“They talked about the academy? The one in the center of the map?” Anoor said, and Sylah purred beneath her touch.
“Yes, it confirms what we thought, there are definitely still people living beyond the Marion Sea. Ah, that’s good.”
“And what was the other name you said?”
“…”
“Sylah.”
“Sylah’s fallen into a blissful sleep.” Sylah laughed.
Anoor stopped scrubbing her hair and splashed her with bath water.
“Hey! There are no water fights in my blissful sleep.”
“Sylah, what was the name?”
“Zalaam?”
“The Zalaam, I wonder if Hassa knows more about them.”
“Maybe.” Sylah dunked her head, and when she surfaced Anoor landed a kiss on Sylah’s mouth.
Sylah teased her lips open with her teeth and took her time to kiss her slowly, thoroughly.
“It’s getting late, we should do some training,” Anoor murmured beneath her, though her breasts emerged from the bathwater as she arched her back.
Sylah growled and dropped her kisses to her neck, submerging her hands to find the soft folds of skin between her thighs. Anoor’s pants turned feral, and she gripped Sylah as she went deeper.
Sylah could never have enough. Even if she knew she would never be enough for her.
—
Hassa hovered by the edge of the cavern and watched Elder Dew pack away the final items in the Nest. After a few moments Dew sighed and turned to her.
You have been clinging to the shadows in your mind for weeks. You know this is not what Marigold would have wanted,Dew signed.
Marigold would have prodded Hassa’s cheeks until she smiled like they did when she was a child. The memory made Hassa’s cheekbones ache.
Elder, I’m going to stay with the other Ghostings.Hassa pushed herself off the whitestone wall, the carvings in the stone leaving an imprint on her arm.
Child, it is your turn to guide the last group through the tunnels. You cannot stay, it is your duty as a watcher.
I will guide them, but I will return. There are still too many left in the city.
But we have given them the opportunity to leave. Some do not want to part with their masters.
Because they don’t recognize theyare masters, Elder.
Elder Dew took a breath.
This is because of your friend? The Stolen one?
No, but, Elder, I think she should go with you.
Absolutely not.
Hassa frowned. You said it yourself, she would be useful. The Sandstorm are hunting her. The boy, Jond, no longer protects her from them. She knows too little to join the Sandstorm and too much to be kept alive. She has a good heart and can be an ally to the Ghostings.
And what of the other? The Duster in the Keep?
I think she might surprise us all. Her place is here, to blow up the empire from the inside as the tidewind rages outside.
Elder Dew smiled, and Hassa saw the clean cut of their tongue.
I have always been envious of the Abosom and their faith in a God they cannot see. Today I am envious of you, child, of the faith you have in others. To be that open is to be free.
We will be free.
Elder Dew nodded. And so will our land.