What am I looking for? he whispered over his shoulder.
She caught Chandranis arm as the larger woman swayed, still clutching her head. A span of rock with flecks of copper, Kavya said. Its not sandstone or granite. It conceals a tunnel for escape.
I knew you werent that naive.
Perhaps I was. She glanced back to where the Guardsmen were rounding up women. More and more men had been pushed to the eastern side of the valley, contained by guards holding Dragon-forged swords. That gold-touched gleam on otherwise ordinary steel was unmistakable. They wouldnt be able to fight back, or even flee. Only the Dragon knew their fate. I had been hoping for unity, not planning for worst-case scenarios.
The arrival of a twice-blessed sibling is certainly that.
Twice- cursed .
Do your clan words matter to me?
Kavya had underestimated the extent of Pendray rage lurking beneath his cool surface. He radiated the tension of a gale-force blizzard wind. He was different in that he held back what other members of his clan basked in using at any opportunity. At least, thats how the Pendray were described in rumor and disdainful talk.
If he kills me, hell lose connection to reality. His mind will be all that matters. Hell live there and refashion the world to match what he sees. That could mean anything. She nodded toward where bodies lay motionless on the altar. Blood had started to congeal around her fallen allies. I doubt it will be peaceful.
Turns out you wont need me to discredit you. The Sun led her people to slaughter, with your brother as the heavy.
You know nothing, Chandrani said with unflinching vehemence. Despite her bleeding temple, she pushed Kavya forward and took up the rear defense. She held her saber with practiced steadiness.
The bubble of relative safety behind the altar muffled sound. Rock protected Kavya from the audible nightmare her people were enduring, but nothing buffered the suffering they shouted in silent, psychic screams. Her stomach was a solid cramp of tissue that wouldnt loosen. Nothing could undo this damage, even if she restored some sense of unity.
How confident shed been that afternoon.
Too confident. Too arrogant. Shed created a place of spiritual safety that belied actual safety. Northerners and Southerners had put aside their differences. There in the valley, when had any needed to use telepathic attacks? Never. Theyd been taken by surprise, and they were fighting back, but with two deadly sweeps of his sword, Pashkah had proven all of them to be woefully complacent.
There, she said. That block.
Tallis sheathed his seax and dropped his pack. He squatted before the boulder that concealed the exit and pushed.
Help him or cripple him? Chandrani asked. I can do either. He didnt hit me that hard.
Half your face is covered in blood. He knew just where to hit you, didnt he? Can you read my thoughts?
Chandrani shook her head, appearing ashamed as if she were to blame.
Kavya touched her friends cheekthe only skin left exposed by the riveted armor. Help him. Well deal with him later.
I wont let him hurt you. Chandranis expression remained impassive, but the conviction in her voice was unmistakable. She never lied. She never exaggerated. Her only failing was in thinking she could do everything herself.
They were very alike in that sense.
Now isnt the time to discuss my fate, Tallis ground out, with his shoulder to the copper-flecked stone. It was half his size. This was your escape? How did you expect to move this?
Chandrani pushed Tallis aside. She touched a hidden place along the valley wall. The boulder opened like
a door on a hinge. Brains over brawn, Pendray.
Too bad for you, sister, came that dreaded ghost-soft voice. Pashkah had intoned for the crowd, but delivered his sincerest threats in whispers.
He stood flanked by two members of the Black Guard. Each held a terror-stricken young woman, while Pashkah was armed with the same blood-drenched sword hed used to commit public murder. Brains wouldve been useful today, Kavya. Now its time to see what sort of deity youve really become. Come with me or these young women become my next victims.
CHAPTER 
FIVE
Pashkah focused his intense eyes on Tallis. Neither malice nor temper shone in those shaded depths. Pendray can speak? You learn something new every day. Next Ill expect dogs to write poetry.
Tallis held back his temper at the slight. He focused instead on Kavya. She was more calm in the face of her brothers threat than she had been on the receiving end of Talliss kisses. What that meant would have to wait. Getting out alive was all that mattered.
You know Im right, Tallis said to Kavya. Theyre damned by an accident of fate.
And you believe in fate, you blood-hungry Reaper? Pashkahs soft voice was mocking with laughter, although his unnerving expression never changed. He reminded Tallis of how Kavya had appeared when addressing her flockthat slippery facadebut he couldnt tell whether it was a Mask or some Indranan trickery. The man was rich with the power of madness. Youre such primitive creatures. Its a shame were obligated to include you among the Five Clans.