“Thank you,” I said to the woman.
Elise bowed her head. “We're glad to have you here, my lord.”
“Holy shit,” I whispered again.
“Things are not what you believe them to be, Ember,” the Corrupter said. “Just give us a chance to show you the truth.”
“Oh yeah? Then I want to see the people you took from Fress. Where are they?”
The skin around the Corrupter's eyes twitched. “That's not possible.”
“Why not? Those people were my neighbors. Before you burned our village down, that is. If they can tell me that they're happier now, that you saved them, I might begin to believe you.”
“All new soldiers get sent on missions immediately,” he said. “They are not here.”
“All of them? Even the children?”
“The children haven't received my gift yet. They are too young. They are here but seeing you would only scare them.”
“Dear Goddess, you separated the kids from their parents?”
“No, of course not. Their parents will be with them when they return.”
“Then so can I.”
“As I said, you will only scare them. Once their parents return, you can visit with them. Unfortunately, that could be a while. Humans, even those empowered by me, cannot travel as we do.”
I grimaced. “Let me guess; you sent them somewhere far away?”
“Not terribly far. For trips to other continents, I transport them.”
“You can take more than one person with you?”
“As I said, Ember, Death puts no restrictions upon you.” He walked out, and when he turned to close the door, he added, “And, please, for the love of the Goddess, do not wander again.”
He shut the door and, amazingly, I didn't hear the sound of a bolt.
I ran to the door to lock it from my side, but there was no lock. So I dragged a dresser in front of it. Not that it would stop the Corrupter from entering, but at least I'd have some warning.
Chapter Forty-Seven
Several days passed. The Corrupter continued to tell me his stories, attempting to slowly lure me to his side. It didn't work, nor did I risk another nighttime excursion. If Death was hunting me, I was going to hide as best as I could. Even the possibility of bringing my parents back didn't tempt me to use that evil magic. All right, it did. But I wouldn't sacrifice the entire world for them. They wouldn't want that. I'd bring them back only to endure their disappointment. And what would I become? Another Corrupter? Would I battle the Wraith Lords? Xaedren. Ratharin. Nex. Finn. All my friends and lovers. The Emperor.
I still believed in them, despite the stories the Corrupter told.
But he was relentless.
“Time for another story,” the Corrupter said after we had sat down for dinner.
“Go on then,” I said wearily.
“This is one that you will want to hear, Ember. It's your history.”
“My history? I know my history.”
“Not your personal history—the history of your race.” He glanced at the Corrupted servants standing along the wall, waiting to refill our wine glasses or plates.
The first night, he had served me himself. Doubtless, a ploy to get me to see him as a normal person. But every night thereafter, he had his servants attend us. No, not servants—slaves. It was hard for me to eat with them standing there like statues. I wanted to free them, but what then? I knew I could do it. I had helped Rath and Xae free the Corrupted. But freeing them while we were trapped within the Corrupter's castle would be futile. He'd only corrupt them again. And who knows what he'd do to me? So I waited.
