The Visitor Tent was on the outskirts of the village, set back from the outer circle. Kaye felt strange walking to it when home was on the inner circle, but she had stayed here one night already, and would only need to stay one or two more. Whatever her decision.

Bryant had been hiding inside all day, and Kaye tried to smile as she entered, but found little to smile about.

“How is your sister?”

Kaye moved to the cot before answering. “She’s fine. Her mark is complete. She’ll get her name as soon as there is a chief.”

“And her man?”

Kaye sat down with a sigh. “He won’t fight again.”

“But he will live?”

She nodded.

“Well, that is something to be glad about.” Bryant put his hands on her shoulders to pull her against him, but she resisted.

“You don’t understand. It’s the same thing the High Priestess told my mother before my father died. ‘If he lives, he will never fight again.’ I can’t say that to my sister.”

“Then let someone else tell her.” Bryant kissed her shoulder and ran his hands over her arms, but she didn’t warm to him.

“There are so many others who won’t survive, or didn’t.” She collapsed forward into her hands, exhausted. She wished she could hide in his arms, but it would make her decision harder if she turned to him now.

“They are not your responsibility,” he mumbled into her neck as he kissed her.

“They have always been my responsibility,” she whispered. “I was born to them. Promised to Kaye Conal before my birth.”

Bryant stopped kissing her and sat back. Kaye was promised in place of him. Loria had given Kaye Conal her daughter to replace the son that she left behind with the Faye. If Bryant had been a girl, Kaye wondered if the High Priestess would have kept him.

“I knew it would come to this,” he whispered and dropped his hands.

“It was always this.”

"I know. That was why I was so cold for so long; why I tried to let you stay with the Breen’s without getting jealous. If it had been any other family I may have succeeded, but I couldn’t watch my father’s Tarrin son take you away."

"Did you wish him dead in the battle?"

Bryant touched her arms again. "No. I would not wish that on anyone. I am glad he was unharmed, but I still cannot stand to watch any Tarrin take you away from me."

“I can’t leave them like this. They have no one.”

“They have six other priestesses."

“Who have their own tribes to take care of and can’t take over as High Priestess.” She took a deep breath and looked at him, heart pounding with hope. “You could stay here.”

“No.” The word left his mouth before she even finished. “I cannot.”

“You can,” Kaye insisted. “You can live here, and I can stay with you. It will be just like before, except I won’t feel useless.”

“You want me to move to a tribe that values war and false gods over all else?” Bryant shook his head. “I could not, and they would not let me stay as the High Priestess’ consort.”

She grabbed his hand. “I will change the rules.”

“You cannot.”

“My sister did, why can’t I? I’m an Odion too.”

He smiled ruefully. “Your sister is stronger than you.”

She dropped his hand, stung by his words. “I’m stronger than you think.”

He only shook his head, and they sat in silence for a while before she whispered, “I can’t go back.”

“You promised.”

“I’m not leaving you!” She began to cry, frustrated with the situation and the choice that wasn’t really a choice at all. “I’m asking you to stay with me.”

Bryant took a deep breath. “You will not return with me?”

“Fie Eoin needs me.”

“I need you.”

“They have no one else.”

“And who else do I have? My father’s gone, my mother’s dead. And now you…” Bryant put his head in his hands. “I knew this would happen. The moment you stepped onto the cliff I knew it wouldn’t hold you. I tried to make you Faye.”

“I am Faye. But I’m a Daughter of Aleda first.”

“You would rather stay with the Tarrin.” Bryant didn’t try to hide the bitterness in his voice. “You know what they did to the Faye, and you would rather stay with them.”

“These people have done nothing to wrong you.”

“They took my mother from me. They are stealing you away.” Bryant looked at her, and his eyes didn’t hide any of their betrayal. “Because they need you more than I do.”

Kaye couldn’t reply. Placing the guilt of his mother on her wasn’t fair—but she had no argument for it. If she returned with him, she would forever feel guilty for leaving Fie Eoin. But if she stayed, she would have the guilt of his mother on her shoulders as well.

“I don’t know what to do,” she whispered. “I’m not Kaye Conal.”

“No, you are not.” Bryant grabbed her hands. “Come home with me. Fie Eoin is a tribe of warriors—they will be fine alone.”

“I need to think.” She pulled her hands away. “I need fresh air.”

“Kaye. Don’t leave.”

“I just need to clear my head.” She stood and walked out before he could protest further. The cliff would help her think.