Page 154 of The Cruel Dawn
“We don’t have a lot of time,” I say.
I turn to my friends for a proper hug. I hold Separi and Ridget tight because they are dear to me—and because I’m about to ask them to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Ridget has a roast turning on a spit over the fire. A steaming pot of roasted garlic potatoes and carrots waits on the table. She pours us each a glass of rich red wine from a dusty bottle.
We all know now that neither Elyn nor I can eat their food. This dinner is an offering, like those made at the altars and sanctuaries throughout Gasho and around Vallendor.
After acknowledging their gifts, I take a deep breath and say, “Please, fight with me.”
Both women say, “Of course, Lady,” and bow their heads.
“The Renrians across Vallendor may be small in number,” Separi says, “but we are mighty.”
My eyes search the sitting room—there’s no one eating, drinking, or playing music. It’s entirely empty aside from us. “Where are Philia and Olivia?” I ask. “Down in the basement?”
“It was too dangerous for them to remain here,” Separi says, peering at my sword with wonder. “My nephew escorted them to a hidden settlement north of town, just outside of Pethorp.”
Separi takes a breath and clears her throat. She glances at Ridget, who says, “Tell her.”
“Tell mewhat?” I say.
“I can’t find Veril’s fox amulet,” Separi says, “and I’ve searched everywhere for it. The pendant was in my bag when we left Fihel, I’m certain of that. But when I returned from Beaminster, I searched and… I apologize for my carelessness.” Separi’s lavender eyes dim with embarrassment.
“You didn’t lose it,” Ridget says.
Elyn and I look at each other, and the Adjudicator says, “He stole it.”
“Who?” Separi and Ridget ask.
“Jadon Rrivae,” Elyn says.
“But was that therealJadon doing something as shameful as stealing?” Separi asks. “His hand—”
“The unmarked and marked areboththe real Jadon,” I say. “You can’t separate one from the other.”
“That may not be accurate,” Elyn says. “At least, not permanently.”
We all pause to stare at her.
“Back in the aerie,” Elyn says to me, “when you accused me of searching for theLibrum Esoterica, Iwas, in fact, looking for it. Because as you know, there exist countless answers in those pages, which are constantly being appended. Agon had the book with him, and as you were healing at the abbey—”
“Healing?” Separi asks, eyes wide.
“Long story,” I say.
“Agon and I both sped through the book,” Elyn says, “and we found an entry on what to do about problematic demigods with troublesome markings.”
I stare at her. “And?”
Elyn shrugs a shoulder. “Chop off the offending member.”
I blink at her. “And?”
“That’s it.”
“So I still have to kill him,” I say.
“You could chop it off and then try to save his life,” she clarifies.
