why would you do that for him?”
“It wasn’t for him. It was for Orbai.”
“But Orbai’s fine.” Serik gestures toward the ceiling. Every few seconds my eagle’s discontented screeches filter through the shack.
“She’s fine because I shielded her with my darkness. After Temujin disrupted my torture at Qusbegi, Ghoa sent me into Sagaan to track him and infiltrate his ranks. But while I was in the capital, I found thousands of shepherds freezing and starving on the winter grazing lands. Apparently, the Sun Stokers have been detained at the war front because the Zemyans are advancing. Ghoa claimed an alternate relief effort was underway, but I lived among the shepherds for a week and never saw a crumb of food or a stitch of clothing from the empire. Temujin and his Shoniin are the only ones providing aid—”
“So?” Serik interrupts. “That’s nice and all, but is it enough to jump headfirst into their deserter movement? And what does it have to do with Orbai?”
I narrow my eyes at him. “I didn’t jump into any movement. I wasn’t even considering joining the Shoniin—and Temujin knew it. That’s why he told me you were being sent to Gazar. At first I refused to believe Ghoa would allow it, but when I confronted her, she got so angry that she lost control of her Kalima power and shot daggers of ice at my chest. Orbai dodged in front of me at the last second and saved me.”
“Ghoa did what?”
I nod gravely, reliving Orbai’s tortured wails. “I cut out the moonstone and darkened the grazing lands so we could escape. But I couldn’t take Orbai to a healer in Sagaan without being recognized, so I came here.”
Serik wilts back to the floor and mutters, “Blazing, burning skies.” He bunches his sleeves in his fists, puffs out his cheeks, and exhales a long breath. “And where, exactly, is here?”
“This is the realm of the Eternal Blue—the first level of heaven, reserved for the most devout followers of the Lady of the Sky. Her world within our own.”
Serik stares at me without blinking. “You expect me to believe we’ve been whisked away to the land of the First Gods?”
“How else would you explain this place? We’re clearly not in Sagaan anymore.”
“I don’t know where we are or how to explain it, but I know the First Gods would never allow me in their presence. They’ve made it perfectly clear I am nothing to them. Which is fine because I don’t want their skies-forsaken Kalima powers.”
“Do you think I’m happy about this?” I wave my hand to encompass the shack. “But refusing to accept our situation won’t help matters.”
“I’m not trying to be difficult. I just don’t understand how any of this is possible.”
“Temujin is Goddess-touched,” I say. Then I quickly explain the rest: how Temujin was healed with Loridium, how the shrines are a gateway, and how the Shoniin believe the empire is supposedly corrupt.
“And how does your night spinning factor into all of this?”
I look down at my hands. “In exchange for rescuing you from the prison wagon, I promised to use my night spinning to help Temujin ferry deserters from the war front.”
It sounds worse, admitting it out loud.
Serik sucks in a gasp and I brace for another onslaught, but instead he traces the golden stitches down the edge of his cloak. When he finally looks up, I’m surprised to find his eyes are fervent beneath his downcast lashes. Reverent, almost. “You’re willing to do that for me?”
“You know I’d do anything for you.”
He holds my gaze for another charged moment and my skin feels too tight. Or maybe my insides are too big? Either way, I have to look away in order to breathe.
“As much as I appreciate your help, I obviously can’t let this happen,” Serik says.
“What do you mean you can’t let this happen? It’s not like we have a choice.”
“You do have a choice. You’re not imprisoned.”
“What are you talking about?” He’s got that glint in his eyes again. The same expression he wore when he convinced me to drink vorkhi and sneak into the Qusbegi Festival. The one that means I won’t like whatever comes out of his mouth next.
“Leave, En. Escape. Don’t let Temujin use you for your power.”
I swat his hands away. “Have you lost all sense? I can’t just leave you here.”
“You can. I want you to. I’m begging you to.”
“Do you realize what you’re asking?” I shoot to my feet. “What do you expect me to