Jarek and her father exchanged a look. Together, they turned their backs on Asha, speaking quietly.
Asha watched them: her father and his commandant, surrounded by soldats. The arena was empty. The Iskari knelt weaponless in the sand, while the king’s heir was being marched to the dungeons. If Jarek really were planning to take the throne, what was stopping him? Why wasn’t he overcoming her father right now?
Her father turned back to her, his grip on her arm piece tightening. “Has the Old One given you other gifts?”
Asha looked away, her shame scattering her thoughts. “Yes.”
“And? What are they?”
“The slayers,” she said. “And... the dragon.”
A stony silence solidified between them.
“You mean to tell me, all this time, you’ve been dealing with the Old One?”
Tears stung her eyes. She squeezed them shut. “If I don’t do what he says, he takes away my strength and keeps me from”—she darted a glance at Jarek—“from hunting.”
He’ll denounce me now. He’ll realize I’m a lost cause and cut me loose.
Her eyes opened. She looked to find her father examining her scarred face with worry in his gaze.
“He wants to use you, Asha. Like he used you eight years ago. You’re easily corrupted. A dangerous vessel he can turn against the rest of us.” He began to pace, running his hand over his bearded cheeks as he thought. When he stopped, hecrouched down before her. “My dear child, why didn’t you tell me this before now?”
Asha loosed the breath she’d been holding.
“Because I was ashamed,” she said. “Because there is and always has been something dangerous inside me. I was afraid if I told you the truth, you’d think I was beyond saving.”
“Look at me.”
She did.
Those eyes were warm again.
“I can’t help you if you don’t tell me when you’re in trouble.”
Asha stared at her father, dangerously close to crying tears of relief.
“Our initial bargain still stands,” her father said softly, so only she would hear. “You have until moonrise tonight.”
The commandant reached down to help his king rise. Asha watched the locking of their hands, the strength of their grip.
“She’s going to hunt you a dragon,” the king said as Jarek pulled him to his feet. “I want you to go with her this time.”
Asha froze, too startled to speak. Jarek raised his eyebrows, surprised.
“You saved her once from the Old One’s machinations,” said the king. “If the Old One seeks to manipulate her now, I want you there, at her side.”
Asha stared at her father. Their shared secret hung in his eyes. He wanted her to kill Kozu in front of Jarek. Jarek, who thought Kozu’s heart was a pledge, not a severing.
Was this his way of bolstering her? Of saying he knew she could do it?
And then, for the second time in the span of mere days, the king reached out and touched his daughter, gripping her shoulder tight.
He didn’t even hesitate.
“I wish I could be there when you strike the final blow,” he said. “The moment you do, you will free us all.”
Thirty
