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. Ashia, Yehppael asked. If the periscepters have beencaptured by the demons, where would they be brought to bestored and or studied? I don't know.But those in charge of the resistancemight. There's no way to talk to them, Yehppael said. But theymust be told.This information can't be allowed to perish withus. What about the Sphere? Tamael said to Ashia. If wecould somehow make it to that room, do you think you couldabsorb yourself inside and come back via a northern beacon? I don't know, Ashia said. I'm weak.While we absorbourselves from the human realm back to the beacon, webecome vulnerable to the Absolute Darkness.This formprotects us for the short moments we are exposed.In mycondition, I fear I would be too slow to survive.But I will try. You can mark someone, a Principality whispered.Ashia nodded. I suppose it is possible.But with thebeacons detuned, the odds of it working are slim. What does that mean? Tamael asked. I've never heardthis term before. I could find a human in the last moments of his life andmark him for salvation.It is a way to ensure he finds himselfto Cibola upon death.I could direct him to any beacon Ichoose, but it doesn't always work even with the beaconsfunctioning properly. Tamael shook her head. This is too flawed to work. 418 The Shivered Skyby Matt DinnimanAshia held her head up proudly.It shimmered brilliantly. It is a good idea, one that must be tried. You just said you were too weak.You thought yourwounds to be mortal. I will gather the strength from somewhere.I must. If we take them unexpected, Yehppael said, and we canget past that sealed door, then we could probably fight ourway there. Tamael sighed. Then let us make it happen. From there, much time was spent developing a way tobreach the door in a manner that would be sudden enough togrant surprise.If they all concentrated a full blast upon theceiling at the same place at the same time, it would surelybuckle, leaving a hole for them to surge through.If theyweren't buried under rubble.They worked long and hard.Drilling, etching out scenario after scenario of the assault.Praying.Tamael found it easier to talk to Him with Yehppaelnext to her, also silently conversing.Tamael and Yehppael even found time for each other.Alone, they worked to gather the remains of the humans onthe charred third floor, piling them together.The two angelsheld hands, allowed their wings to intermingle while they bothrecited a prayer for the loss of their souls.Something had been eating at him, and Tamael had adeep suspicion at what it was.She could not bring herself toconfront him about it.She felt him tensing, knew he wasstruggling with it.Once, when she was a young angel, barely awakening tothe wonders of their world, she had found a massive field of419 The Shivered Skyby Matt Dinnimanflowers in the low, northern plains.The yellow lilies hadspread out like a quivering sea.The aroma was like nothingTamael had ever experienced, and when she blew upon them,a rainbow of seeds burst forth into the air.That discovery oflife, that moment of pure peace was something she wouldnever forget.Then the dark, roiling clouds of rain rolled in from the east.The storms are common in that area, but she had never seenone before.The mountain of black, angry clouds descendedon her, dwarfing her, redefining her concept of huge.Themoment was the first time she had ever experienced thesensation of fear.Tamael felt like that now, knowing she was about to losethe one thing she cared for above anything else. Ashia isn't strong enough for this, Yehppael whisperedwhen the prayer was done. I know, she said. I spoke with Indigo, and she still does not fully recall themanner of her death.But Dave's circumstances are ideal. Will he agree to it? She felt it coming, knew it was goingto happen, what he was going to say.Before her, the pile ofhuman skeletons was impossibly high. I think he will. He paused, wrapped his arm around her.It felt good to be so close, so alone. She isn't strongenough, he repeated. She can mark him, though.Before hereturns. The effort will kill her.She wouldn't be able to absorbherself into the Sphere. Here it comes.420 The Shivered Skyby Matt Dinniman I can do it.I know the way. Someone else can do it, she said quickly.Saying thewords were like falling and being unable to spread her wings. You're too important to lose. No.I am the only one.The Principalities know nothing ofthe Sphere.I've studied it, read about it.It is His will, and weare His servants.I was created for this. You won't be able to come home. I know, he said
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