The bar had not been as badly hit as the lobby.

After helping Ward back up to his feet, they both hurried to help dig survivors out of the rubble.

People were screaming and scurrying all around. Others were coming from outside to help as well.

It was chaos.

Ed lifted a chunk of plaster that had fallen from the ceiling and pulled a woman up whose legs had been crushed. She cried as he carried her to one of the makeshift beds authorities had just finished setting up.

Medics arrived, but Ed continued to help with the search and rescue.

Until his holovisor beeped.

Deciding he could use a break, he stepped into a quieter part of the hotel to take the call. The face of one of the guards from the cave appeared on his retina.

“Mr. Gyldenstierne... did you still want to talk to that Jack Arnett guy?”

“Yes, of course! Is he back?”

“Not here, not yet. But he’s been seen heading out of town.”

Ed frowned. That was strange. Why would he disappear, then reappear only to leave?

“Do you know in which direction he went?”

The other man nodded. “The southern road, I’m told.”

“Alright. Thank you. Much appreciated.”

“Always happy to help the Weld,” said the guard with a smile.

After closing the connection, Ed went back into the lobby.

There were a lot more people there now, helping with the wounded. He saw Ward further away, busy helping some children find their mother.

He might as well go. Losing a lead on Jack was not an option. He’d been waiting too long. Maybe there was nothing to it, but he had to make sure.

Ed hurried out and turned toward the south.

There were only four roads out of the city, one in each of the four cardinal directions. The southern one headed toward the mountains, though there were many other cities and small villages on the way there.

Depending on where Jack was going, it could be a long trip with plenty of places where he could lose track of him.

He quickened his pace, cursing himself for not asking the guard how old that information was. It would have helped to know how much of a headstart the historian had on him.

As he turned at a corner, he stopped short.

In the middle of the crowded street, a tall, proud woman walked in his general direction. She wore a black skin-tight dress that enhanced her curves.

He stared at her.

She noticed and scowled at him.

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“Well?” she lashed out. “Do you like what you see, little man?”

He offered her a sad smile... then, not saying word, walked past her and continued southward without looking back.

He remembered her, though, and his heart filled with sorrow.

***

Lying in his bed, he stared at the ceiling, thinking about the things he’d learned.

A goddess, pah!

That was rubbish.

She was a fanatic, how could he believe anything that woman said?

More likely, his mother was a priestess.

Still, the temple was a good lead. If he really was born there, it would explain why he had found no traces of his birth at the village’s hospital—he had consulted their records via TriVid before coming to Qojja.

There was no way around it.

He’d have to go to Sidut er’Nadiv and see for himself.

A loud explosion shook the bed under him.

He jumped to his feet and looked through the window.

A billow of smoke rose in the distance.

He turned the TriVid on.

“—an explosion at the Royal House Hotel in downtown Joqqal. There are reports of five dead and at least twenty wounded. This is a developing story, and we expect these numbers to increase as more bodies are found.”

Paul frowned as he sat on the edge of his bed to watch the footage.

It showed close-ups of a reporter at the entrance of the hotel, with smoke still coming from the building behind him. People were running in and out—including medics and soldiers.

“Breaking news! The Brothers of Thuyn have just claimed responsibility for the bombing. Like many other religious entities on Qojja, the followers of Thuyn have a strong anti-foreigner stance. This new development comes as a surprise, however, as they had never used violence until now—contrary to other sects, such as the Sons of the Flame.”

Pictures of known members of the Brotherhood were displayed while the man talked. The footage switched back to the hotel—this time the camera was inside, showing the rubble and emergency units still busy helping victims.

“Fragments of the explosive have been found. The device was apparently in a bag that had been left under a seat in the lobby—”

The news anchor interrupted the reporter.

“We have just heard from the government. There will be a curfew starting tonight, at seven. It will be maintained until further notice. An official will speak to the population in one hour—”

Paul stood and switched off the TriVid screen. He looked at the window—where smoke could still be seen in the distance.

His fists tightened as he walked toward the door.

He would go there and see if he could help.

***

The taste of her last victim still lingered on her tongue as Thyria strode naked through her room.

She considered her dresses and picked one—black and short—that she hadn’t worn in years.

As she tossed it on, she wondered how many more she’d have to feed on before her sins would be atoned... And how would she know? Or was she supposed to keep doing this for all of eternity?

That thought made her wrinkle her nose in disgust.

Humans tasted almost as bad as they smelled, she remarked to herself.

So far, she’d been lucky. None of her peers had heard of her actions. They were bound to find out, though, sooner or later.

It was ridiculous.

She had once been shunned and disgraced for helping humans, yet now they would scold her for killing them!

They should make up their minds already.

Either way, she would not allow her resolve to falter. She didn’t care anymore. If she had survived their disapproval then, she could survive it now. At least her conscience would be at peace.

Even as this thought occurred, she realized she needed her kin to find out. That would be the moment of her atonement.

Pleased with this discovery, and feeling somewhat liberated, she headed out to search for another victim.

She would not hide anymore.

Why bother? If she wanted to be noticed, she might as well be open about her transgressions.

Still, she didn’t want to create a panic among the humans. That would serve no purpose. They could even get funny ideas... like try to hunt her down. That wouldn’t do. Wouldn’t do at all.

She’d have to strike the right balance... between discretion and obviousness. Though what was obvious to her people was not always so to the humans—which would serve her purposes.

The streets of Joqqal were crowded as she walked resolutely toward the sea, her head held high. Heads turned as she passed, but she paid them no heed.

Her senses flared as she saw one man, in particular, standing still in the crowd and staring at her.

It annoyed her more than it should have, so she scowled back.

“Well?” she lashed out. “Do you like what you see, little man?”

He offered her a sad smile... then, not saying a word, walked past her without a single look back.

She watched him go with mounting unease.

Why was she feeling like this?

The only time she had ever felt that way...

Her eyes grew wide as the man disappeared into the crowd.