Page 106 of The Oracle of Dusk

His eyes widened.

“Time.”

“Yes. And I never betrayed Silvanus’ trust. Use your eyes, you’ll know I’m telling the truth when you step into the Tapestry.”

Hyllus searched her eyes, looking for traps and lies he wouldn’t find.

“My lady, if you’re simply mad, I’ll have to silence you.”

To protect himself and his secret. Those with his magic had been hunted since the earliest times by all and sundry. She understood his caution.

“I know.”

He paced the room a few times. His wavy brown hair was held back by a tie, some of his more unruly locks escaping confinement as he shook his head.

“So be it.”

When he gazed at her again, it was with eyes glittering like grey jewels. His face contorted in bewilderment, his brows furrowing with strain before he came back to the material world. He blinked in shock.

“Your thread is…I cannot describe it. It is here and not of here, displaced but not by distance. I cannot see where it came from. I saw the thread that bound us, one of fate and friendship, our paths converging. And there is another thread attached to yours. I’ve never seen one so thick and malevolent. What did you bring with you?”

“My fate is tied to Drakon, the monster we must seal. If we don’t stop him here and now, the cycles of calamity will repeat.”

“Repeat?” he asked, before light dawned in his eyes. “Then you… travelled through time… How? Why did you come here?”

“I didn’t mean to. I expected to die.”

Hyllus paced the room.

“This is…a lot.” He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Though at least now I know what my true mission is—the great evil Justice wants me to deal with.”

“I’m just glad I don’t have to search the whole of Trisia looking for you,” she laughed. “But why did you come here?”

“Truthfully, I was coming to see if I could help King Theron. He attacked me, and Justice punished him, even though I hold him no ill will. He struck me as an honourable man, and I want to ensure he’s back on his throne…before his cousin does something rash. May I ask why you risked your life to save his?”

“Because he was the only one who believed me and was willing to help. And he has been kind…sometimes.”

Hyllus laughed.

“That sounds like him.”

“Hyllus, we’re both prisoners here. His jailor is Flora, and mine is Orithyia. I went to her for help first and…let’s just say that I offended her, and though she let me live, I…I don’t want to meet with her alone again. I saw a vision of Theron’s death, of the monstrosities here. We were trying to escape the city when we were caught and forced back here. I tried to warn as many as I could but no one believed me.”

“You see visions as well?”

She nodded.

“I would rather not,” she answered glumly.

He gripped her hand in his. Hyllus must know what it meant—that eventually, the visions would drive her mad—provided she lived long enough.

“I’ll protect you, Aurora, and Iwillfree you. The title of avatar should be enough for that. And then together, we’ll slay this beast.”

Tears sprung to her eyes. She sobbed. His brow creased with concern and he pulled her close. Aurora would have flung her arms around him if her wrists weren’t still bound by manacles attached to the collar at her throat. She settled for pressing herself into the cuirass of his bronze armour, not caring about the hardness of it against her skin.

It had been so long since she felt so hopeful and safe. She’d found the one person in this time that she could fully trust. There was no need to bargain with Hyllus, no need to give away what she would rather guard. Indeed, there was no need to guard herself at all. And certainly no need for scheming or playing games.

As she wept in his arms, the weight crushing her heart and forcing her to harden herself lifted. Shared with a partner she could trust, the burden of the future didn’t feel so heavy.

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