His palms were bloody, and he held them pressed together. It looked like prayer, but it was clear what it meant. Instead of attack, he held his hamsas blind, ink eye to ink eye. He held his power in check, and himself. A soldier dead on the ground, and no reprisal from the vicious White Wolf? It was a powerful gesture, but Karou still didnt understand. How had it halted three hundred Misbegotten in mid-draw?
Thiago spoke. I pledge on the ashes of Loramendi that I and mine come to you for coalition, not for blood. This makes a bad beginning, and was no plan of mine. I will discover who among us has raised a hand against my express command. That soldier, whoever it may be, has broken my word . This he spoke low in his throat, his voice rough-edged with disgust, and a shiver trilled down Karous spine.
Thiago turned, sweeping the gathering of his soldiers with a slit-eyed look. That soldier, he said, peering into the heart of his army, courted the death of this entire company today, and will be disciplined.
The promise was raw; they all knew what he meant by it. His gaze was deliberate and piercing, and lingered several times on particular soldiers, who withered beneath it.
He turned back to the Misbegotten. There is reason to risk our lives, but we are no longer that reason to one another. A bad beginning may still be a beginning. He was vehement. He sought Akiva then; Karou felt him waiting for the angel to step in and help him put the pieces of this truce back together. She waited, too, sure of himAkiva had brought them here; he must have words to mend this momentbut the pause dragged out a brief, strained silence.
Something was wrong. Even Liraz was squinting at Akiva, waiting. Karou felt a stab of concern. He looked unsteady, even ill, his broad shoulders bowed by some strain. What was wrong with him? Shed seen him look like that before; shed made him look like that, but this couldnt be the effect of the hamsas, could it? Why should they hit him harder than the rest?
With evident effort, he said, finally, Yes. A beginning, but there was a hollowness to his voice, compared with the Wolfs rich tone and strong words, even as he went on to say, a very bad beginning. I regret this death, and deeply I regret our readiness to cause it. I hope it can be put right.
It can and will, replied the Wolf. Karou? Please.
A summons. Karou felt spotlighted; fear darted erratic in her veins, but she gathered her will and moved. All focus shifted to her as she threaded her way through the host, straight to Uthems side. She was standing in his blood. A nod from Thiago and she knelt, unslung the gleaning staff from across her back and lowered it into position, thurible swaying on its chain. A switch alongside the shaft activated a wheel lock similar to a friction-wheel mechanism in an antique pistol;
it ignited the incense chamber in the thurible with a report like a snap of metallic fingers. An instant later, a sulfurous tang effused from it.
She felt Uthems soul respond. It felt like gray skies and signal fires, the breaking of waves. Impressions flickered and faded as his soul slipped into the thurible and was safe. A half turn to lock it, a flick to extinguish the incense fuse, and she rose from her kneel, taking care to keep her hamsas from flashing any magic at the angels.
All eyes were on her. She glanced to Thiago. They hadnt talked about this, but it felt right. She said, I have never resurrected a seraph, but as long as we are fighting on the same side, I will. If you wish it, though you may not. Think it over; its your choice. My offer, my promise. And something else. One by one, she met the eyes of the rank of angels directly before her. I might not look like it, she said, but I am Kirin, and this is my home. So please step aside and let us enter.
And they did. They didnt exactly leap to it, but they parted, clearing the way for her. She looked back, found Issa in the throng. Zuzana and Mik, wide-eyed. Akivas presence was like a flare in the periphery, calling to her, but she didnt look to him. She stepped forward. Thiago fell in beside her. The host came behind them, and the Misbegotten let them pass. With blood on their boots, Karou and Thiago led their army inside.
How did he do that? Liraz breathed.
The question jolted Akiva, finally, out of his post- sirithar torpor. How did who do what?
The Wolf. She looked stunned. I was sure we were done. I felt it. And then She shook her head as if to clear it. How did he stop it?
Akiva stared at her. She thought Thiago had stopped it?
He gave a hard laugh. What else could he do? He knew that a pulse had gone out from himnot explosive this timeand whatever it had carried with it, he had felt the soldiers collective intention sever. He had done it. He had stopped this slaughter from happening, and no one had any idea, not even Liraz, and certainly not Karou.
While he had reeled in his magics blowback, barely able to string a coherent sentence together, the Wolf had risen to the occasion and claimed the moment, and managed to earn himself even Lirazs awe? What then must Karou be feeling for him? Akiva watched her disappear down the passage at the head of her army, the White Wolf at her sidea striking pair they madeand all he could do was laugh. It ground like glass in his chest. Perfect , he thought. What a perfect backhand from what? Fate, the godstars? Chance?