Page 92 of Death of the Glass Angel
“We hope they survived,” Talon answered.
Janus did not like that answer. Hand trembling, she unconsciously reached into her bag, brushing against the cool, smooth surface of the glass angel.
Its touch brought comfort, but also a deep sense of unease—its metal wings matched the mirage evoker.
Anmarite.
23
Talon/Janus
I would not call myself a good man, nor my life’s work a boon. The extraordinary and the unforeseen far outstrip the righteous path. And here’s one place I’ve yet to see.
-Alfaris’ personal journal
“We have to go back!” Janus insisted as she trudged after Talon.
“There’s nothing to go back to.” Talon retorted.
Tucking his injured arm beneath his shoulder, Talon ignored the pain by focusing on choosing his steps. Rocky, sloped mountain paths stretched between them and the city gates. All he wanted was to lie down. But Janus needed to be returned to safety.
“There was another entrance out here.” Janus continued, stumbling. “Where?”
“All you’ll find down there is rubble. The entire tunnel system was collapsing.” Talon said. “It might have taken parts of the city with it.”
“I don’t care. We have to find the others.”
“I can’t let you. You need to be escorted to safety.”
Without a word, Janus spun on her heel and marched north instead of south. Chasing after her, Talon grabbed her arm and pulled her back. She stared at him defiantly. “I’m going after them.”
“I can’t let you do that,” Talon reiterated firmly. “Your safety is more important to me.”
“And why does a songbird even care?”
“Do you even know what a songbird is?”
Janus ground her teeth together, a sheepish look in her eyes. “No.”
“Wekeep the peace in the Thruinc alliance. And one great way to destabilize that peace is allowing a noble to die in foreign territory.” Talon explained, tugging her arm.
A sandstone block appeared behind Talon, and his heel slammed into it. In his fight to keep from tumbling backward, he released Janus’s arm, and she backed away. Cursing under his breath, Talon righted himself. She had evoked that.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Janus demanded. “Why did you lie?”
“I had to.” Talon was growing tired of this conversation. “And you didn’t need to know.”
“I thought. . .” Janus’s voice warbled before her face hardened, and she swiveled, intent on her chosen course.
Why could she not have remained Des? The other woman was sensible. Scowling, Talon grabbed at Janus’s collar, intending to forcefully direct her this time. As his hand connected with her tunic, she spun around and slapped him. The force of the blow pushed his head to the side and left a red mark on his cheek.
When her hand left his face, Janus pressed it to her mouth in horror. Talon touched his tender cheek, attempting to determine his feelings. It was not quite anger that brewed in him.
She hates him. A voice whispered.
Rightfully so.A deep voice declared.
He ruins everything.
