Lissie looked through eyes that were not her own.
They said I’d never find it. The thought was not hers either.
Costa was marching in circles around her. Sword drawn, as usual. Lissie looked down at her hands and saw that they were spotted and wrinkled.
“Mistress, I don’t think that there is another path.” Costa did not sound worried. The woman knew no fear.
Lissie felt herself rise with the Wind. She was elated at the feeling.
She dove and weaved through the tunnels, fast as thought. She rose up and peered down at the mural. A hunting party, but not human. The prey was blue.
Lissie felt the eyes she was wearing close. Deep wisdom. The thoughts came so fast she could not understand them. Plans wrapped in plans.
Then she dove, into the mural. Into the blood.
There! A staircase! There must be a hatch.
She followed the stairs. Up and up. Her face slipped into the floor and she examined the tiles.
I see.
Lissie knew with knowledge that was not her own, that the seal was the same as on the dust boxes. She returned to the ancient body.
“Costa, would you stand” She pointed a liver-spotted hand. “Right here.”
Costa moved. Her face gave her away.
She knows. But she doesn’t know I know she knows.
Costa took two steps forward and swung the sword. The sword was fast, but thought was faster.
It shattered.
She reached out of her body, and into Costa’s. She ripped and she tore at her lover.
It doesn’t matter anymore.
The blood spilled as she pushed and pried her way out of Costa.
“I’m sorry, my love. It had to be this way. Water for the Earth.” Lissie spoke with a voice that tasted of corruption.
“We bleed, We bleed.” She looked down, as Costa spoke. Lissie saw the dagger in her side, and felt poison she had brewed pumping in her own veins.
She dived into her heart and tried to slow it.
Ah, but that won’t work. I made it for Dust Women.
She laid down next to Costa.