Heat of the Everflame

Diem, Luther, Taran, and Zalaric spend the rest of the night drinking and talking with Centenaries. They discuss magical soul mates and bonding magic. Diem wonders about her and Luther’s relationship and if they’re fated to be together after all. She and Taran discuss their romantic experiences privately. Taran admits his own struggles and speaks to Luther’s historical inability to make his own choices. They wonder at the relationship between fate and desire.

Later on, Diem and Alixe realize Luther is missing. Alixe fears “something is very, very wrong” (354) with him as he hasn’t been himself.

On her way to Luther’s chambers, Diem ruminates on how to handle their relationship. Inside his messy room, she discovers how ill Luther looks. Diem begs him to be honest with her about what’s going on. Finally he lets her examine his chest. He has a horrific godstone gash and his veins are poisoned.

Diem realizes Luther’s wounds are the reason he has been acting so strangely and wouldn’t undress and have sex with her. She goes to Taran for help, desperate to save Luther. They agree that Diem needs to find Maura—her old friend and former fellow healer—for help.