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Somehow, it always took both of them by surprise

As her past self's body erupted into flames, there was a sound of cannon fire, but Luce couldn't be sure Her eyes went blurry with brightness and she was cast far up and out of Lucinda's body, into the air, into darkness

No! she cried as the walls of the Announcer closed around her Too late

What's the problem now? Bill asked

I wasn't ready I know Lucinda had to die, but I--I was just-- She'd been on the brink of understanding so about the choice she'dabout those lastwith her past self

Well, there's not muchcatching fire-- s toward the exits, traet the picture The Globe burned to the ground

"What?" she said, feeling sick I started the fire at the Globe? Surely burning down the lish history would have repercussions across ti to happen anyway If you hadn't burst into flae would have misfired and taken the whole place out

This is so er than me and Daniel All those people--

Look, Mother Teresa, no one died that nightbesides you No one else even got hurt Re at you from the third row? His pants catch on fire That's the worst of it Feel better?

Not really Not at all

How about this: You're not here to add to your e the past There's a script, and you have your entrances and your exits

I wasn't ready for hth sucks, anyway

I wanted to give Daniel hope I wanted him to know that I would always choose him, always love him But Lucinda died before I could be sure he understood She closed her eyes His half of our curse is so ood, Luce!

What do you eony is infinitely more horrible than mine--that's what you learned here Thethe root of the curse, and the more likely it is that you'll eventually find your way out of it Right?

I--I don't know

I do Now coer roles to play Daniel's side of the curse orse Luce could see that now very clearly But what did itable to break it The answer eluded her But she knew Bill was right about one thing: She could do nothingback

Chapter Fourteen

THE STEEP SLOPE

CENTRAL GREENLAND WINTER, 1100

The sky was black when Daniel stepped through Behind him, the portal billowed in the wind like a tattered curtain, snagging and tearing itself apart before falling to pieces on the night-blue snow

A chill crept over his body At first sight, there seehts that seelimpse of day at the end

He remembered now: These fjords were the place where he and his fellow fallen angels held their s: all bleak dimness and harsh cold, a two days' trek north of the mortal settlement of Brattahl?? But he would not find her here This land had never been a part of Lucinda's past, so there would be nothing in her Announcers to bring her here now

Just Daniel And the others

He shivered and low on the horizon Seven of thee fire Froiant halo on the snow Daniel didn't have to count their shining outlines to know they were all there

None of the the snoard their assele starshot on hand just in case, but the idea of an uninvited visitor happening upon their council was so implausible it was not even a real threat Besides, they were too busy bickering a behind a frozen boulder, eavesdropping

This was a waste of time Gabbe's voice was the first one Daniel could et anywhere

Gabbe's patience could be a short-fused thing At the start of the war, her rebellion had lasted a split second compared to Daniel's Ever since then, her commitment to her side had run deep She was back in the Graces of Heaven, and Daniel's hesitation went against everything she believed in As she paced the peris dragged in the snow behind her

You're the one who called this , a low voice reminded her Now you want to adjourn? Roland was seated on a short black log a few feet in front of where Daniel crouched behind a boulder Roland's hair was long and unkelittered like embers in the dusk of a fire It was all just as Daniel re I called was for the to point at the two angels sitting next to each other across the fire fros were still for once, rising high above her shoulder blades Their shiht, but everything else about Arriane, from her short black bob to her pale, drawn lips, looked harrowingly soel beside Arriane was quieter than usual, too Annabelle stared blankly into the far reaches of the night Her wings were dark silver, al around her and Arriane in a wide, protective arc It had been a long time since Daniel had seen her

Gabbe ca the other side: Roland, Molly, and Ca a coarse fur blanket It was draped over their wings Unlike the angels on the other side of the fire, the de

We didn't expect your side tonight, Gabbe told them, nor are we happy to see you