Quilla had been in many stables before, but none as big as the Palace stables. It stank in here, like most stables, but on a whole new level. It was also a weird mix of hot and cold. Stuffy too. Most of the air was warmed by the bodies of what had to be something in the vicinity of one hundred horses. Yet at the same time, currents of cold air that got through gaps in the doors and walls circulated the room. She found herself both shivering and sweating at the same time.

Though maybe the sweat was due to nerves.

At the very least, some of it was.

This was the first she’d been allowed out of the Darkers’ hideout. She’d been there nearly two weeks, and was about to go stir crazy. Seeing no one but Dyle and his goons—especially Vellon—was enough to drive anyone mad. Though surprisingly, Sam wasn’t too bad when he wasn’t acting tough.

Sam walked up to her now, leading her horse, Nelli. She smiled as he handed her the reins. “Thank you.”

Sam just nodded and moved on—to collect other horses, she presumed. They were all going to need them, but Dyle had ordered hers be prepared first.

Quilla patted Nelli’s nose. It had been a while since she’d ridden or even seen the horse.

Down the aisle, Borisin was looking at her. He’d been staring at her since she’d gotten here, hanging his head over his stall gate. She couldn’t help get the feeling he was disapproving of her being there, though she had no reason to think that. She had no idea what horse facial expressions were like, and it wasn’t like Borisin looked any different than he usually did—not at this distance in the dim light. She tried waving at him again. Maybe he’d get the idea that he was making her uncomfortable.

“Why do you keep waving at that horse?” It was Vellon, leading another horse over.

Quilla stuck her hand back inside her coat. “No reason. He just…”

“And why’s it staring at you?”

Quilla shrugged and looked away from both Borisin and Vellon.

Dyle was leading another horse up to them. “That’s Rudiger’s horse. Now get back to work. Remember, we need extra horses, too.”

Vellon pointed at Borisin. “Let’s take that one then. A horse that big ought to be appreciated.”

Quilla shook her head, though Dyle appeared to consider it a moment. “You promised,” she hissed.

Dyle looked at her. “Hmm?”

She stepped closer to him, and spoke in a whisper. “You promised none of my friends would come to any harm.”

“Yes, I did. It’s a horse, Quilla, not one of your friends.”

“A horse of one of my friends, and he loves that horse. Don’t you dare do anything to it.”

Dyle sighed. “Oh, very well.” He looked up at Vellon and spoke at full volume. “Leave that one. It’s out of bounds.”

Vellon sneered, baring his sharpened, pointed teeth. “You serious?”

Dyle stared back at him. “Very. That horse will be more trouble than it’s worth. It’ll fight us every step of the way. We don’t need that right now. So the horse is out of bounds. Got it?”

Vellon growled. “Fine.” He stepped up to Dyle and leered down at him. “But you better stop letting that bitch boss you around, or some of us might stop thinking you’re fit to be Dusk Supreme.”

“Are you threatening me?”

Vellon straightened up and took a step back. “Of course not, Boss. Just letting you know some important details. I’ll go find some other horses to sacrifice.”

“You do that.”

Vellon chuckled and wandered off.

“Is he going to be okay?” Quilla asked.

Dyle frowned. “For now. He will become an issue eventually though. But don’t worry. I’ll have him put down before he becomes a threat.”

Sam appeared at the end of the aisle waving. “Dyle!”

“What is it?” Dyle called.

“We’ve got an issue here with Barnol Friaz. You better come.”

Dyle sighed, then smiled at Quilla. “One problem after another, isn’t it? Would you mind checking the horses as they’re brought over? Make sure they’re tacked properly?”

“Yeah, sure,” Quilla said.

“Thanks.” He winked at her and headed over to Sam.

Quilla started with Nelli, then moved to the horse that Vellon had brought over. If anyone had messed up, she bet it would be him, though everything looked fine.

Borisin was still staring at her. What did that horse want? It wasn’t like she could get him out of here. She couldn’t even get herself away from these Darkers for just a few minutes to pass on any information she’d learned, like the Pearl. If she…

Gods damn it. She was an idiot.

She looked down the aisle. Dyle and Sam had wandered off somewhere. In the other direction, Vellon was gone, too.

