Page 138 of Grave Situation

Peiris’s dark eyes lock onto it, and a muscle works in their cheek. Finally, they nod. “I’m in the right place, then. It’s good to know that we interpreted the prophecies correctly.”

The stone clatters to the floor.

“Talon!” Jaimin starts toward me, concern on his face, even as Coryn snatches up his sword.

“I’m fine; everything’s okay,” I assure them both, bending to pick up the stone. I don’t know why they’re so worried. It’s not like it can break or anything… can it?

Just in case, I look it over cursorily, but it doesn’t seem to be misshapen or chipped. Not more than usual, anyway.

“Sorry about that,” I tell Peiris. “I was a little surprised. Whereabouts in the prophecies did you find the directions to meet us here?” And why were our prophetic scholars unable to find them?

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Peiris seemsconfused by the question. “It was at the beginning of the scroll for the fifteenth to thirtieth centuries,” they say. “How did you not see it?”

“At the beginning of the what?” I’ll admit to not being a strong prophetic scholar, but I have absolutely no idea what they’re talking about. The fifteenth century?

We stare at each other.

“Are you really from the Baswich Empire?” Arimen pipes up suddenly from where he’s been stirring the stew.

Peiris gives me another one of those “is he seriously saying that right now?” looks. “I am.”

“Oh.” He looks at me. “The Empire has different prophecies from us.”

“What?”

“We do?”

Arimen’s eyes go wide at the sheer volume of our responses, and Jaimin steps in, asking gently, “How do you know that, Arimen?”

“Th-Th-Th S-Some of the priests… at the Sanctuary…”

“You’re not in trouble,” I assure him, trying not to sound impatient. “Did someone at the Sanctuary tell you about it?”

He shakes his head, then nods. “Y-Yes, but… There’s a copy of the Baswich Prophecies at the Sanctuary. All seventy-three scrolls. Some of the priests make their career in studying them.”

At first I’m confused—why would priests be dedicating themselves to the prophecies of an Empire that has its own gods?—and then understanding crashes in on me.

There’s something in those prophecies that’s driving the temples to take the stone from us. Something so valuable to them that they would willingly stand against the City of Knowledge and the combined nations of the continent.

“Have you seen the scrolls?” Jaimin asks, and there’s no gentleness in his voice now. He’s had the same realization as me.

“No. I wasn’t up to that part of my studies.”

“Okay.” Jaimin nods, then looks to me. It’s time for me to step into my leadership role.

“Could your leadership role include asking me to go burn the Sanctuary to ashes?”Leicht asks.“I’d do it, stop for a short rest, and be back before tomorrow afternoon.”

“Please don’t distract me right now. This is why Tia died. I need to concentrate.”

The wordless support he sends back is more comforting than I expected.

“Let’s eat,” I say abruptly. “We have a lot to talk about. Peiris, why don’t we tell you our story, and then you can tell us yours. At the end, we can ask any questions we haven’t already answered.”

There’s a slightly troubled expression on that almost-delicate face. “This is a wise plan.”

Coryn helps Arimen dish up the food, and then as we eat in the glow of the fire and scattered magelights, I cast my mind back to the beginning, only a few months ago, and begin to talk.

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