“Rats coming right up,” he said and reached down to offer a hand to Stellon, pulling him up to stand beside him.
“I need your help, brother,” he said.
“You got it,” Stellon said and coughed.
I watched as the two of them stood side by side and closed their eyes, directing their combined powers at the Earthwives.
Chapter 30
Sacrifice
Pharis
The only other time I’d directly felt my brother’s Exalting glamour had been the day of the execution when I’d gleaned it to control the dragon.
It was weaker now but still considerable. Hopefully it would be enough.
Together we sought out the most accessible mind among the circle of witches, and I implanted a terrifying vision with all the accompanying sounds and tactile physical sensations.
I could see the scene in my own mind as it infected the brain of that one witch and then another, moving rapidly down the chain until the entire circle of Earthwives was experiencing the horror.
A horde of rats swarming, climbing up their legs beneath their skirts, gnawing on their hair, biting their exposed skin. Sharp, curved claws digging and scratching at their eyes.
One witch let out an ear-splitting scream, and then they were all screaming.
The battering winds around us died immediately as the spell was interrupted.
The women began releasing each other’s hands and running in circles, batting at their bodies and faces, trying to defend themselves from the imaginary rodents.
The terror didn’t last long for most of them once the group-think was broken, but one of the Earthwives continued to screech and run, leaping directly into the bonfire.
The others watched in shock as she burned, and one by one, they dropped to the ground, not dead but clearly depleted.
“She must have been the leader,” Raewyn said. “That’s why they all felt her fear instead of someone else’s.”
“Come on.”
Striding out from the treeline, I gestured to the others to follow me. “This is our chance, while they’re debilitated.”
The only way I could think of to stop the attacks on Raewyn and her family was to address the Earthwives directly. I couldn’t compel them all at once, but I could scare them.
The three of us stepped into the halo of firelight, showing ourselves.
“That was just a small display of my power,” I announced to the group in my most commanding voice.
Eyelids opened, and some of the women sat up to look at us.
“I am Pharis Randalin, and this is your King, Stellon Randalin.” I pointed at my brother. “We are here to call a truce.”
Just go with it,I said to him silently.There are too many to compel. We’re going to have to rely on intimidation.
Stellon’s face showed surprise, but he echoed what I said.
“We don’t want a war with the Earthwives—or any other humans for that matter,” he said.
“That’s right. There can be peace between us,” I said.
“We will allow you to go back to your lives as usual. But first we need to establish some rules. Who is your leader?” I asked.
