Mara opened her eyes. She glanced at Ezra, then down to her hand. Dixon’s fingers were interlaced with her own. Tears filled her eyes before she gently, pulled her hand free.
“I’ve done it again, haven’t I?”
He nodded, smiling faintly.
“I dreamed of those twins again, too.”
“It’s all right.”
“I wish I knew what made this happen. One minute I’m fine, the next I awaken like this.”
“Do you remember anything about your . . . dream?”
She told him about where she’d found herself, and of Daeva.
“I could hear those young women, but they couldn’t hear me.” She sighed. “It’s all so confusing.”
“Yes.” His heart raced. “But they were all right in the end, weren’t they?”
“I think they just need to hold on. Wait,” she said, holding her hand up, “that sounds strange. I mean, in my dream, it seemed like they’d be all right if they just resisted that evil creature.”
Dixon stood and then paced, back and forth, back and forth.
“Dixon, I’ll be fine, I’m sure. My memories are coming back slowly. I remembered Nina, and then there was Jamison.” She told him that she knew it was he who had died outside the suite in which they stayed.
“I even had a memory of you, Ezra,” she said, turning his way. “It had something to do with . . . crows.”
“Oh?”
She sat up with a start. “Dixon, we have to go. We have to make our way to Polesk.”
“You should rest now.”
She tossed her blanket off and took to her feet. “I’m fine. How soon can we go?”
“Are you sure about this?”
“Yes. Do you think we could go now?”
He grinned. “You’ve always been a force to be reckoned with.” He ran his finger along her jawline.
A sudden memory sprang to her mind of his telling her that he loved her freckles. Her heart ached with the knowledge that she loved him, but couldn’t have him.
Choking back a sob, she took his hand and closed her eyes. “I understand if it’s too much to ask. I can go alone.”
“No, it’s not. When do you want to get started?”
“Right now. Our coming here triggered some memories. I feel certain that I’ll remember more when I get to Polesk.”
Chapter Forty-Seven
The city was in an uproar. Descending upon it over the past two days came hundreds, even thousands, of Oathtakers with their charges, as well as those Oathtakers currently without a charge. The rooms at sanctuary quickly filled, as did those at the local inns, so many of the travelers shared their accommodations with others, to help make room for more of their kind.
Sanctuary was in a state of constant activity. Felicity stood in its midst upon a boulder in the center of a flower garden, with her arms raised.
“Come. Come!” she said, over and over again.
Trumble stood nearby. “Be careful now, Felicity. You must come down.”
She turned his way. “But they must come. We must pray.”
“They’re coming. You get down now. We’ll head to the prayer room just like you said. See here?” he turned, motioning toward Basha and Therese. “Our new friends will join us. They’ve sent word to everyone to attend the vigil. Come on down, now.”
Felicity crouched down, then allowed Trumble to help her to the ground. “Hurry!” she cried.
Basha, Therese, Trumble, and Felicity, made their way to the main sanctuary building, and then to the inner prayer room, which was already filled with visitors in prayer and supplication.
Politely elbowing her way through the crowd, Basha directed her group to the front of the room. There they stood, side by side, before the altar.
“Now,” Felicity said, “we must pray. Those girls with the same face need for us to pray.”
Therese lifted her arms. “Thank you, Ehyeh, for bringing us safely through our travels. Thank you for bringing us together with so many others of our kind. We pray for our continued safety, but even more, we now turn our attention to Reigna and Eden. Dear Good One, we pray that you strengthen them to withstand whatever comes their way.”
As she continued, Basha glanced up to find Marshall, Jerrett, and an unknown woman, coming their way. She turned to Trumble and asked him to take over the prayer himself, then clutched Therese’s elbow.
The two stepped toward their old friends. They embraced each of them before introducing themselves to Chaya.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Chaya said.
“Let’s head out to the main vestibule where we can speak more easily,” Basha suggested.
Once there, Marshall and Jerrett briefly shared with their old friends, the story of their trip. When they were through, Basha informed them about what she and Therese had discovered during their travels.
Sounds from the inner sanctuary, the cries and supplications of those in attendance, rose in volume, filling the air. From time to time, the group broke out in song. Many who couldn’t make their way into the inner prayer room, remained in the vestibule and on the grounds of sanctuary. Their voices joined with those inside, in prayer.
“This place is packed,” Jerrett commented.
“Yes, it is,” Therese agreed.
“Who was that at the altar with you?”
Basha filled her friends in on the story of Trumble and Felicity. “We arrived yesterday and at the young woman’s demands, have been in prayer here most of the time since.”
“So, where are Mara and Dixon?” Jerrett asked. “And what of the twins?”
Just as Basha was through explaining what exactly had happened to Mara, Lucy arrived.
She greeted all her old friends and cohorts, and then introduced herself to Chaya.
Just then, a man approached.
Marshall turned his way. “Ezra, it’s good to see you.”
“You too, Marshall, Jerrett. I’m happy to see you’ve returned safely.” The innkeeper greeted the others.
“Now what?” Therese asked.
“Now, we continue to pray,” Lucy said.
