“The city was attacked by a combination of the dead and the Corrupted,” Kel said. “As we were trying to deal with the dead, dead that were faster than normal, the Corrupted grabbed several of us and dragged us away.”
“I got thrown on a cart,” I said. “Every time I got free, another grabbed me.”
Keltyr snorted. “Ember almost attacked me when I went to help him.”
“I thought he was a Corrupted,” I said to Nex's wide-eyed look. “They just kept grabbing me and dragging me away, going so fast that it was impossible to use magic to defend myself.”
“Doubtless, that was the point,” Taroc said. “And you told the Emperor about this?”
“Yes.” Rath exchanged a look with Xae, Kel, and me before saying, “You'll hear about this soon enough, I'm sure.”
“What?”
“The Corrupter's killing people and bringing them back to make faster soldiers,” I said.
“What the fuck?” Taroc snarled.
“The Emperor has had enough,” Xae said. “He wants to set a trap for the Corrupter.”
The other Wraith Lords at our table leaned in to listen.
“The Emperor's going to clear a Varraen farming village and fill it with a bunch of us who will pretend to be the villagers,” I said. “He'll announce it in advance so the Corrupter will have time to hear about it. Then, when he shows up, we kill him. Hopefully.”
Taroc grunted. “I don't like this plan.”
“Neither do I,” Xae said. “It's too desperate.”
“This war has gone on long enough,” Rath said. “I understand why the Emperor wants to act, especially in light of the new killings.”
“But we have Ember now,” Taroc said. “The whole point of this,”—he waved at us—“is to end the war. All the Emperor has to do is wait and let destiny unfold.”
“I agree,” I said. “I think this is rash.”
“Did you tell him that?” Taroc demanded.
“No,” I muttered. “I tried to offer another solution.”
“He suggested that he take us through the Corrupter's ward,” Kel said with a grimace. “Actually, Xae suggested it.” He sent a hard look at Xae.
Xae grunted.
“I still don't understand why that is such a bad idea,” I said.
“Because it would mean attacking the Corrupter in unknown conditions, on his land, where anything could happen,” Rath said. “We could get locked in there. Who knows what he can do to his property? After what you did with that tree, I've realized that we've been underestimating the Corrupter. He could move the very land around us, separate us, and pick us off one by one.”
I gaped at Rath. “Shit. I didn't think of that.”
“That's precisely my point, Ember.” Rath shook his head. “You need to think things through more thoroughly. As much as I don't like the Emperor's plan, he's been thinking it through carefully. It's been months since he first came up with the idea. He does not act rashly despite how it may seem.”
The silence lasted thirty seconds, then Taroc asked, “What did you do to a tree?”
As Kel told Taroc about the dancing tree, the sound of a guitar came from behind me. I turned to see Caleb, sitting at the end of the table the humans generally ate at. He played a happy song that I knew from childhood. And the kids knew it too. They started to sing, and the Wraith Lords looked up from their meals with soft smiles on their faces.
I really knew nothing about Caleb. Or very little.
“Ember,” Taroc said.
“Huh?” I looked away from Caleb and over at Taroc.
