The Cost of Nine Stars

ng tires

d didn't

me back from the edge of oblivion just as

o the arms of a man in a dar

posing, materialized around u

ly hit me, now idled silently by the curb

authority, stepped forward. He didn't look at Ethan, who ha

steady, but held a

question. "I am an emissary. From

d faintly from my hazy

is in dire need of your unique assistance. It is a

word sounded

powerful-looking men and the mention of a name that clearly r

g my arm again, but this time his tone was diffe

melling of fear and greed. "Listen to me. The Thornes. They

wards the emissary

y chance. Our chance! If you impress them, they could help me. We could be set fo

uma etched on my face, deaf to the finality i

commodity, now one he could t

tly but firmly disen

missary opened the

tone leaving no room for ar

erate, grasping face, the

another? Was

nderstated luxury. Polished wood, cr

ing clouds below as we flew north, towards New En

uced himself as Mr. Harrison, sat

" this Patriarch needed, only that it

. What could I po

ded cage to another, from one set of demands to a more power

choed in my mind

ust a perform

a vast expanse of water, a huge, dark lake, i

ming wave of despa

her Ethan, another Tiff, another set of expectat

he instinct to please, to sub

to bre

o

ey could

uckled my seatbelt, lunged for the em

the sudden decompressi

shouted, lu

into the cold, dark air, the b

d. Fi