“But Icouldn’t....”
Berithclenched his fists.The bones in the air shook above his head, like leaves on atree.
“But Iknew I wouldn’t be able to look at your body, when I entered the tomb.It hurtme to think of you, to think of my duty, to imagine you twisted, crumpled,riddled with maggots, consumed by necrotic decay.Every time I pictured it, theimage would—” His breath came through gritted teeth.“It would hurt me.It kepthurting me.It nearly broke my resolve.”
Zariaplaced a hand on Isaac’s shoulder.
“So,” theBone Hunter said, “I arranged your death to occur somewhere else, out of sight.I hoped the wyrms would swallow you whole.I hoped the dunes would cover yourremains.I hoped that I would never have to see your body, because, truthfully,what I was doing was already the worst regret of my life, and ignoranceremained my only shelter from anguish.”
“Howlong were you planning this?”Isaac asked.
Berithglanced down, looking over the neatly rowed heads of his thralls.“I’ve known Iwould have to kill you since the day you were placed in my care.”
Therewas silence in the extraction chamber.The dust seemed to shiver, glinting inthe golden light.Somewhere below, further beneath the earth, there seemed tobe a subtle rumbling.
A deepthrum of power.
Amassive chorus of screams.
“Pirate,”Berith said.
Isaacfelt the hand on his shoulder tense.
“Thankyou for saving my nephew’s life.”
Zariascoffed.“Clearly weren’t to your benefit.”
“No,”he said, looking down at Isaac.“It was.Thank you.”
“Getfucked, cuntsucker.”
“Isaac,”Berith said.“Leave the tomb.”
Isaacdidn’t feel capable of responding.He was afraid any motion would cause him tofaint.
“You’llhave to travel,” his uncle continued, “far outside the Diet’s jurisdiction,where the Nine still have not conquered.If the Archons know you’re alive, theywill send assassins.”Berith gestured towards the bronze doors, the bones onhis sun-eating robes sliding and dribbling together.“Go.Head through thewaste, passed the hinterlands.Live the life I could not give you.”
“TheDiet of Nine ordered my death?”Isaac asked.
“I gaveyou an order, boy.For your own sake, follow it.”The glow in his eyes shonebrighter.“I won’t allow you to interfere with my mission.”
“Yourmission?”
“Yes,”Berith said.“My mission.Not yours.”
“Thisismy mission,” he replied.
“It wasnever yours, Isaac.It was always a lie.”
Isaacglared up at his uncle.
“Iknow,” Berith said, “you’ve hated this.You’ve always hated your lot.You’veresented your fate since you were old enough to read.Don’t tell me you’lldefend it now, of all times.”
Isaachad nearly forgotten that he was holding a mnemonic stance for fire.As hestraightened his posture, the trickles of flame grew into a large, shootingspout.“Why are you here?Why did the Diet send you in secret?Does thenecromancer possess some arcane knowledge, some ancient technology the Dietwants for themselves?”
Berithpaused.“The necromancer?”
“Yes!That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?You’re here to kill her in my stead!”