Chapter Forty-Eight
They’d traveled almost without stopping for two days as autumn threw its varied weather their way, with intermittent rain, then cool but sunny times.
Nighttime now, all three moons, each of them full, lit up the sky.
“Who is . . . Adele?” Mara suddenly asked out of the blue.
“She was a maid to Rowena, then later, to Lilith.”
“But we all stayed in the City of Light together, and she was with us there, wasn’t she?”
Dixon, delighted when bits of her past came back to her, smiled. “Yes.”
“I remember . . .” She laughed outright.
“What?”
“I remember traveling with her and telling her that we were too far away from home to be lost.”
He laughed along. “Yes, I remember that too.”
She stopped suddenly. Memory fragments had been visiting her consciousness regularly. The pieces were falling into place slowly, but surely.
“I remember Jules and . . . and Samuel. Jules married Nina.”
“Yes.”
“That’s interesting. I’d never thought before about the father of Nina’s baby.” She cocked her head. “Wait . . . I thought when we traveled before that Nina’s baby was— But her children now are—”
“Look,” Dixon interrupted, aware her thoughts would lead her to questions he couldn’t answer, “I think we should stop for a rest.”
She glanced his way, her brow furrowed. “But he’s still following us.”
“I know.”
“Who is it, do you suppose? What could he want?”
“I’ve no idea. But truthfully, I’m exhausted. I’m coming to the end of my own magical ability to stay awake. If he does try something, I don’t even know how I’d respond. I know you want to get to Polesk as quickly as possible, but I do need a rest.”
She gla
nced out. “There’s an open space there. We’d be able to see if anyone approached. Then again, it could make us ready, open targets.” Her feet in the stirrups, she pulled up to a standing position. “I see water glistening in the moonlight just there,” she pointed, “in the trees.”
He reined his horse in the direction she indicated. “It sounds good to me.”
When they arrived at the open space, Dixon untied his bags, then dropped them to the ground where wild lemon thyme grew. Its sweet, citrusy smell filled the cool night air.
“There’s one thing I need to do first—even more than to rest,” he said.
“Oh?”
“I need to clean up.”
“Should I start a fire?”
“No, I won’t be long, and we need to be ready to move on again, soon.”
“Go ahead, then. I’ll wait here.”
He rummaged in his bag for a clean set of clothing, then headed for the nearby stream, the moonlight clearly marking his path.
Mara patted her mount’s neck, then rested her head against it, taking in the animal’s warmth. Wearily, she grabbed her pack and rummaged through it for some dried meat. They might as well eat now.
A movement caught her eye. She looked out.
There he is!
The man who’d been following them, skittered out from behind one tree, then made his way to another. He neared, in fits and starts, the place where Dixon bathed.
He’s going to attack!
Her bow unstrung, Mara’s heart raced, as time was of the essence. She emptied the contents of her pack on the ground, but found no weapon there.
There’s Dixon’s bag!
She ran to it, opened the flap, then dumped everything out.
Something caught her attention, distracting her from the urgency of the moment. It was familiar somehow. Sparkling in the moonlight, it mesmerized her.
She crouched down and reached toward it.
Her mouth went dry. The hair on her arms rose.
It’s an Oathtaker’s blade.
No, that’s not right. It’s not ‘an Oathtaker’s blade.’ It’s my Oathtaker’s blade.
She grabbed it, then threw her head back as memories rushed in.
Reigna. That’s a lovely choice. And she looks like a ‘Reigna.’ She is regal . . .
Eden. Paradise . . .
I’m so sorry I can’t do more . . .
She trembled, as the thoughts rushed forward.
I promised I’d help you and I promise I’ll help them. I accept your daughters as my charge. I swear to you and to Ehyeh, who is above all, that I would give my life for them. I will be their Oathtaker for so long as they live.
Overcome with emotion, Mara practically felt the earth shake, just as it had done those years ago.
You’re right. I’ve blamed you and I’ve resented that you were there when I couldn’t be. I . . . had no choice . . . This from Dixon. But I swear . . . if you don’t send me away, I’ll not fail Reigna and Eden . . . And I won’t fail you . . . Please, I swear I would . . . I would lay my life down for them.
More memories followed, of Nina swearing she’d protect the twins, then of Therese, Jules, Samuel, Ezra, and of two oldtimers, who did the same. Mara knew them instantly as Fidel and Leala.
She felt her head would burst. She held it in her hands, even as another memory came to her.
I’ve come to warn you . . . Edmond has been traveling with Lilith, making plans for your demise . . .
You mentioned ‘the girls,’ Velia. Who do you mean?
Rowena’s girls! The seventh seventh and ‘she who is but is not.’ Look Mara, Dixon, I know you don’t know me, but Lilith is here. She came to kill you . . .
Mara hung onto the memory, even as another took its place.
She’s lying . . . I don’t know her, I tell you. I don’t know what she’s talking about. She’s probably trying to lay a trap of her own.
Edmond, this is really very simple. Just assure me that you wouldn’t harm the girls . . . She recalled that Edmond had once been Dixon’s friend.
Her head pounded. More images rushed in.