She hurried over to Borisin, who continued to stare at her. “Look, I don’t really understand this whole communication thing you have with Rudiger, and I have no idea if you can really understand me, but gods, I hope you can. You need to get word to Rudiger and Zandrue. First, Barnol Friaz is the traitor. He’s the one letting Darkers into the Palace. Second, they have this—”

“Quilla?”

It was Dyle coming back down the aisle. Sam, Barnol Friaz, and a couple of Dyle’s other goons followed. They were holding on to someone else. Was that…?

“What are you doing?” Dyle asked.

Quilla hurried back over to him. “Sorry, but he wouldn’t stop staring at me. I thought maybe going over and talking to him would appease him. He’s a very demanding horse. Don’t worry, I already checked these ones. They’re fine.”

Dyle just shrugged.

“Is that…?” Quilla pointed to the person held by the two goons.

Dyle stepped aside and gestured with one arm.

It was Tianna Friaz.

What the hell was she doing here? She wasn’t one of them, was she? It actually wouldn’t surprise Quilla if she was. Her father was, after all. But they were holding her like she was a prisoner. Barnol was standing off to the side, his head lowered, his body shaking.

“Sam caught her trying to follow her father,” Dyle said. “I’m very cross with Barnol at the moment for being so stupid.”

Barnol looked up. His face and beard were slick with tears. “Let me talk to her. I can convince her not to say anything. I know I can.”

Dyle ignored him and turned to Quilla. “Tianna’s been getting very close with Zandrue recently. Rumour around the Palace is they’re sleeping together.” He laughed. “I wonder what Rudiger thinks of that. At any rate, I have no idea if Zandrue set her up to this or she got suspicious on her own. Either way, I can’t risk her taking anything back to Zandrue. So she’s coming with us.”

“Do you have to...to…?” Quilla looked over at Tianna. Her face was clenched and streaked with tears. The two goons had a tight grip on her arms. “I mean, do they have to handle her so roughly?”

“I can’t have her running away, Quilla.” Dyle looked over at Tianna. “She already tried to run. If she does that again, I’ll do far worse than they’re doing now.”

“Leave her with me,” Quilla said.

“You?”

“Give me a chance to prove myself to your friends. I’ll convince her to stay. If I can’t and she runs, you can kill her and I won’t complain. I won’t say a thing.”

Dyle grinned. “All right. You’ve got yourself a deal. She’s your responsibility.” He motioned to the goons. “Bring her over here.”

They came over.

“Release her.”

“Sir?” one asked.

“I’m putting her in Quilla’s custody. Let her go.”

The goons looked at each other and let go of Tianna, shoving her towards Quilla. Tianna stumbled and Quilla caught her.

“Everyone, back to work! We need to be ready to go as soon as Lidda and Lamaën arrive.” Dyle winked at Quilla. “Make me proud. Oh, don’t allow any contact between father and daughter, yes?”

Quilla nodded. “I’ll make certain she speaks to no one except you and me.”

Dyle smiled. “I knew you’d start to come round eventually, Quilla.” He wandered off with Sam and the goons who had been holding Tianna.

Barnol still stood nearby, looking at them.

Quilla scowled at him, and led Tianna aside. The girl was shaking, so Quilla put her arm around her.

“I’m sorry, Quilla,” Tianna sobbed. “I’m so sorry for everything I said and did to you. Zandrue told me everything. I know what you’re—”

“Shut up!” Quilla put a hand on Tianna’s chin and lifted it so she could look her in the eye. “I don’t know what’s happened the last two weeks or how you’ve charmed Zandrue. I’ll trust her judgement, but that doesn’t mean I like you. Because I don’t. In fact, I can’t stand you. Got that?”

Tianna tried to nod, but Quilla held her chin firm. She just made a mumbling sound.

“Now, here’s the situation. You are going to do every single thing I say because that’s the only way there’s a chance in hell of keeping you alive. Understand?”

“Mm hmm.”

“Good. I don’t know why I’m sticking my neck out for you. I really shouldn’t be, so if you mess up even a little, I’ll give you to them. And if you let slip anything about my reasons for being here, I’ll fucking kill you myself.”

“Mm hmm.” The girl was shaking uncontrollably now.

“Oh gods.” Quilla put her arms around her and hugged her tight. “It’s going to be okay, all right? I’ll keep you alive.”

