Berithmoved to the edge of the pyramid, his sun-eating robes trailing a black curtainat his feet.“Let me guess.This was your pirate accomplice.She stabbed you inthe back, at the first sign of trouble, when her promise of treasure proveduntenable.”He made a noise in his throat.“You should have expected as much,though it’s good you took care of her.This conflict should remain within thefamily.”
Isaacjudged the distance between them, counting each of the steps that led to thetop of the pyramid.He kept a wary eye on the thralls.Out of the thirty soulshe had seen in the necromancer factory, only three remained.
Hisuncle had sacrificed over two dozen people.
Hisfellow mages.
Hismother.
Bloodleaked through his fist.
“Yourfather is dead,” Berith said.“If he isn’t now, he will be soon.He can nolonger feast on the souls of the necromancer.Without a corporeal form, he willwither and dissipate, like a morning fog.”He glanced at the souls leakingthrough the masonry.“I only wish I could’ve done it sooner.”
Agentle breeze blew through the crucified skeletons, fluttering the ancientflags.Berith watched Isaac, staring down from the top of the pyramid.
“Do youhave an answer for me, boy?”
Isaacsaid nothing.
“Now isthe time,” his uncle said, gesturing.
Isaacdid not respond.
“I’mbeginning to find your silence rather insolent.”
Isaactried to gather his strength.There was a sizable distance between him and thepyramid.Once he was there, it was sixty-two steps to the top of the structure,each of them tall and thin and crumbling.While he climbed, all three of theremaining thralls would have a perfect vantage to loose their spells, and Berith could just as easily snipehim with one of the dozens of bones hanging above his head.
Hislegs were beginning to shake.If he did not rest soon, the loss of blood wouldcause him to faint.
Isaacgritted his teeth.
“I havemedical supplies,” Berith said, after a long pause.“Your injuries are serious.If you would just ...submit, for a moment, I could provide you....”
Isaacbegan to walk forward.
Hisuncle tensed.“What do you think you’re doing?”
Isaacstepped over a cracked geyser of concrete, kicking through loose clods of dirt.Around him, the shadow of the colossus spilled across the earth.
“Isaac—”Berith gave a long, withered sigh.He closed his glowing eyes.“This was neveryour mission.Let it go.”
Isaacgrowled, stretching the burn on his chest.
“Isn’tthis what you wanted?”Berith asked, watching him from above.“A chance to befree from your father?Was this not your wish?”He was silent for a moment,chewing on his thoughts.“I always read through your journal.Whenever you werestudying, whenever you were busy with chores, I stole into your room andsearched through your writings.It was my duty.I had to gauge yourdevelopment.I had to make sure you were becoming like your father.”He lookedat him, ignoring the curtains of falling sand.“Oh, you were so full ofdreams.”
Thethralls tracked Isaac’s position, their palms bristling with ice and fire.
“Sofull of resentment.”
Isaacclenched his fist.
“You’vealways hated this,” Berith said.“I should know.I hated it just as much.”
A gaspescaped Isaac’s throat.Blood leaked down his arm.
“Isaac,stop.”
He keptwalking.
