“It isn’t your fault. It’shis. I’m glad he’s there now. In our old cage.”
“Me too.” I give her a tight smile. “But don’t worry. I’ll find a place for you. I’ll find a place forallof you, just as soon as ...” I trail off.
Rute looks me square in the eye. “Is the Yellow Godreallychained in the heart of the mountain?”
I blink at her. “How would you possibly know that?”
She just grins and jerks her thumb at the ceiling vent.
I have to laugh. “Did you pick your lock with hairpins?”
“A cloak-pin, actually. But is he?”
I sober. “Yes.”
“And does the Prism Master really mean to—” She cuts herself off as she realizes the children are waking up, including Finnur, who sits up on one of the armchairs and stretches out his long legs; he sparks green and yellow.
“Brynja,” he says, and smiles.
I turn to find Gulla sitting up in bed.Hello, Brynja.
Rute meets my eyes. “Go and speak with her. Finnur and I will take care of this lot while you do.”
I nod my thanks, and Gulla and I slip into the empty adjoining room. A lamp glows orange on a low table, and we settle on either side of it.
“Are you well, Gulla?” I ask her quietly.
Well enough,she signs back. There is weariness in her face, but a calmness, too.What’s wrong, Brynja?
I take a breath. I force myself to look her square in the eye. “I’m not who I told you I was.”
She smiles a little.You’re Iljaria. The Prism Master is your brother.
I blink at her. “Rute told you?”
About the Prism Master and the Yellow Lord, bound beneath us,she signs to me.I already knew you were Iljaria. I sensed it the first time we met, like calling to like.
My eyes go hot and scratchy.
Her gaze softens.You hid yourself very well from those who could not see. But how could I not recognize a fellow Iljaria in exile?
Tears sear down my cheeks, and I scrub them away with my hands, taking deep, choking breaths in an attempt to get hold of myself. “Did Rute tell you what my brother means to do?”
Gulla nods.Unleash the Yellow Lord. Remake the world.
“I didn’t know that this was my father’s plan from the beginning. I didn’t know I was sent here to bring destruction.”
Her gaze pierces me.If you had known, would you still have come?
I shrink beneath her scrutiny, because I don’t know. “Is this really what the First Ones want?” I ask quietly. “Is this really what our people are meant to do?”
Our people speak of peace, but I do not think they truly believe in it.
“Do you? Believe in peace?”
She raises her eyebrows.Do you?
I consider her for a long moment. “How did you come to Daeros, Gulla?”