I can’t believe you’d even allow her to ask me this. I suppose you doubt me too.
Just do as she says, Edmond.
Another memory emerged.
Mara, you’re the only one who can—
Kill her.
In her mind’s eye, she could see the woman who’d sought to harm the twins—Lilith. She reeked of evil. Mara gagged with the remembered smell and taste of the woman’s red attire.
You can’t harm me, Lilith had said.
Then I guess you won’t feel this!
Next, Mara remembered sitting in a hearing room. Instantly, the Oathtaker recognized those with her, as members of the Council.
We . . . understand. It is not possible for us to . . . That is, an Oathtaker may not be committed—does not marry . . . That’s why I’m asking Dixon to . . . leave me.
In an instant what transpired shortly after that conversation came to her.
Are you ready to go then?
So long as you go with me . . .
Immediately following came images of two infants, who turned into little girls, who became young women. Along the way, Mara saw to their needs. She watched as they laughed in joy, cried over injuries, slept through sorrows, trained with weapons, read of their history, listened to those teaching them of Oosa and of their positions as the ranking members of the Select . . .
I know them. Reigna and Eden. Rowena’s daughters. My charges.
Her certain memories having empowered her, she got to her feet. She looked ahead. The man still advanced toward where Dixon bathed.
As she leapt forward, yet another unbidden thought came to her.
Lilith mocked her. Aren’t you going to try to save him, Oathtaker?
She gasped. She knew she couldn’t help him. She knew what she must do. She had to get to the twins.
“Dixon!” she cried, and then, she . . . disappeared.
Lucy glanced up. The ceiling dome was made of seven sections of multi-colored crystal panes that rose toward the center, and a single clear round window in the middle. Together, the design that was displayed within them, replicated the night sky. She pointed at it.
Those with her followed her gesture.
There, through the center round window, the three moons, all now full, shined.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” Basha commented.
“And you aren’t likely to see it again,” Lucy said.
“What does it mean?”
She breathed in deeply. “The twins are undergoing a test.”
“A test?” Jerrett asked.
She looked his way. “Yes, that’s right. And we’ll know if they’re successful by what happens to those moons. If they line up side-by-side, the twins will have failed—they’ll have decided to follow paths that Ehyeh doesn’t intend for them. But if the two smaller moons fall in line, behind the larger, we’ll know that they’ve agreed to follow his lead.”
They all watched on as, slowly, the moons moved.
Mara came to a sudden halt at the top of a rock spire. She recognized the place instantly as, in the light of the three full moons, she could see everything clearly.
Both twins knelt. Reigna bowed her head, while Eden, shivering, pulled her wrap around herself more tightly.
Daeva sat atop the same rock spire as before, glaring first at one of the twins and then at the other. He looked up at the three moons before turning toward Mara.
“You are back.”
“Yes.”
“There is nothing you can do for them, you know.”
“I know,” Mara said, “and I know what this is all about.”
“Oh?” He offered her his corpse-like grin.
“It is a test.”
“Mara,” Eden called out, “I understand now.”
The Oathtaker turned toward her charge.
“You cannot help her,” Daeva said.
“She will hear nothing you say. You have no authority here.”
“Yes,” Mara said, “but that’s not the full story, is it, Daeva? The truth is that you’ve no authority over her or her sister.”
He sneered. “Have patience . . . I will.”
“Mara,” Eden cried again, “this is all a test!”
The Oathtaker stared at the underlord. “What is that you said?”
Reigna stood. “Mara, you’ve come back!”
“Let us go, Daeva,” Eden said. “You’d have us think that we’ve been abandoned, but Ehyeh never left us. He never will leave us. He sent Mara to us in our times of need. Her presence here, days ago, encouraged me. I suspect it did the same for my sister.”
The Oathtaker turned her attention to Reigna, who stomped her foot. “We can stay here for so long as necessary,” she said. “We’ve need of nothing.”
“Come,” Daeva called. The sound of his voice made the rock spires shake. “It is time. Come to me and I will give you all.” His voice held a note of urgency.
“You have no authority over us,” Reigna said. “I know I can speak only for myself, but hear me when I say that I’ll not come to you. I’ll not follow you. You say that you’ll give us all of this? All of Oosa?” She waved her arm about. “But Daeva—it already belongs to us. We are Select. We are Oosa’s rightful leaders.”
Eden walked to the edge of her prison. “Once again, my answer is ‘no.’” She held her hands in fists at her side. “I will wait here forever, Daeva, if necessary. Nothing will change my mind. I am Select. I am called. I have a purpose—and it is not to serve you. It is to serve the cause of freedom—of Ehyeh and of Oosa. You’ve nothing to offer me. That out there—Oosa,” she said, waving her hand, “already belongs to my sister and to me.”
Just then, something drew Mara and the twins’ attention upward.
Time seemed to stand still in the silence that ensued, but as it inevitably moved forward, so too did the three, now full, moons.
Both twins dropped to their knees. Both raised their hands. Both cried out, individually, yet in unison. “Ehyeh! I cannot answer for my sister, only for myself. But I swear, I will serve You and Your cause all of my days.”
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