“And Senek?”
“He was always a bit too engrossed in his own peculiar fixations to be truly useful,” Altarn said. “Besides, Lord Sirath is nearly recovered. Senek was always a placeholder until that time.”
“And Crenaxin?” Liora asked.
“Well, from what I understand Crenaxin is neither arrested nor dead, at least as far as anyone knows. Perhaps he’ll turn up. If not, the Hierarch will mourn the loss of his right hand and move on.”
“We’re all expendable to you, aren’t we?” Liora asked.
“You are if you fail,” Altarn said. “But it’s time for you to go on another mission.”
“Who am I marrying now? Or is it just seduction?”
“You’re going to Fencal for Colonel Danverth Martindale,” Altarn said. “And you’ll take Torla with you.”
“Why?” they both asked.
“Because Martindale—” Altarn paused to think of the best way she wanted to phrase it. “He will not fall for your particular charms as easily as the others. You’re going to need Torla for that extra edge.”
“Fine,” Liora said. “I guess we’ll be off. Come on.”
She and Torla stalked off, and Altarn went back up to her offices in the Central Office.
Liora was right, it had been a disaster—mostly due to Dayne Heldrin and the others who had meddled—but in failure, there is opportunity to learn. And the Hierarch of the Brotherhood had been pleased with what they had learned, despite the losses.
Heldrin and his companions would be dealt with soon enough.
Soon they would have the blood, the stars would be ripe, and with the knowledge they had gained, the Brotherhood would unleash the true power of the Nine.
Then all would be theirs.
ULTIMATE INTERLUDE
REVEREND HALSTER KNELT AT THE side of the bed where Sister Myriem remained asleep. A quiet, restful sleep, he had hoped. Saints knew she had earned that, at the very least.
He prayed that she had. He wasn’t sure.
“No change?” Brother Mergolliet asked, coming in with a bowl of broth. “I fear we’ll have to feed her in her sleep if this continues.”
“We’ll care for her, in whatever she needs, as long as she needs,” Halster said. “Our greatest, most sacred duty now.”
Mergolliet nodded and placed the bowl on the table in the corner. He went about the business of checking on Myriem, adjusting her bedding. His face was full of trouble, and finally he voiced it.
“You knew this was coming, didn’t you, sir?” he asked. “That she would play a role.”
“I did as God commanded,” Halster said. Though at this point, he was full of doubt. “To put us on the path of faith.”
He had seen it coming. He knew—he had known for years—the horrors would be unleashed outside Saint Bridget’s. His whole life, he had heard the voices, seen the visions, known the saints were whispering to him. He had embraced that, following the path they had laid out for him.
His most sacred duty.
Be ready for the day. Prepare the church, protect it from below. Invite the girl here when it was her time. Sister Myriem had come, and when he saw her, it was like a key had unlocked in his mind. He knew her face was the one he had seen every time he closed his eyes. Her destiny was here, when the horrors came.
And he had been ready for his role.
He had been ready to die.
He had seen it so clearly every time. The giant stormed into the church, snapped his neck. Sister Myriem’s heart would shatter, and from that broken heart her power would pour out, filling her body with the light of God.
She would become the Champion of the Faith, vanquishing the Dragon.
She would do that alone.
But nothing went as he had seen it.
She had changed it. She had somehow brought other champions to stand with her. To fight for her.
He had no idea how she had done this, or why.
He was supposed to be dead, and he was not. She had not become the champion she was supposed to be, she was here in the bed. Nothing of what he had seen was coming to pass.
He had no idea what this meant, but for the first time in his life, he felt doubt.
“And are we on the path, sir?”
“We are on a path,” he said. “The evil came, and champions stepped forward and vanquished it. But we must remain vigilant, for there is still so much work to be done.”
“Of course, sir,” Mergolliet said. He whispered a quick prayer over Myriem, and went off.
He had no certainty of the future. Myriem had changed his fate, and he feared, changed the fate of everyone in the city. He was certain that would have a great and terrible cost.
And he feared that she, and her champions, would be the ones to pay it.
Chapter 27
AFTER ONLY TWO WEEKS, RIAN Rainey was already tired from trying to balance school and her shifts at Henson’s Majestic. She would keep it up, of course, since she knew perfectly well how hard her mother had been working to maintain their household, take care of Father, pay the tuition for her and Caribet. She wouldn’t let her mother down. Fortunately, today had been a quiet, subdued shift at the glove counter. Her commissions wouldn’t be much, but the rush of sales before Terrentin had put her a bit ahead, so she was happy for the easy day.
“Hey, Rian.”
Alexanne and Rowa had never come up to her counter and spoken to her before. She didn’t even know they realized she existed, let alone knew her name. The two of them—dress models in the window displays—were both so sophisticated and glamorous. They always got to wear the best dresses and get paid to do it.
“Hi,” Rian said, not sure why she was so
