Chapter Forty-Six
Taroc stayed away from me during the two days left before the harvest celebration. I knew he was trying to give me my space, but I think it would have been better if he'd been around. With him off, eating at another table, my men were worried, and I had nothing from Taroc to reassure myself with.
So, I focused on the mission.
We had gone over the plan again and again. The Wraith Lords all knew their roles. Not all of them would be visible. In fact, most would be like me and my lovers, lying in wait, unseen. The difference was; I'd be on the outskirts of town while everyone else would be hiding in shops and homes off the main street.
“Are you ready?” Xaedren asked as he stepped up to me.
Rath and he were armored up, going with lighter and quieter leather armor instead of plate and chainmaille. Kel was waiting in the sitting room, similarly armored.
“Yes,” I said and walked out to meet Keltyr with them.
“Is it time?” Kel asked.
Xae grunted.
Without another word, we faded to where we needed to be, a predetermined clearing in the woods surrounding the central part of the village. The street that ran through it, the only street that led into the village, was nearby. My team and I crept over to it and hid among the bushes and boulders lining the road. We got comfortable, expecting a long wait. After all, it was just after breakfast and the “townsfolk” were only starting to go about setting up stalls for the harvest celebration.
We had brought food and water with us. After pulling out my breakfast, I set aside my satchel and leaned against my chosen boulder to eat. At least we were in the shade. Combined with the cool, autumn weather, that ensured we remained comfortable, even in the thick leather. Staring up at the overhang of shrubbery, I wondered about the children.
“They're going to be fine,” Rath said.
Chewing on a piece of cheese, I looked over at him in surprise. “How did you know I was thinking about the kids?”
He smiled softly and unpacked his breakfast. “I know you, Ember.”
A rumbling caught our attention, and all four of us jerked to face the road. A great many soldiers on horseback came by, then the Emperor's coach. The imperial crest of a stylized tree with a downward-pointing sword set over it was emblazoned on the coach door. On top of that, the curtains were pulled back to reveal the passenger. The Emperor was taking no chances on the Corrupter backing out. He wanted his arrival to be loud and clear.
The Emperor didn't even glance our way as he passed by, even though he knew exactly where we'd be.
And it was a good thing he stuck to such subterfuge.
Mere minutes later, Death whispered to us, “He's here! I've warned the Wraith Lords and the Emperor. Wraith Lords are fading the humans to the citadel as we speak. Hurry, before Aranren sees them fade. He's bypassed the road and arrived in the center of town.”
I jumped to my feet and summoned the Death Magic. It came easily to my call now, and I couldn't help the surge of pride that came with it. My lovers stood to either side of me, ready to lend their strength, but they weren't needed. Even Death wasn't needed. I had memorized the chant and launched into it without hesitation.
The telltale tingle ran down my arms, and I flung them out, casting the magic around the town of Tusara. I saw the border in my mind and projected the containment along it and up, over the top. I forced my will into it, molding the magic to hold in one man in particular, a man it knew well. In this instance, the Corrupter's familiarity with Death Magic would be to his detriment. It didn't take much for me to direct the magic at his death force. Not directly, of course, just around it. Targeting it without attacking it. Pinpointing and surrounding it.
When I felt the ward settle into place, I lowered my hands and grinned at my men. “It's done.”
“Let's go!” Xae growled and ran through the ward I had just cast.
I smiled at the shimmer that coasted over him, more proof that my spell had worked.
“Well done,” Death said. “Aranren is trapped and yet to realize it. He is in the center of town, facing off with the Emperor.”
“Thank you, Death,” I said as I ran after Xae.
It didn't matter if the Corrupter saw us now. He couldn't flee. And we weren't the only ones coming out of hiding. Wraith Lords poured out of doorways as they tossed off their cloaks and straw hats. Swords appeared and magic gathered over hands that could cast it. My men and I ran through the gathering, Lords parting to let us pass. They were all strong, but we were the only ones who could kill the Corrupter.
We got to the stage where the Emperor was supposed to address the crowd. The Corrupter stood atop it as well, grinning at the Emperor. But then he saw me. His eyes narrowed as I burst through the crowd, and he finally noticed all the Wraith Lords. With a vicious look, he disappeared.
And reappeared instantly.
The Corrupter cursed and vanished again.
And came back.