“Okay.”

“One last thing. Talk to no one unless either me or Dyle tells you to first. That includes your father, okay?”

She sniffled. “Yes.”

Quilla hugged her tighter and let her sob a bit. “I’ll find a way to keep you alive. I promise. Now, help check the horses, okay?”

Tianna sniffled some more, and mumbled something vaguely affirmative sounding.

The others had already brought several more horses over. Quilla wasn’t sure just how many they were gathering—stealing rather. Enough for them all to ride, obviously, but how many more beyond that, she had no idea. They kept bringing more.

With Tianna’s help, she was able to check them over reasonably quickly. They appeared to be gathering about a dozen more than were needed for riding. She felt sorry for the poor things. They had no idea what was in store for them. She wished she didn’t know.

Borisin!

She’d forgotten she hadn’t finished telling him everything.

Just think it.

She stumbled, grabbed Tianna for support.

“Are you okay?” Tianna asked.

Quilla nodded. “Just a little dizzy. It’ll pass.”

What the hell had that been?

I said just think it.

Dear gods.

No, not gods. Just think what you want to tell me.

Borisin? Was this what Rudiger experienced?

Yes, and yes. And don’t think this will be a regular occurrence. It’s tough enough pushing through to you as it is. This is a one-time emergency thing. Now, start thinking what you want to tell me.

Quilla wasn’t entirely sure how this was supposed to work, but she just started thinking about everything she’d learned. The names of everyone and their roles. She tried to picture them in her head. And the Pearl. What was it called again? The Pearl of one of those Ninifin gods. Started with S.

The Pearl of Sestin?

That was it.

Felitïa’s staff is the Staff of Sestin.

Hadn’t Felitïa said something about the missing eyes being pearls?

Yes, she did.

Good gods.

I keep telling you, the gods aren’t doing anything right now.

This was so strange.

She hoped she’d covered everything. Oh, and better not forget to tell him about Tianna.

I’ll make sure they know.

Then she thought about the purpose of their trip. What they were going to use the Pearl for.

Borisin was silent after that. Did he not believe her? She would understand if he didn’t believe her. She wasn’t sure she believed herself.

No, I believe you. Rather, I believe they believe it, and if they believe it, that scares the hell out of me. Don’t tell Rudiger I said that. As far as he’s concerned, I’m not afraid of anything.

They need to act quickly, Quilla said. Had she done that right?

Very good, Borisin said. Much more focused. Don’t worry, I’ll tell Rudiger when he comes round tomorrow. I’ll make sure they act fast.

Tianna touched Quilla’s arm. “Quilla? You okay?”

Quilla blinked several times. “Huh?”

“You’ve just been staring blankly. Are you okay?”

“Oh, uh, yeah. I just zoned out for a moment. I do that sometimes.”

Now you know how Rudiger feels.

I suppose. Just let him know I’m okay. She patted Tianna’s shoulder. “Come on, there are still a few horses to check.”

Quilla shivered. Here she was, promising to keep Tianna alive, and she wasn’t sure how anybody else had a chance in hell of surviving.

* * * * *

The trip was uneventful. Once Lidda Plavin and Lamaën arrived, they mounted up and headed out, leading the fifteen additional horses with them. Somehow, they passed through the north gate behind the Palace without questions from the guards, who just waved them through. Quilla didn’t know how they’d managed that. Something Barnol Friaz had arranged, probably.

Gods, she hoped Borisin was able to get word to the others.

They crossed the open field north of the Palace, through woods and across more fields. Altogether, it took a couple hours and it was well past midnight by the time they arrived at their destination.

Quilla and Tianna rode together, Tianna seated behind Quilla. Dyle wouldn’t let Tianna ride separately. Luckily, the young woman was small and her extra weight didn’t seem to bother Nelli much. Quilla had the young woman fill her in on what was happening in the Palace. Dyle checked on them a couple times, but seemed content with how things were going.

Barnol Friaz always kept in sight of them, watching his daughter. Quilla made sure they stayed far enough away from him that he couldn’t hear anything they said, but otherwise let him be. He was an odious man, but he was just looking out for his daughter. She couldn’t fault that.

