"Why do you want the herd lands?" Eva asked.
There was something in his actions that said he'd been manipulating things, trying to drive the situation to this moment and this place.
But why?
He was powerful on his own. Far more powerful than any creature Eva had encountered.
All he needed to do was feed off those weak enough to give him access and he could live forever.
"I left something here. I wish to retrieve it."
Lie. At least partly.
"I don't believe you."
A rattling laugh came. The Whisperer's outline became more distinct with every second they spent in this place.
He was deriving strength from his surroundings, far more than he had from his victims. They were like drops of water to a parched man's throat, while these lands were a bountiful lake.
The Whisperer lifted a hand to indicate their surroundings."Look around you. What do you think this place is?"
Eva was reluctant to take her eyes off the Whisperer, knowing the moment she did so he would take advantage.
Still, temptation proved too great. Her gaze darted to take in the meadow, noting odd shimmers in several places. A few taking on vague shapes, letting Eva pick out the presence of horns. Wings.
Do not forget he is a liar,Orion said in a steady voice.
"It's a place of pure power,"the Whisperer hissed."Ask yourself—why did the Kyren not help you? They knew where my army was the entire time. Why did they not destroy them before they killed your precious Trateri?"
The Whisperer stalked closer as Eva edged back. She tried not to listen, beginning to see why he was called the Whisperer. It was hard to resist the logic behind his argument. Many of his questions were those Eva had tried not to ask herself.
"It's not their fight," Eva responded.
"Are you sure about that?"
Though his face was still covered in darkness, Eva got the impression of a smile.
"They are the ones who put me in that hole. Eternity spent locked away in darkness and despair. If not for them, would I have targeted the Trateri?"
Eva stopped, her gaze lifting to Orion's.
His words made a lot of sense. Everything started with the Kyren. If she hadn't gotten involved, would any of the others died?
The Whisperer circled Eva. "I was a Caller once. Like you. Only the Kyren didn't like how powerful I grew."
You tried to become a god. You had to be stopped before you corrupted everything.
The Whisperer sneered."They cut me off from my source of power and locked me away because they couldn't kill me."
Eva stiffened as she finally made a connection. "This place."
"Indeed. This place. I bet the Kyren held you at a distance, telling you that you had to find this place to earn their respect."
Eva held silent as the Whisperer drew close.
"Do you know why? It's because this place changes you to be more likethem."
A patch of darkness extended, caressing Eva's barrier as she flinched. It left behind a cold so deep and all-encompassing that her very soul quaked before it. Behind it, lay a greed for all the things it didn't have. Warmth and everything living.
