I pursed my lips and shook my head. “Sorry.”
“That’s alright, lad. The important thing is that you’re here. Still in one piece.” He gave me a little smile that I returned.
But then it dawned on me again—what all my memories of Lonan meant. I was going to die today. The smile fell instantly.
“M-maybe… maybe I’ll still be able to kill her,” I said hoarsely, staring at the jar. “Maybe I die doing it.”
Gillie pursed his lips, shooting Nua a concerned glance.
He opened his mouth. “Well—”
“No, Gillie,” Nua hissed, eyes glistening.
“What?” I said immediately, staring at them both hard. “What do you know?”
Gillie exhaled and looked at Nua again before his silver eyes fixed on me. He nodded once.
“That’s what’s going to happen.”
“What?”
“I saw it. You’ll do it, but you’ll die.”
I stared at him. “R-really? I’ll actually do it? I’ll kill her?”
I looked down at the jar again. Determination flooded me, chasing away the terror at the thought of my impending death. I wouldn’t be able to fulfil my end of the deal with Gadleg, then. I wondered if she knew. I wondered if that was why she’d asked for something so weird and pointless—because she knew I wouldn’t be going back.
I nodded. “Then it’ll be worth it.”