“Zandrue asked me to keep an eye on my father,” Tianna said. “She said she had suspicions he was a Darker. I couldn’t believe it, really, but I’ve learned to trust her, and she admitted she might be wrong. I figured I’d watch him a bit, not find anything, and let her know. Then I spotted him sneaking out tonight and decided to follow him.”

Quilla groaned. “That was a stupid idea, Tianna. You should have gone straight to Zandrue.”

Tianna pressed her face into Quilla’s back. “I know. Zandrue told me not to take any risks. It’s just...I didn’t know...I mean, for all I knew, he was sneaking out for a dalliance with someone’s handmaid. I’ve caught him with mine a couple times.”

Quilla shivered. She couldn’t imagine anyone wanting to be with that oaf.

“And I...I wanted to impress Zandrue. Show her she can rely on me, you know?”

“By ignoring her advice? And what did that get you?”

“Proof positive that my father really is a Darker.” Tianna rested her chin on Quilla’s shoulder. “That’s something, right?”

Quilla rolled her eyes.

“I just wanted Zandrue to be proud of me.”

Quilla sighed. “I thought you hated her.”

“I did at first, when I thought she was trying to steal Annai from me. Then I got to know her. I started to like her before I was willing to admit it. But yeah, somewhere along the line, I fell for her. Really hard. She’s smarter than Annai, you know.”

That wasn’t a high bar.

“And more talented. I don’t mean musically. Annai’s the better singer. But Zandrue’s better at everything else, and she’s not a bad singer either. I don’t want to disparage Annai, but Zandrue...she’s better in almost every way.”

Quilla turned her head and tried to peer at her. This young woman really needed to get out of the Palace more.

“I love her.”

“No kidding,” Quilla muttered. She’d made that sentiment pretty clear.

“I love her so much.”

“I’m sure she’ll be happy to learn that.”

“She knows. I haven’t exactly told her—in words, that is—but she knows. Everyone’s kind of been teasing her about it. We kind of discussed it a little, but I don’t want to get between her and Rudiger. I’m happy to have her as my friend. I’m sorry I never approved of you and Garet, by the way. I was copying Annai, and… No, I wasn’t just copying. I believed it. But I’ve learnt better now. Really.”

“Thanks,” Quilla groaned.

She was very relieved when Lamaën called for a halt.

They were at the top of a small hill looking over a wide open field. The snow covering it was pristine. There were probably tracks from small animals here and there, but nothing noticeable from where they were. It was like a frozen moment of time, undisturbed by anything.

That didn’t last.

Dyle ordered that the extra horses be led out into the middle of the field. There, the Darkers hobbled the horses, then returned to the top of the hill.

“What are they going to do?” Tianna asked.

Quilla shook her head. “Stay quiet.” She couldn’t bring herself to tell Tianna. The girl was going to find out soon enough, and it was probably best if she was prepared, but nonetheless, Quilla just couldn’t do it. It wasn’t like it was really possible to be prepared anyway. Quilla had known for over a week, and she still wasn’t prepared. Her mind refused to accept that it could be real. A part of her expected—hoped—nothing would happen when they used the Pearl, and they would all return empty-handed. Maybe it was her hope for that that kept her from being able to tell Tianna.

Lamaën rode to the front of them all. “According to what few records I’ve been able to dig up, her name is Ezuna. It means Jade Terror in Folithan. She is one of only maybe half a dozen remaining members of her species in the entire world. She has slept for two centuries. The last to awaken her was the Dragon himself. Fitting.” He held up the Pearl. “And she will respond to this, and be bound by it.” He motioned to Lidda Plavin. “Your Ladyship, she will be your companion, forever bonded to you in spirit. So if you would do the honours.”

Tianna hugged Quilla tighter. “Who is he talking about? Please tell me.”

Quilla put her hands on Tianna’s. Dear gods, the girl deserved to know.

She could barely manage to form the word, and she stuttered several times before managing it. “Dragon. Not like someone called Dragon. Not like Stark Drago. An actual dragon.”

Tianna began to shake.

Lidda Plavin rode in front of everyone, and dismounted. She held up the Pearl. “Ezuna, Mistress of Flame and Thunder, hear me. Hear the call of this Pearl, forged by Power herself. Let us be bound in heart and soul, for as long as I shall live.”

