Page 19 of The Ascended
Then it began to move.
Gasps echoed through the cave as the star detached itself from the constellation, blazing like a tiny sun as it descended toward us. I could feel its flicker, its weight, its ancient fire responding to my call.
Stop.Thatcher's voice in my mind, desperate and commanding at once. He'd fought his way to my side, his hands closing over my wrists.Thais, stop. Please.
But I couldn't stop. Wouldn't stop. Not when Marel was about to pay for my cowardice with his life.
The star settled into my cupped palms. Around me, the people of Saltcrest—my people, my neighbors, my family in all but blood—stared at me with expressions of awe and terror and betrayal.
I was no longer one of them. Would never be again.
"Fascinating," the priest breathed, his eyes fixed on the orb of light. "Stellar manipulation. Quite rare. Quite powerful." He gestured dismissively, and the priests released Marel, who stumbled backward with shock written across his face. "You may go, young man. Our apologies for the inconvenience."
I didn't resist as they bound my wrists, even though the rope burned against my skin like acid.
"I'm sorry," I whispered to Sulien as they dragged me toward the cave mouth.
"No!" Sulien lunged forward, reaching for me even as twovillagers grabbed his arms to hold him back. "You bastards! Let her go!"
"I'm sorry," I called to Thatcher, who was fighting desperately against the hands trying to restrain him. "I'm sorry for everything."
We were nearly to the cave mouth when the priest spoke again.
"One moment." He studied Thatcher with the same intensity he'd focused on me. "You're twins, aren't you?"
My blood froze. Thatcher said nothing, his face a mask of stubborn defiance.
"Interesting," the priest mused, circling Thatcher. "If one twin is blessed..." He smiled that cold, beautiful smile. "Well. I suppose we'll need to test that theory."
"No," I screamed, struggling against the ropes that held me. "No, he doesn't have any powers! It's just me! Only me!"
"Seize him," the priest ordered.
"He's normal!" I shouted as two priests moved toward my brother. "He's completely normal!”
The priest tilted his head, considering. "I suppose we'll find out during the Proving, won't we?"
They bound Thatcher with the same burning ropes, his face stone as he refused to make a sound. Through our bond, rage simmered.
We’re going to figure this out.The words flew out of my mind and into his.Thatcher. Don’t attack them. You’ll only make things worse!
"And you." The priest had turned to Sulien, who stood alone by the dying fire. "The father who harbored not one but two blessed children. Who helped them evade their sacred duty, who kept them from their destiny."
"I did what any father would do," Sulien said quietly. "I protected my children."
"Yes," the priest agreed pleasantly. "And divine law is quite clear about the penalty for harboring the blessed."
The words slammed into me. "No. No, please, he didn't know?—"
"Of course he knew." The priest gestured, and one of the others drew a curved blade that gleamed like silver fire.
"Please," I begged, thrashing against my bonds until the ropes drew blood. "Please, I'll do anything. I'll come willingly, I'll?—"
"You'll come regardless," the priest said calmly.
Sulien dropped to his knees by the fire. He looked at Thatcher and me with eyes full of love and pride and terrible, terrible peace.
"I love you both," he said, his voice carrying clearly through the silent cave. "Remember that. Always remember that."
