“He's creating new spells?”
“Yes, of course. The book he discovered long ago has no spell to raise the dead. Nor is there a spell to counter it. That is why Sarthares must create one with his mages. They are all masters who have gone on to use elemental spells. As such, they can create new spells. Or try to.”
“Sarthares?”
“The Emperor.”
“Holy shit! That's his name?”
“Yes. Why is this a revelation?”
“I don't know. I've just never heard it before. I thought maybe it was a secret.”
“It is not.”
“Why wasn't I taught elemental spells?” I mused.
“That is a very good question.”
I frowned, wondering if this was a trick, a way to make me rebel. My training had been conducted quickly, everyone wanting to get me in the field as soon as possible. That was likely the reason the subject of spells had not been broached. I wouldn't need them on missions. I wouldn't have time to cast a spell.
So instead of letting his comment get to me, I focused on what we'd been discussing before. “So, Death Magic empowers and binds the Corrupted?”
“Yes. It is not a corruption. If it were, you wouldn't be able to break it. It would have to be healed.”
I made an amused sound. “That's a good point. But it's just a name. One to go with his.”
“No, it's not. It's a way of vilifying Death Magic. Death must be evil if it can enslave. What they haven't told you is that Spirit can enslave as well.”
“What?” I went still.
“Yes. All is possible with Spirit and Death. And you have the potential to wield both, Ember. That is why you scare Aranren.”
“Because he doesn't possess Spirit,” I whispered.
“Yes, precisely. You can become greater than him. But only if you allow me to teach you. There is no better instructor than I.”
A shiver ran through me. Death was getting to me, and I couldn't let that happen. But I wanted to get as much information out of him as I could. So I asked, “Can we get back to his experiments?”
“Aranren has created a spell to revive the dead. Now, he is experimenting on them with his potions. I don't know what will come of it, but he is fascinated with the prospects. And he credits the initial idea to you.”
“What?” I growled.
“You told him how I offered to bring back your parents. That's how he learned it was possible to raise the dead.”
That reminded me . . . “So, you would have put my parents' souls into their old bodies?!” I shot to my feet.
Death was silent for a few moments. Then, “Currently, there is no other option. But under my tutelage, you would become powerful enough to create new bodies for them. So, yes, they would have remained in their corpses until you were able to provide them with new bodies. Or, you could wait to bring them back until you could create those bodies. Either way, I would have done as promised. Although, you would be the one bringing them back. I would merely teach you how.”
“Tricks,” I hissed. “Lies! You would have used them to lure me into using Death Magic only to put my parents in rotting bodies!”
“It wasn't a trick. I could have stopped the rot. Would you like me to summon them again? You can ask them how they—”
“No! You leave them be.”
“He tried to summon you.”
I went still. “What did you say?”
