I’m the one dying. I’m the one who joined the Adelphoi but apparently haven’t become one. I’m the one believing in their God more than they seemingly are. Perhaps I am being rash, but it’s clear to me.
They have the answer. And even if it’s too late for me to resurrect into the Real World, there are plenty of other people out there who deserve a chance.
Street preacher or not, if we don’t share the true cure with people and give them the opportunity to accept it, then we’re still guilty of murder. I’ve been down that road, and I’m not willing to walk it again.
A strange, lonely calm settles on me as I release the last threads of life and hope I cling to. “I think you’re afraid, Stranna,” I say.
“Just get away from me.” She stalks away before I can say anymore.
Before I can say goodbye.
I’m going after the Emperor’s father.
Luc’s wrapped his little Roman world in the cloak of his power. He’s given the people a life of lies, imaginary food, and temporary security. But he knows the Adelphoi come back to life after they’ve been killed. He’s never shared that information with his citizens. He’s kept it from them and made Adelphoi their enemy.
It’s time to unravel his world.
If I can kidnap Galilei and get the cure information, the Adelphoi can use it in the Real World. When I die, they’ll at least have something since they’re apparently too cowardly to try to save the dying citizens.
And right now, Luc is distracted. He wants to destroy the Adelphoi crew—children and all—so badly that he’ll leave Galilei vulnerable.
It takes a bit of searching to find a couple more rocks with threads of light in them. When I hold one, the warmth reaches through. It sends the same flare of excitement as a new dreamscape world idea used to. The desire to sit and create.
Though what I’m creating today is more out of necessity than passion. I send my thoughts into the stone and watch amazed as it morphs from stone to wood and stretches into sleek curves until it finally settles into a crossbow. It’s the closest thing to a gun in this world, and I think I’ll handle it okay.
Now for the arrows.
I want them made from nightmist so I can take out the nightbeasts surrounding the wheat field and Luc’s stingray, but they won’t form. No matter how much I direct my thoughts, the stone trembles in my hand but doesn’t change. I think of the wheat field and my shattered kris dagger.
I can’t create something with nightmist, not even to destroy nightbeasts. No nightmist is allowed here. The source of creation is different.
I’m asking it to war with itself, but it refuses.
So I form regular arrows, which means they’ll work only on people. I don’t want to shoot anyone, but if it’s the difference between Luc murdering children . . .
I purse my lips. I must have faith—despite my history with that word—that God will redirect me.
I make a quick quiver and fill it, load one arrow into the crossbow but don’t cock it, and take a deep breath before striding toward the drawbridge. The wood beneath my sandals is damp from morning dew, which feels achingly of the Real World. It makes it harder to leave this place, but to make sure Castle Ithebego and its residents survive, I need to abandon it.
A shadowed form emerges, having blended in with the drawbridge post on the edge of the moat. Erik. I swallow my disappointment over the flare of hope that it was Stranna.
“I’m coming with you,” he says.
A knot forms in my throat. It’s the first time I’ve felt something like brotherhood since losing Nole.
“Honestly, I’m not sure it will make a difference, Erik. It’s a suicide mission in the end. The question is whether I survive one hour or several.”
“I’m still coming.” He won’t actually die at the end of this. I think he’ll come back, and he’ll be able to keep helping Stranna and the kids. He and Stranna have been Adelphoi long enough that their resurrection power is secured. I’m the newbie who’s out of time.
“You need to stay here and fortify the castle.” I have to smile a little as those words pass my lips. Fortify the castle. I stand a little straighter, channeling my inner Aragorn. “Stranna can’t do it here alone.”
“She’s stronger than you think,” Erik states.
“She’s more afraid than you think,” I respond. “Luc’s tirones are gathering and preparing an attack. He’d be an idiot not to. And—if I fail—he’ll have the power of Galilei at his disposal, too. The kids need you. She’ll need you.”
That seems to get through. Erik sighs. “I understand what you were saying before, Cain. I get it.”
That lightens my heaviness somewhat.
Erik draws his Adelphoi sword and holds it out to me. “I think you should take this.”
I glance at my hands and look back up at him. “I can’t. It burns me, remember?” I’m not worthy.
He reluctantly sheathes the sword. It bumps a little in the sheath of its own accord, like it’s trying to move.
“What can I do?” he asks plaintively.
I take a breath. “I don’t know if this is the answer, so I’m telling you alone because you’ll think it through. Luc has built his empire here, and I think if power is taken from him, everyone can be freed.”
“That’s a pretty big if.”
It’s an if because of me. Because I wrecked the Adelphoi’s attempts to stop Luc and Galilei. I look directly at Erik. “If his tirones attack the castle and kill you, you should know Luc’s father is at Road 813 Northwest. He’s in a LifeSuPod.” I hesitate. “You could unplug it.”
Erik hisses in a breath, and I feel dirty for even suggesting it.
But I’m not Adelphoi. I do kill. Maybe that’s why I’m not one of them.
