Kelsam

The journey from the village to Rhadasy had been an uneventful one, much to Kelsam's relief. He'd half expected some of Norsyff's knights to ambush them on the road and haul Esar off to face their so-called king, but now that they were on the Sanctuary's hallowed ground, he could breathe a little easier. Not too much easier, to be sure, but it was something.

"This is where I part ways with you," said the senior-most of the Devoted who had accompanied them. "I will let you know what the council decides about Amontel's ultimatum. We'll meet with the leaders at your house." The last part he said to Guennet, who nodded.

Hollow-eyed refugees watched Kelsam and his companions as they passed through the garden that surrounded the small Sanctuary town of Rhadasy. Whole families had fled Varshill and Gulna—and where else? There seemed to be enough people here to fill several villages, all bringing with them only what they could carry. Devoted here and there brought blankets and food, but there was only enough room in the dormitories to house those who had the greatest need of shelter—the sick, the injured, and the very old or young.

"I'm sorry you didn't get to see our garden before it was trampled," Guennet said.

"I don't care about that! Humans are far more important than plants." Here and there Kelsam saw glimpses of what the garden must have been like a few days ago. He only hoped that the natural beauty of those lily ponds and late-blooming wildflowers would provide a little bit of solace to people who had no homes to return to.

"So many people," Naomi whispered.

"This is why the Sanctuaries were built." Esar's voice had taken on its lecturing tone again, delivering a lesson for Naomi's benefit—and insulating himself from the suffering around him. "Before the unification, the Sanctuaries were the only neutral ground in a world where everyone was being forced to take a side. They were truly a sanctuary for those who had nowhere else to go, their homes unsafe or destroyed. The Sanctuaries have always provided refuge for the persecuted."

"A refuge that those 'knights' are threatening to desecrate," Kelsam said.

"If they even can," Tlaya said.

"What do you mean?" Esar looked at the girl with narrowed eyes.

"I mean . . . Look, you said it yourself. If Vas and Bhadrat at the height of their powers couldn't violate the ground of a Sanctuary, what are some guys with swords going to do? I think there's got to be something that makes a Sanctuary a Sanctuary. That keeps it safe."

Kelsam blinked. That was just what Esar had theorized, years ago, when they'd talked about the subject. He'd learned more from Esar about the history of Sanctuaries than he had as a student in Norana, which was odd when he thought about it.

"Perhaps there was once, but old protections don't last forever. The seals are ample proof of that," Esar said.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“But some protections have lasted far longer." Tlaya waved to indicate the golden wall that stretched across the eastern horizon. "And if the Intercessor herself has blessed this place . . ."

Kelsam looked at Esar out of the corner of his eye. The girl was starting to sound like a Second Intercessionist—and that was perhaps the least odd thing about her.

"Don't you have anywhere else to be?" Esar asked. He could have been a bit more diplomatic about it, but honestly, Kelsam had been wondering that as well. Most of the others had split off when they reached Rhadasy, with other duties to attend to. Why was Tlaya still tagging along?

"She's staying with me," Guennet said.

"She's not bothering anyone," Jason said at the same time. That was odd, too. Why was he coming to her defense?

Guennet's house was on the edge of the Sanctuary, less than fifty paces from the Asprai barrier. A stream flowed out from the Asprai territory, unimpeded by the golden mist. The barrier had no effect on the cattails growing up around it, or the frog that leaped into them when he approached.

"You get used to it," Guennet said, noting his interest. "I hardly even remember it's there most of the time."

"How do you forget?" Tlaya said. "Do you just go out for a stroll, absentminded-like, and then walk into it like 'wham!'" She mimed walking into a wall and then looking about, dazed. Naomi giggled.

"Why don't you go fetch Obrist and Viande?" Guennet asked Tlaya. "And Netil, if he's ready to be back on his feet."

"All right. See you later!" Tlaya darted back towards the town.

What am I doing, feeling suspicious of her? She's just a kid—younger than Jason, probably. A bright kid, helpful, and if she's a little odd, well, there's nothing wrong with being a little odd. Kelsam had enough to worry about without adding odd girls to the list.

Guennet took Kelsam and Esar to a chamber where they could rest for a while, then left to take Naomi and Jason to their separate rooms. Kelsam shut the door behind them and turned to Esar.

"We have to turn back, don't we?" Kelsam kept his voice low, so it wouldn't carry beyond the walls of the room, but he didn't pretend to be calm.

Esar shook his head. "We don't have time for that."

"It's too dangerous. He made himself king. If he finds out you're here—"

"We're just going to have to make sure that he doesn't. As far as he knows, I'm still in Norana." Esar sat down on the bed and looked at the spot next to him. When Kelsam sat there, Esar wrapped his arm around him.

"And if somebody recognizes you? Be a hell of a way to earn the king's favor, by bringing him the man who sent Thavis to his death." Kelsam looked up at him.

"Who's going to recognize me?" Esar asked.

"Besides Guennet, you mean?"

"We're unlikely to run into anyone else," Esar said.

"And you trust her not to tell anyone?"

"Of course I don't. I'm not saying that it's not dangerous—I know it's dangerous. But it's always been dangerous. There was a construct watching us earlier this very day, if you haven't forgotten."

Kelsam hugged Esar tight, closing his eyes as if that would somehow make everything he was afraid of disappear. "I haven't forgotten," he said. "But—it's just too much. I should be out there helping the refugees. Instead I'm trying to convince you we should run away."

"I don't think there's anywhere we can run away to," Esar said. "The only thing we can do is keep moving forward."

"I'm not sure whether I should find that encouraging or terrifying," Kelsam said, peeking up at Esar through half-closed eyelids.

Esar smiled, putting on a brave face, but he held Kelsam tighter as he whispered, "Why do you have to choose one or the other?"