Page 75 of Dark Destiny: A New Thread in the Tapestry

"The sky is turning," Burda said. "I have to go. Tell me quickly. How is your boy?"

"He's happy. He has his own room, and it is filled with toys. My mother is also doing well. She looks alive again, and she's bonding with Tomek."

The pause was long enough that Sullha heard wind moving through the mango leaves five thousand miles away.

"Good," Burda said. "Kiss him for me. And tell your new friends that if they plan to come, they should do so before the full moon."

The call ended, and for a while, nobody said a thing. Sullha sat with her hands wrapped around the can of sparkling water, feeling like a garden after a storm, still standing but twisted all around.

Onegus leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. "Burda could use Thursday's attack as a sign from Mortdh. When it happens, she and her helper start the rumor that the god has answered. Mortdh struck the island's masters, including Shavek, because the plan for the offering displeased him. Even the First Mother can't argue with a sign that monumental."

"What's happening on Thursday?" Sullha asked.

Kian glared at Onegus. "Burda can't know about the attack. We talked about it."

"There are children involved," Onegus countered.

Kian let out a long breath and turned to Sullha. "Most of the island's top command will be eliminated Thursday morning, including Shavek, who is in charge of the enclosure. That's all you need to know, and it doesn't leave this room."

"Good." Sullha nodded. "I'm glad."

If that sounded harsh, she didn't care. Kian looked at her as if he were seeing her for the first time.

"So, that's what Burda does," Onegus said. "After Thursday, she starts spreading the rumor that it was a sign from Mortdh. The god rejects the sacrifice."

"It might work," Sullha said. "Or it might backfire."

Both males looked at her.

"The Mothers might look at the fire and see whatever the First Mother tells them to see, and she'll tell them whatever makes her stronger." She kept her fingers wrapped around the can of soda water. "If the god burns the island's masters a week before the offering, the First Mother might not interpret it as the god being angry about the sacrifice. She might interpret it as him being hungry. That he took the commanders because the offering did not come fast enough, and that one child was not enough. They might decide they need to bring him more."

"Fuck," Kian said.

29

BARDOV

The punching bag was rated for immortals, yet Bardov still destroyed it in under fifteen minutes.

It split along the seam, spilling sand across the gym floor, and he stood there, watching it leak with morbid fascination.

It felt good to destroy something, but at this rate the Guardians would prohibit him from using the gym.

It was the second punching bag he'd obliterated that week, and since he didn't have a job or get paid, he couldn't cover the damage.

You can't keep destroying their gym equipment. Armos didn't look up from the weights he was curling. They will bar you from entering.

They should get better bags.

There is no punching bag in existence or on a drawing board that can survive your moods, Voset said.

Bardov didn't answer. He picked up the roll of tape and started fixing the broken seam just to have something to do.

He tried to read, but he was easily distracted and kept losing his place in the book. He tried to watch television, but nothing held his interest for long. He hated being cooped up in the windowless underground, and being allowed into the penthouse once every few days to see the sky was not enough.

"We are moving to the village soon," Yaaf said. "There will be more to do once we are there."

"Like what?" Bardov spat. "Watching Navuh while his mate wheels him around the house? Forgive me if I don't find that exciting."