Free Chasing the Prophecy (Beyonders) by Brandon Mull

really. But just because the oracle proposed a plan doesn’t necessarily make it perfect. One of her people tried to kill me! How’d she miss that? I’ve been working with the top acolytes. They’ve taught me some Edomic words, but I can already use the commands better than any of them. I wouldn’t trust most of them to foresee what I’m having for breakfast tomorrow. What if the oracle wasn’t as wise and magical as everybody thinks? Or what if she went crazy? Farfalee told us that Darian the Pyromancer livedages ago. He should be dead. What if he is? And Felrook seems invincible. What if we’re all marching to our doom, thanks to the desperate ramblings of a dying crackpot?”
    The possible validity of her doubts made Jason uncomfortable. “You’re probably just spooked because of last night.”
    “This isn’t just about that,” Rachel said. “I’ve been getting more stressed ever since the oracle spoke. I wanted to believe her. She seemed confident and sincere. She gave us hope. I’ve tried to be positive and to focus on my training. But with us about to actually leave, I feel less certain than ever. I needed to tell someone.”
    “And you picked me? I’m honored.”
    “I was thinking maybe we could go talk to Galloran.”
    “We? When did I sign on as a doubter?”
    Rachel scowled skeptically. “You aren’t nervous?”
    “Sure, I’m nervous! But that’s not the same as deciding it’s a mistake.” Jason paused. He wasn’t ready to do cartwheels of joy at the prospect of leaving Mianamon, but in spite of his insecurities he found he really did feel they were doing the right thing. That was something, at least. “You really want to bug Galloran with this on the day we’re supposed to leave?
    “Maybe,” Rachel said uncomfortably. “I’d hate to be part of a train wreck just because I was too scared to speak up.”
    “Getting attacked in the middle of the night would freak out anybody. I can understand how it could make you question the oracle.”
    “That’s only part of it. I worry that we’re betting everything on this one opinion. Are we really sure she got it right?”
    Jason glanced at a hooting gibbon as it triumphantly raised its quarterstaff in the air. “Tell me what you would tell him.”
    “Not if you’re just going to watch the gibbons.”
    “Sorry. I like how they celebrate. Go ahead. This is actuallya great place for a private talk. I’m paying attention.”
    Avoiding his gaze, Rachel tugged self-consciously on her sleeves and cleared her throat. “Okay. Galloran, I’m worried that the oracle may not have made an accurate prediction. I mean, she sent you after the Word, and that didn’t turn out so great. She didn’t know that one of her students was an assassin. She was dying when she spoke to us. What if her mind was foggy? What if she was just desperate?”
    “You’re worried that Felrook can’t be taken?” Jason checked.
    Rachel shrugged. “I know we have an opportunity. Maldor’s main armies are in the east, fighting Kadara. Since Maldor isn’t worried about anyone attacking him, Felrook isn’t heavily defended. But what if he’s right not to worry? Nobody thought Felrook could be taken until the oracle told us to do it. If she was wrong, the last armies resisting Maldor will be crushed! And the other group won’t have it any easier.”
    “We have to do impossible stuff too,” Jason agreed.
    “What if this is like the Word? What if we’re heading down a false trail?”
    “We’ll all die,” Jason said honestly.
    “And you’re okay with that?” Rachel blustered.
    “I’m not okay with dying,” Jason said. She clearly needed reassurance. It was hard to tell what would help her. He had plenty of his own concerns, but at least he felt convinced that their quests were necessary. “Normally, I wouldn’t risk my life for anything. But these aren’t normal circumstances. I get that we really could die—we’ve already lost people we know. The