Season of Fire by Lisa Tawn Bergren

Author:Lisa Tawn Bergren
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook
Publisher: Blink
Published: 2014-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

19

RONAN

We all stared at Niero, wishing we’d misheard him. That he’d forgotten his mad plan.

“You want us to go back,” Vidar said flatly. “To places and to people who tried to kill us.”

“Yes. That is where the Maker calls us — ​to the people in most desperate need of hope,” Niero replied. “We are to go to the Drifters. To Georgii Post. To Zanzibar.”

We were all silent again.

“People that desperate,” said Killian, “will make martyrs out of the faithful. We cannot change the world if we are dead.”

Niero turned kind eyes on him. “The Maker will make use of our lives, whether our days stretch far or short, right?” He waited Killian out, not releasing him from his gaze.

“Right,” Killian said at last.

“But I’d really, really rather go for that long stretch,” Vidar said. “Who’s with me?”

We all smiled and laughed under our breath. But I was certain every one of our mouths were dry.

“Why?” I asked. “Why go back to those places? Where they know us? Where they might be on the lookout for us from the beginning?”

“Because it is there,” Asher said, eyes alight, as if in silent communion with Niero, “that the story of the Way is already whispered and shared. If you return now, with our Remnants in full command of their gifting” — ​he paused to gesture toward Tressa, Chaza’el, and Kapriel — ​“our healer, our seer, our miracle worker . . . our Prince,” he amended, “the whisper shall become a shout!”

Asher clasped his hands, eyes shining, and then lifted his face and hands to the top of the cave. “Glory to the Maker!”

“Glory to the Maker!” we repeated, caught up in his joy.

“Is it possible?” I asked Niero. “Do you really think it is possible for us to enter and exit these cities and not be imprisoned?”

Niero’s smile, which had spread with Asher’s words, melted into a sober, somber line. “I think it is possible we will be imprisoned and tortured, even unto death.”

“You do know how to rally a crowd, don’t you?” Vidar said with sigh.

“But I am certain that the Maker has asked us to go,” Niero pressed on, ignoring him. “We must trust him to sustain us regardless of what is to come. He did not bring the Ailith into this world for you to cower in caves, hiding from the enemy. He brought you into the world to bring together the people, to lead them back to the Way. To bring hope and direction and light for people long lost to the darkness. It is time for the awakening. And that shall not come easily. Are you ready?”

His dark eyes shifted around at each of us, even the Aravanders behind us, and he then reached out his fist.

“I’ve never been fond of caves,” Vidar said, putting his hand on Niero’s.

Silently, the rest of us placed a hand atop the others. The Aravanders clasped our shoulders.

“Are you ready to go where you are called?” Niero asked again.

“We are ready,” we said as one.

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