Page 74 of City of Stone and Silence

“She believed that if an Eddica adept were able to use the access points at all three great ziggurats, they could take control of the Harbor.”

His eyes narrow. “I’m surprised you’re aware of that.”

“I spoke to Catoria about it.” Silvoa’s spirit had filled in the gaps, too, though I wasn’t about to tell him that.

“Ah, Catoria.” Sadness crosses Gragant’s face. “She still hates me, I assume.”

“She does.”

He sighs. “I pray for the Divine Being to release her from her pain, but I fear she clings to it too closely. She’s told you our sad little history, then.”

“More or less. You must have believed Silvoa’s theory, since you went with her to Prime’s lair.”

“I…” Gragant looks uncharacteristically uncertain. “At the time, I would have believed anything Silvoa believed. She was … unique. Her loss broke us all, I think.”

Harak puts a huge hand on Gragant’s shoulder, says a few words in Jyashtani. Gragant nods, and takes a deep breath.

“I assume,” he says, “if you’re asking me this, then there must be one among your people with the Eddica gift.”

“There is,” I say. “Me.”

For a moment, everything is quiet. Harak looks between me and Gragant, his broad face suddenly unfriendly. Gragant himself has the expression of someone who has just solved a tricky puzzle.

“So,” he says. “You want to use the access points and take control of the city. And then?”

“Destroy Prime, to begin with. I’m sure that would help all of us.”

“Unless you set yourself up in his place,” Gragant says. “You have to understand the danger here. Without the labor of the angels, we would all struggle to feed ourselves. If you were to damage the system, even by accident, it could mean disaster. And, at worst…” He shrugs. “You could starve us with a thought. Or simply send the angels to destroy us.”

Meroe breaks in. “You were willing to help Silvoa try to do the same thing.”

“I trusted Silvoa,” Gragant snaps. “So far, I have no reason to extend the same trust to you. I ask you again—having achieved the power you seek, what would you do with it?”

“Leave,” I say. “I would take Soliton and return to the world. Anyone who wanted to would be welcome to join me. You certainly don’t have to worry about my setting myself up as a tyrant here.”

Harak rumbles something in Jyashtani. Zarun, clearing his throat, translates, “He says that would be against the Divine Being’s plan.”

“Indeed,” Gragant says. “We were delivered here to further pursue our own perfection. How else to explain this place but a miracle?”

“A miracle infested with walking corpses?” I raise my eyebrows. “Are monsters part of the divine plan?”

“That is a matter of some contention,” Gragant says. “Some have said they are intended to prevent us from becoming too complacent, here in the Divine Being’s chosen country. Others assert that they are a trial for us to overcome, to show we truly deserve paradise. Either way, though, they are a problem for those who have proven themselves worthy to attend to.”

“Fine,” I say. My patience is wearing thin. “How do I prove myself worthy?”

Another pause, and a look passes between the two men. Harak bends to Gragant’s ear, and speaks quietly. Gragant shakes his head, then whispers something that makes Harak’s face turn sour.

“It is not right,” the big man says, in halting pigeon. “She is not … of us.”

“Neither were you, once,” Gragant says.

“I saw the truth,” Harak says. “She sees nothing.”

“The Divine Being may use many instruments,” Gragant says. “Even unbelievers, should it suit the divine plan.”

Harak falls silent, but doesn’t look any happier.

“Well?” I prompt.