The Atlas Paradox

Gideon is doing a favor for his mother, Eilif. He has entered someone’s subconscious, and it’s almost as difficult as getting past the Society’s wards. This mind is represented as a castle, surrounded by brambles and a labyrinth. He has been fighting to get in for weeks. Suddenly, the ground trembles, and a voice asks who he is. He replies that he’s there for the Prince, and the voice asks if the Forum sent him. A woman in armor appears and races him to the tower. She’s a telepath and shifts the tower’s defenses to keep him out. She’s beautiful, and he thinks she may be Death, but then he sees the Prince, grabs him, and throws him over his shoulder. He outruns the woman and wakes up.

Nico wakes up because Parisa is at his door. She has seen Gideon, she tells him, but hadn’t realized he was so powerful. She nearly killed him, and she asks Nico whether Gideon is a good person. Nico tells her yes—but adds that Gideon is also dangerous because he’s so powerful.

They lay on his bed, and he tells her that he originally joined the Society to help Gideon, but the library hasn’t helped him.