:Yes. Now, we both have much to do, and the night isn’t getting any longer.
:No. Good night.
:Good night.
:Mirar?
:Yes?
She paused, suddenly worried that what she had been about to say would give him a false impression. After a moment, she decided it wouldn’t.
:Thank you for your help.
:Don’t thank me yet. Not until the last Siyee is free and you escape this place. When the last Siyee flies be prepared for betrayal, Auraya, he warned. I don’t think the Voices intend to let you go.
As he broke the link she floated in an uneasy dream state, thinking about his warning. If I was in Nekaun’s place, I wouldn’t let me go either. I’m going to have to give him a reason to let me go. She was too tired to consider that now, and she still had mind-skimming to do. Concentrating, she sent her mind out into the world.
Moving from mind to mind, she skimmed the thoughts of the Servants and domestics still awake in the Sanctuary. When she encountered the mind of a Voice’s Companion she felt a thrill of satisfaction. The woman, Reivan, was restless and unable to sleep and her thoughts revolved around First Voice Nekaun.
It’s been so long, Reivan thought. Surely he could have found the time to visit me once. How am I going to warn him about Imenja’s suspicions? I can’t go near him in case Auraya reads my mind.
Auraya’s stomach sank. That confirmed what Mirar had told her. Her mind-reading ability had been detected.
But then, why would he listen to me if he won’t listen to Imenja. No, I can only hope he doesn’t underestimate Auraya. He’ll come back to me once he’s killed her, Reivan told herself.
Auraya felt a shock. Somehow it was more chilling to hear Nekaun’s intentions stated so clearly in the woman’s mind. But she also sensed doubt. Companion Reivan knew the other Voices believed Nekaun would kill her, but they didn’t know for sure. He was secretive. He kept his plans from them. Then Auraya saw the woman’s greatest fear, lurking constantly at the edge of her mind. The other Voices believed Auraya was more powerful than Nekaun. Reivan worried that if he attempted to kill Auraya, he would do so alone. She feared he would fail.
Interesting, Auraya mused. I wonder if they are right. And it is odd that Nekaun keeps himself separate from the other Voices. It’s a weakness that could be exploited.
The Companion was drifting off to sleep now. If she knew anything about the Elai, she wasn’t going to be thinking about it any time soon. Her thoughts were full of Nekaun. Auraya moved on, seeking other minds.
She would not abandon the remaining Siyee imprisoned here, but when the last of them flew, she would be ready to defend herself against Nekaun.
Have you made a copy of this scroll? Tamun asked Emerahl as soon as The Twins dream-linked with her.
:I’m trying to, Emerahl replied. The only reason Barmonia lets me see it is because I can translate for him. He won’t let me write it down for him. He won’t even let me take notes. I’ve had to memorize what I can and write it down secretly.
:What form are you writing it down in? Tamun asked.
:I’ve burned it onto the inside of my water skin. They’ll never find it there.
:In what language?
:Hanian, so they won’t know what I wrote if they do find it.
:You must use the original glyphs! The smallest mis-translation can change the meaning of a phrase!
:She won’t mistranslate, Surim injected.
:Thank you, Emerahl said, pleased at his defense of her.
:She might not realize she has, Tamun countered. We can’t take any risks. In the old priest tongue words often had two meanings.
If Emerahl had been awake she would have sighed. Tamun hadn’t taken well to the news that the scroll was useless. She refused to believe it, saying the poem must be a code.
:Very well. I’ll copy the glyphs somehow. But what then? It’s just a history. There are no directions to these secrets about the gods.
:No? Tamun’s amusement rippled over Emerahl’s mind. What you have recited bears some obvious clues.
:Obvious?
:The secrets were preserved in an indestructible form. What is indestructible?
:Nothing.
:Gold, Surim said. Or so a smith once told me. It can be melted and mixed with other metals, but alone it never rusts or deteriorates.
:If the secrets are recorded in gold, and gold can be melted, then the secrets can be destroyed, Tamun pointed out.
:Then it must be something so hard and solid it can’t be broken.
:Diamond? Emerahl suggested. Her mind shifted to the treasures found in the coffin. There had been plenty of precious stones among the jewellery and trinkets.
:A diamond can be cut by another diamond, Tamun said. That makes it as fragile as gold.
:What else is there? Surim asked.
The Twins fell silent as they considered. Emerahl’s mind kept returning to the jewellery and trinkets. If the secrets were preserved on a diamond it would be a clever trick to hide it among the treasure.
Though there couldn’t be many secrets if they were carved into a diamond. Some of the gems in the collection were impressively large, but there was little room for more than a few words on them.
:It would be easier if you just stole it and brought it to us.
:I’m not stealing that great hunk of gold! Even if it wasn’t a big ugly piece of dung too heavy to carry, we know Pentadrian Servants want it. I could have half the Servants of Southern Ithania on my tail all the way to the coast, and I might not be able to find a ship to—
:Emerahl. Wake up. Something has happened. The traitor has—
Suddenly Emerahl was aware of a voice. Barmonia’s voice. He was shouting. At once she slipped from the dream and into full consciousness.
“... stinking whore of a thief! I’ll rip your guts out with my bare hands and feed them...!”
Getting up, she wrapped a blanket around her shoulders and hurried out of her tent. The shouting came from the direction of the arem and domestics. Barmonia’s words echoed in the still night. Kereon and Yathyir stood beside the fire, Kereon scowling and Yathyir looking wide-eyed with fright. The older man looked at Emerahl, then nodded toward Barmonia’s tent.
The front flap was open and they could see the mess inside. A battered, misshapen item lay on the floor: the Scroll.
“Smashed,” he said.
Emerahl did some silent cursing of her own. Barmonia had been so protective of the Scroll, insisting he be present whenever anyone studied it, she had assumed it would be safe enough.
I am a fool! she thought. The Twins are going to be
