Grimfield. Sentenced to five years for arson.
Belda — Sister of the Blade at the Grimfield.
Bereth — Former Sister of the Blade. Now a pagan. Turned on the Sisterhood following the destruction of Haven.
Brak — Lord Brakandaran te Cam. Only other living half-breed Harshini.
Brehn — God of Storms.
Cratyn — Crown Prince of Karien. Son of Jasnoff and Aringard.
Crisabelle Cortanen — Wife of Willem Cortanen, Commandant of the Defenders.
Dace — Dacendaran, the God of Thieves.
Damin Wolfblade — Warlord of Krakandar and heir to the High Prince’s throne. Son of Princess Maria and nephew of Lernen Wolfblade, High Prince of Hythria.
Davydd Tailorson — Lieutenant of the Defenders attached to the Intelligence Corps.
Draco — Spear of the First Sister.
Dranymire — Prime Demon bonded to the house of te Ortyn.
Elfron — Karien priest.
Fardohnya — Nation to the southwest of Medalon ruled by Hablet, the King of Fardohnya.
Francil — Sister of the Blade. Member of the Quorum. Longest standing member, she is the Mistress of the Citadel and responsible for the administration of the Citadel.
Garet Warner — Commandant of the Defenders. Head of Defender Intelligence and second most senior officer in the Defenders.
Gawn — Captain of the Defenders posted to the southern border to replace Tarja.
Georj Drake — Captain of the Defenders.
Ghari — Rebel Lieutenant. Brother of Mandah.
Glenanaran — Harshini sorcerer.
Gwenell — Physic. Sister of the Blade.
Hablet — King of the Fardohnyans.
Harith — Sister of the Blade. Member of the Quorum.
Herve — A rebel from Testra. Ghari’s cousin.
Hythria — Nation to the southeast of Medalon split into seven provinces, each province ruled by a Warlord. The nation is ruled by a Ceremonial High Prince, currently Lernen Wolfblade.
J’nel Snowbuilder — Villager from Haven. Died from complications of childbirth without naming the father of her child.
Jacomina — Sister of the Blade. Member of the Quorum. Mistress of Enlightenment.
Jasnoff — King of Karien. Father of Cratyn and uncle to Drendyn.
Jelanna — Goddess of Fertility.
Joyhinia Tenragan — First Sister of the Sisters of the Blade following Mahina’s impeachment. Mother of Tarja and R’shiel.
Kaelarn — God of the Oceans.
Kalan — High Arrion of the Sorcerers’ Collective in Hythria.
Kalianah — Goddess of Love.
Karien — Nation to the north of Medalon. Ruled by King Jasnoff.
Khira — Physic in the Grimfield and a rebel.
Kilene — Probate at the Citadel.
Korandellen te Ortyn — King of the Harshini. Nephew of Lorandranek and brother of Shananara.
Korgan — Deceased. Former Lord Defender. Rumored to be Tarja’s father.
L’rin — Innkeeper of the Inn of the Hopeless in the Grimfield.
Lernen Wolfblade — High Prince of Hythria. Damin’s uncle.
Loclon — Wain Loclon. Leiutenant of the Defenders promoted to captain following the Purge.
Lorandranek te Ortyn — Deceased. Former king of the Harshini.
