Now that the bag was off my head and no one held a gun, I could take in the room. It looked ancient. The walls were pale, dusty stone, probably placed there a thousand years ago. The plain brown rug on the wood floor covered the stairs the Mahdi’s men and Aisha had gone down, the stairs I felt sure led their way to Don. “Tell me how you made it here,” Chris said. Naomi and I gave him the story. We described Don’s palace, the fight in Tehran, and how the angels had brought us to the order. I told him what Brie had said. I just want to see him one more time before it’s over. Then I gave him the ring. “Thank you.” His eyes were moist as he slipped it over his thumb. “I fear Brie and I won’t see each other again. But I feel her close. Our love gives me strength.” He looked from me to Naomi. “As yours does. You’ll need that for what lies ahead.” “And what’s that?” Naomi asked, her voice quiet as she nursed her baby. “I wish I knew,” Chris said. “Elijah probably knows better than any of us.
