Why do they always apologize at the end? he wondered.
He sat up, clutching his chest. The heaviness hadn't left him all night. Shuffling toward the door, he paused to look back at the spot where Sabrina had stood. The incineration had been so absolute it didn't even leave ash behind.
“Why do they want us dead so badly?” he whispered, staring at his own hands.
His mind flashed to Khor revealing his star glyph,the silver shimmer of Cancer. It was a stark, beautiful contrast to the obsidian mark branded on Zorn’s own wrist. He finally understood why Khor had hated Sabrina, but the guilt still tasted like lead.
Could we have changed her mind?
Zorn wandered down the stairs, the wood groaning under his feet. Below, the tavern felt strangely nostalgic. Donal and Moira were tucked into a booth, bathed in the warm, lattice-filtered light. They looked peaceful, infuriatingly so.
Moira looked up and offered a gentle wave. Zorn approached the table, his eyes searching the room.
“Where’s Plush?” he asked.
“Still sleeping,” Donal said with a faint smirk. “And I’m not the one who's going to wake him. He gets mean.”
Moira chuckled, but Zorn remained stiff, his face twisted in confusion.
“How can you be so casual?” Zorn snapped.
“Sabrina was killed by the same... thing that nearly took me out before I fell here. She’s gone, Donal. Because of you.”
Moira’s smile faded, her eyebrows shooting up as she glanced at Donal. Donal didn't flinch. He just stared into his cup, swirling his drink in slow, rhythmic circles.
“Zorn, you don't understand the reality of being a Star Soul,” Donal said, his voice dropping to a low, serious vibrato. “If they catch you, you aren't just dead, you’re erased. You are Antares, the heart of your constellation. If you fall, that light goes out forever. No one is coming to save you. Not the Alpha stars, not the Betas. You’ll just be gone.”
Zorn’s heart sank. “But... she cried. She apologized.”
Donal set his glass down with a definitive clack, closing his eyes. The silence that followed was heavy enough to make Zorn flinch.
“An apology isn't always a sign of regret, Zorn. Sometimes it’s just the sound someone makes when they realize they’ve lost,” Donal looked him in the eye, tapping the table for emphasis.
“She was ready to throw you to the wolves to save her own skin. I wasn't going to let that happen. The Eternal Flame Court is moving against us, and if they're bold enough to come for the Relic, we're already behind schedule,” Donal finished, sipping from his cup.
Zorn lowered his head, his shoulders slumping.
“Don’t sulk,” Donal said, his tone softening but remaining firm. “If you let your heart bleed for everyone who sells their soul to the dark, you’ll be empty before this journey even begins. Toughen up, Zorn. Save that empathy for someone who won't use it to bury you. Besides, we have much more important things to worry about. Like this,” he says as he pulls out the artifact.
Zorn stared at the pulsing stone in Donal’s hand, then back at his face.
“Why are we holding onto a death sentence? We’re giving it back, right?”
“We have to,” Donal said. “You wouldn’t like Esmaril when she's angry. You haven’t met her fragmented half yet,” he let out a dry chuckle that quickly turned into a grimace. “Actually, let’s hope you never do. He's deranged.”
Moira leaned in, her gold eyes locking onto Zorn’s. “It won’t be easy. Touching this thing is practically a suicide pact.”
“I’m lost,” Zorn admitted. “Is Esmaril a man or a woman? I keep hearing both.”
“Both,” Donal and Moira said in perfect sync.
“Same person. Esmaril equates Moon Mage, Brennan equals Fragmented Mage. It’s a long story,” Donal said as he stood up and slid the artifact into his pocket.
“Then what are we waiting for? An invite to a tea party? I like my skin exactly where it is! Let's go give it back now!” Zorn was bordering on panic.
Donal stretched his arms over his head and winked. “Because, Zorn, I know a shortcut.”
Moira dropped her face into her hand with a groan. “Don, no. Your shortcuts are always a disaster.”
Zorn looked between them, his nerves fraying.
“What exactly are you scheming?”
“Brennan is our scapegoat for now before I give it back to him,” Donal said, holding a finger to his lips with a conspiratorial smile.
Moira and Zorn shared a look of pure bewilderment.
“The shortcut involves using Brennan to track the Red Saints back to their capital through that tracking ward. You just got to trust the process,” Donal said, folding his arms confidently.
The tavern went silent for a moment. Donal’s grin didn’t flicker once.
“Oh, this guy is actually insane,” Zorn said flatly.
“The Red Saints probably have Lira,” Donal countered, his voice turning serious. “Especially if that eye is involved.”
Zorn didn’t hesitate. “I’m in.”
“Now hold on!” Moira shouted, trying to derail the madness. It was futile. The two of them were already walking away.
“Fine,” Zorn said. “Let’s go wake up Plush.”
The bell above the tavern door chimed as Donal stepped outside. His voice drifted back, muffled by the wind. “Told you, I don’t do that. That’s a Zorn job.”
Zorn slouched, letting out a long, defeated groan.
“Welcome to the team. This is a typical Tuesday,” Moira said, smiling over the rim of her cup.
“Oh, I can tell this is going to be a real ball,” Zorn sighed.
He turned back toward the stairs, dragging his feet as he went to fetch Khor.
He made his way down the hall and stopped at Khor’s door. He knocked once, but there was no answer. When he nudged the door open, he found Khor buried in his blankets, lost in a deep, heavy sleep.
Zorn stepped inside and gave his shoulder a cautious shove.
“Khor. Hey, dude. Wake up.”
He kept nudging, his voice getting a little more insistent.
“Hey. Hey. Khor, wake up.”
Suddenly, a hand shot out from the tangle of sheets.
Khor grabbed Zorn by the shirt and violently yanked him down until they were eye to eye. Zorn let out a sharp, undignified yelp.
“I. Heard. You,” Khor hissed through gritted teeth.
Zorn didn't waste time with pleasantries.
“Donal is going to use Brennan as a scapegoat. He’s using a tracking ward to stalk the Red Saints.”
Khor sat up instantly, his eyes wide and any trace of sleep gone.
“What?! There is no way that will work!”
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