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but Vahn rolled with the momentum and I came up on my feet, still holding the dagger between myself and the kahjai.

Raithe sprang upright like a sand cat, drawing his sword as he rose. As we circled each other, I saw Kysa and Halek come around

the side of the tent to join him, and felt a rush of relief. Vahn was skilled, but he couldn’t fight all of them. I felt myself

swiftly back away, Vahn putting several paces between us and the others, as they stared at me in rage and wary shock.

“Sparrow.” Halek looked between me and Raithe, his expression bewildered. “Uh, did I miss something? What’s going on?”

“It’s the ma’jhet.” Raithe’s eyes didn’t leave mine as he answered. “They have her.” He stepped forward, his gaze promising

retribution as he glared at me. “Let her go.”

I felt my lips curl in a cold smile. As Vahn answered with my voice, I could hear his utter hatred for the kahjai before me. “What are you going to do, kahjai? Strike down your own Fateless? When you’ve worked so hard to keep her from us?”

“You can’t fight us all.” Raithe took another step forward as Kysa and Halek moved to the sides, spreading out around me.

“Return Sparrow’s consciousness and leave. You’ve lost this battle.”

“Oh, have I? Well then.” Vahn did not sound defeated or worried, and I felt my hand tighten on the dagger. “I suppose I should

just give up.”

My arm rose, and I felt the bite of steel against my skin as I pressed the blade to my own throat.

Halek let out a breath of alarm. Raithe froze, and Vahn turned a triumphant smile on him, forcing me to dig the knife in just

a little deeper. I gasped soundlessly as blood welled and ran down my neck, and Raithe immediately lowered his sword.

Vahn shifted my body so he could keep all of them in his sights, the dagger never leaving its place below my chin. “What’s

the matter, kahjai?” he asked, addressing Raithe with a cold smile. “You look concerned. Did you think I forgot about you

and what you did in Kovass? Do you think the king is not aware of your queen’s machinations, and what she intends to do with

the Fateless?”

My stomach clenched. Raithe didn’t move, but a muscle worked in his jaw. “What do you want from me?” he asked in a low voice.

“Drop your sword.”

Raithe immediately tossed his blade to the ground. It struck the hard-packed earth a few paces away and lay there glimmering in the searing light of the suns. I felt Vahn smile with my lips, though inside I was screaming at him to stop.

“Step forward,” Vahn demanded, and Raithe obeyed, walking toward him until he was only a few feet away. On either side, Halek

and Kysa were tense as they watched us, unsure of what to do.

“Stop,” Vahn said, and Raithe did. I gazed into his eyes, saw the blank, fixed gaze staring back at me, and raged at my own

helplessness.

Slowly, keeping his gaze on Raithe and the blade pressed to my throat, Vahn lowered himself until he was nearly crouched in

front of the iylvahn. I felt him reach down with my other hand, to the inside of my boot, where I kept the small blade hidden

for emergencies. My heart went cold as he grabbed the hilt and rose, the thin but deadly knife clutched between my fingers.

“How much does the Fateless mean to your people?” Vahn wondered as he straightened. “What is her life worth to you? If you

could keep me from slitting her throat in front of you right now, what would you offer?”

He tossed the knife at Raithe’s feet and took a step back. I glanced at the blade, glinting in the dust, and horror flooded

me as I realized the implication.

No. Vahn, no. If you do this, I will never forgive you. I’ll never come back to Kovass , and I will hate you for the rest of my life.

A price I’m willing to pay , Vahn said, though he sounded weary. The king does not require love from his subjects. Just obedience.

To the Void with the king! What about you and me?

Raithe hesitated, gazing down at the blade before him. For just a moment, several conflicting emotions crossed his face, before

his eyes hardened and he looked up at Vahn again.

“If I do this,” he said quietly, even as I wanted to scream at him, “how will I know you’ll let her go?”

“Raithe,” Halek said, sounding horrified. “Are you insane? Don’t listen to her.”

“You have my word,” Vahn said, ignoring Halek. “As former Guildmaster of Kovass and high chancellor of the true king, I swear

I will release Sparrow, unharmed and whole, to your companions and depart once the requirement is met.”

No , I sobbed. Don’t do this, Raithe . Please . It’s not worth it.

Raithe paused a moment more, then slowly knelt and picked up the blade. “Sparrow,” he murmured, and my stomach twisted at

my name. “Can she hear me?”

“She can,” Vahn said. “Currently, she is not happy with this decision, but once you’re gone, I expect she’ll come to see reason.”

Raithe met my eyes, and there was no hesitation or regret in his gaze. I choked on a sob and my vision blurred, hot moisture

running down my cheeks. I felt Vahn raise my other hand and wipe them away, keeping my gaze on the kahjai.

Raithe’s brow furrowed at the sight of my tears, and he bowed his head.

“I’m sorry, Sparrow,” he murmured. “It seems I won’t be taking you to Irrikah, after all.

” He observed the blade in his hand, and his face tightened.

“I wish I could have told you everything,” he went on.

“For what it’s worth, I’m glad I met you.

Even though my thread may be cut, know that you changed it for the better. ”

No. Desperation, rage, horror, and grief rose up within me, a storm of boiling emotions. They pressed against the barrier around

me, straining it. I sensed Vahn’s surprise, then alarm, as I turned my fury on him, taking everything I felt and pushing outward.

The wall around me shimmered and, like a tree bent to its breaking point, cracked.

I will not let you hurt him.

“Raithe, stop!”

My voice left my mouth as a ragged shout, as if invisible fingers were curled around my neck, crushing my windpipe. Vahn’s

grip on the knife didn’t waver, but with all my will, I lifted my other hand and grabbed the blade at my throat, feeling it

slice my fingers open as I squeezed.

Raithe reacted immediately. Springing forward, he grabbed the arm that held the knife and pried it away from my neck. I felt

Vahn snarl, fighting us both and trying to release the fingers around the blade so he could stab it into Raithe.

Then Kysa and Halek closed in from the sides, and the last thing I saw was the blunt end of the insect rider’s spear coming

toward my head. I felt a blow to my temple, and then, mercifully, blackness.