“But he’s not a werewolf, is he?” Novo exchanged a look with the Captain.
“He’s a Lycan,” Elon replied.
The truth rune cast a daunting blue hue within the tent.
“I saw his bloody Other form meself,” Novo said, his face half shadowed in the eerie light. “They had to use silver chains to restrain it.”
Von cursed. Lycans were worse than werewolves.
Tarn lazily swirled the wine in his cup. “He didn’t sense you?”
“I invoked a cloaking spell.”
Novo smirked. “Aye, we moved about freely without being noticed. But it would have been wise to finish him while you had him right in front of you, Captain. He was weakened.”
Von scowled at Elon. “You exposed yourself? They must know we are tracking them.”
“They do not.”
“The Lycan was too delirious from the silver,” Novo explained. “He thought Captain Elon was Death himself coming to take his soul through The Seven Gates.”
Then Novo was right. It would have been the opportune chance to eliminate a Guardian, especially one so dangerous. Why hadn’t Elon taken it?
Von sighed and rubbed his temples. “And what of the other one? You’re certain about what he is?”
A Guardian with divine blood was what convinced Von that the Seer was a fraud. Celestials had been extinct for five hundred years. They were described to have the same uniform features: white wings, blond hair, and blue eyes. Dyna’s prince didn’t match that description.
Elon nodded. “The Lycan had wounded the Maiden, and the Celestial healed her with his blood.”
Von stared at him, too shocked to speak. They were up against a being of the Heavens.
“He’s a Nephilim.” Tarn leaned forward in his chair, a shadow of interest rising on his face. “Half-Celestial, half-human. There were rumors of such a breed created during The Decimation. Evidently, the extinction of Celestials was false.”
The Seer must like playing games. “One never knows what a divination truly means.” What other half-truths had the pixie hidden in her words?
“Where are they headed now?” Tarn asked.
“Corron,” Elon answered.
“They plan to take a caravan to the Port of Azure and aboard a ship for Dwarf Shoe,” Novo said. “They will arrive in Corron by midday tomorrow.”
Tarn’s face gave nothing away, but Von had long learned to sense when his master was forming a plan. The city was where they would make their move. Trepidation grasped him like tree roots, burying him under a mound of adrenaline. It was the feeling he always had before a fight.
Death would collect souls soon.
“Good work. Pull back and send for Len,” Von ordered.
Novo nodded and slinked out of the tent.
Elon lingered. “There may be another Guardian.”
Tarn’s pale blue eyes snapped to him. “Another?”
“Who?” Von asked.
“Rawn Norrlen. A green elf.”
Von was surprised Elon reported this so calmly. The old scar on the back of his hand appeared waxy under the candlelight. Removal of the tattoo signified disgrace and banishment. It wasn’t known why Elon was exiled, but he must no longer feel loyal enough to care about an enemy of Red Highland. Either that, or he had well-established restraint.
