“We have achieved the first part,” Alistair said. “We have reconstituted the Book of Black Earth.”
The mention of that monstrosity brought me out in a cold sweat. I had been so intent on surviving and escaping that I had nearly forgotten my reason for being here. Albany had given me the task of ensuring Alistair did not get his hands on that book but I had failed. Now that horror would be used to some even more terrible purpose.
“Now we must use it.” Alistair's words mirrored my thoughts in a frighteningly uncanny fashion. His voice was deep and harsh but lacked his habitual half mocking bombast and I wondered if I was listening to the real man behind the public facade. “We must fight on two fronts, Aela; the spiritual, to topple and destroy the power of the church, and the physical, to