The Pearl began to glow. Lidda Plavin held it higher, rising onto her toes.

“In honour of your great power, and to show how humble we are in your presence, we offer you a sacrifice: a small, but meaningful meal to help sate your hunger after your long sleep, and a soul to help replenish your power. Ezuna, I beseech you, hear me!”

Soul? What was she talking about?

Sam and Vellon rode up beside Quilla and Tianna. They dismounted, and Sam held his hand out to Tianna. “My Lady, please come with us.”

Tianna tightened her grip on Quilla. “What’s going no?”

“That’s what I’d like to know.” Quilla looked down at Sam. “What’s going on?”

Vellon grabbed Tianna’s arm. She yelled as he yanked her off the horse.

“What the hell is going on?” Quilla demanded.

“Sorry, Quilla,” Sam said. “There needs to be a human in the sacrifice. I only found out a couple minutes ago myself.”

Tianna screamed as she struggled in Vellon’s grasp.

“Dyle!” Quilla screamed.

Dyle and Lamaën were already riding over to her. So was Barnol.

“What the fuck is going on, Dyle?” Quilla yelled. “You put her in my care! You said if I kept her from running, she would be safe. I promised her she would be safe!”

Barnol scrambled to dismount from his horse, falling into the snow as he did so. “Please! Please! What are you doing? Not my daughter!” He reached for Vellon, but Vellon kicked him in the face.

Vellon then started dragging the still-screaming Tianna around the horses.

“Dyle!” Quilla screamed.

Dyle shook his head sadly. “I’m sorry, Quilla. I wanted to offer Vellon. Lamaën wanted Barnol. But Tianna presented too good an option to pass up. Plus, Lidda insisted.”

“And you listened to her?”

Dyle nodded. “This time, yes.”

“No!”

The Pearl was glowing even brighter, reflecting off the snow. It was almost like daylight. Sam and Vellon dragged Tianna, kicking and screaming, down the side of the hill.

“I won’t let you!” Quilla turned Nelli towards Tianna, urged the horse forward, but Lamaën and two other Darkers moved their horses to block her. “You can’t!”

Barnol crawled through the snow, rose to his knees and grabbed at Dyle’s legs. “Please! Take me instead.” He nodded towards Lamaën. “You said he wanted to offer me. Well, I offer myself. I’ll be a much better meal. Look at me! I’m fat! She’s a tiny thing. Please, please, spare my daughter, please! She’s all I have.”

“If you let this happen, Dyle,” Quilla said, “I will never forgive you. Do you hear me? Never!”

Dyle looked away. “I’m sorry, Quilla. There’s no other choice.”

Sam and Vellon dragged Tianna into the centre of the horses. Her screams continued to ring out, and the horses shuffled about nervously. Sam pulled out some rope and they bound her hands behind her back, then started on her ankles.

Barnol ran onto the slope, slipping and sliding down it. “Tianna, my dear! I’m coming for you! Daddy will save you!”

Dyle sighed. “Somebody stop that idiot.”

The two goons who had held Tianna earlier—Heb and Silv their names were if Quilla remembered correctly, though she had never really bothered to think about those two enough to remember which was which—dismounted and ran after Barnol. They overtook him easily and tackled him to the ground.

Quilla looked around, hoping for a gap she could get through—a way she could get to Tianna like Barnol had tried to—but they had all completely surrounded her.

Down the slope, one of Heb and Silv hit Barnol in the head and he slumped over. They started to drag his unconscious form back up the hill.

Farther out, Sam and Vellon were returning. Tianna lay on the ground amid the sacrificial horses. She had stopped screaming and was now struggling to slide herself along the ground.

“Ezuna!” Lidda cried out. “Your sacrifice is prepared. Come at my call! Come now!”

The Pearl flared even brighter. Quilla scrunched her eyes shut. Then it went dark again. Quilla opened her eyes, but it was hard to see now as her eyes readjusted to the darkness of the night.

“Now, we wait,” Lamaën said.

“Fuck you,” Quilla growled.

Lamaën stroked his moustache. “Now, now, Ms Steranovist. Let’s have none of that. This is a festive occasion.”

Lidda Plavin trudged through the snow to them. “How long?”

