“We need to get out of the streets.” Clio stooped down, shouldering Ixie. “What’s going on?” Atzi asked. “You’ve Seen nothing?” The Oracle shook her head, but there was a foreign distance in her eyes. “Take us to the shelter. I’ll explain there.” Atzi led them to a burned out and abandoned hovel on the outskirts of the city, the great mountains of Morek rising up jagged and sharp in the distance. Tirza met them at the door, her eyes wild with worry. She ran to Riece, all her anger forgotten, and embraced him as Clio carried Ixie inside. Clio was crossing the threshold when she heard Tirza’s voice. “Did Nox say when he might join us? I can go meet him and bring him here.” Clio walked into the dark room, her chest heavy and her stomach tight, not wanting to witness Tirza’s heartbreak. The room was cramped, much of the floor taken up by a small set of stairs that rose out of the dirt and led to a sparse loft. Ealis stood atop it, his eyes fixed on Ixie. “Bring her up here.”