Lamaën stroked his moustache a couple times. “Hard to say. The signal has been sent. Ezuna has no choice but to obey. However, I suppose it depends on how long it takes her to get out of whatever cave she’s secluded herself in and fly here. No more than a few minutes, I should think.”

“You people disgust me,” Quilla said.

Lamaën sighed. “Dyle, keep the Catalyst quiet, would you? There’s a good man.”

“Quilla,” Dyle started.

“Fuck you, Dyle. Fuck you.”

There was only one option left. She had to try the same thing Barnol had. She dismounted.

“Quilla, what are you doing?” Dyle said. “You won’t get anywhere, you know.”

She ignored him and walked around Nelli and towards the slope. Then she broke into a run. She didn’t get far before someone tackled her.

It was Sam. He held her down. “Please, Quilla. There’s nothing you can do. You’re just making things worse for yourself.”

Quilla struggled for a minute or so, but Sam was far too strong for her. She lay there on her stomach, looking down the slope at Tianna, who continued to wriggle about in her bonds.

An eternity passed.

Then a shadow passed overhead, blocking the light of the moon for several seconds.

“She comes!” Lidda proclaimed.

“Holy shit,” Sam muttered. “It’s huge.”

Quilla tried to look above, but Sam’s hold was too strong to twist much. However, he suddenly let go of her and let her sit up. She looked up. A winged shape flew high in the sky. A long neck and tail, thin body in between, and massive wings that dwarfed the rest of the form. It circled round and dove downwards.

Quilla wanted to jump to her feet and run to Tianna, but it was too late. Much too late. Maybe that was why Sam had released her.

As the creature got closer, its head and face became more discernible: a lizard-like, horned head with a maw full of sharp teeth. It straightened out still some distance above the ground and flew straight towards Tianna and the horses.

The horses squealed and tried to bolt, crashing into one another and falling over. Tianna screamed.

As the dragon opened its mouth, a wail rose in Quilla’s throat. She put her hands to her mouth to muffle it, but it made no difference.

Just before the dragon flew over Tianna and the horses, a jet of flame shot from its mouth, engulfing everything on the ground before it.

Tianna screamed. The horses screamed. Quilla screamed.

And then, it was only Quilla screaming.

She fell over in the snow, and wailed. She slammed her fists into the snow. Over and over.

Wind carrying intense heat gushed over her, but she didn’t give a damn what it meant. Gods, she’d hated Tianna, but she’d also made a promise. She’d made a gods-damned fucking promise.

So had Dyle. And he’d broken it.

It didn’t matter anymore. It was time to get out of here. Her job was done. Borisin would tell Rudiger everything tomorrow, and then they would come for her.

And then Lidda would burn them all to ashes with her fucking dragon.

A hand touched her back.

“Don’t fucking touch me!” She sat up.

The field was clear of snow. The grass and shrubbery that had been under it were just ashes. The dragon sat in the centre of it all, snatching up mounds of charred horse meat in its jaws.

Dyle was sitting beside her. “We need to move back, Quilla. Until Lidda makes a full connection, there remains a chance Ezuna might see us as part of her meal, too.”

Quilla didn’t look at him. Instead, she watched the dragon in its grizzly duties. Was that a piece of Tianna it had just picked up? “Congratulations, Dyle. You fooled me. You had me believing you weren’t as bad as the others and that you could keep them in check. What an idiot I was.”

“Quilla.”

“But hear this, Dyle. I may not know what the future holds. Death and destruction, I’d say. Never-ending darkness maybe. Whatever. I don’t fucking care anymore. But I do know one thing.” She turned and looked him in the eye. “You’re dead. I’m going to kill you. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But I will kill you. I promise you.”

Dyle shook his head and stood up. He brushed snow off himself and trudged back up the hill.

On the other side of her, Sam stood up. “Good thing for you he won’t kill you for that. But be careful. Lidda Plavin won’t hesitate to as soon as his back is turned. He’s the only reason you’re alive right now. Don’t forget that.”

“Just fuck off.”

Sam turned and trudged up the hill.

Quilla sat there while everything else happened. Something with Lidda approaching the dragon, even climbing on the dragon, but Quilla paid no attention.

She just stared at the spot where Tianna had died, the screams replaying over and over in her head.