“All right, so you weren't trying to spy on us,” I said. “But why should we trust you?”
“I suppose I can't prove to you that I am not this underhanded being you think me to be,” Death said. “When Ember was imprisoned, I was drawn to him. I learned of his power, and I thought he might be strong enough to defeat Aranren or at least use my magic in a way I'd prefer. So, yes, I tried to seduce him. I offered him wealth and sex and even his parents. But then I came to know him better. I would never offer him such now.”
“Because you've learned what he truly desires?” Rath asked.
“No! Because I don't want to seduce him to be my student,” Death huffed. “I want him to choose me. To see me for who I am and know me as I know him. I would never enter his mind without permission, Lord Taroc. I couldn't. Ember is too strong. He has wards up around his mind. I assume they formed out of fear when he was Aranren's prisoner. However they formed, it is yet more proof of his power. I cannot surmount them without his allowing me to, not even while he sleeps.”
I shared a look with the men.
“What would you have me do to prove myself?” Death asked.
“What about the celebration?” I asked the men.
Rath shook his head at me.
“I already know about the Emperor's plan, Lord Rath. You don't have to hide it from me,” Death said. “I'm willing to help if that would make you trust me. Just tell me what to do.”
Rath blinked.
“Well?” Death prompted.
“Give me a minute to think about it,” Rath snapped.
Death went silent.
We all did.
At last, it wasn't Rath who spoke, but me. “You can't cut the Corrupter off from Death Magic, but could you protect the Wraith Lords from it?”
Death didn't answer.
“Well?” Rath demanded.
“Give me a minute to think,” Death teased. He immediately followed it with, “No. Not in the way you mean.”
Taroc grunted scornfully.
“Let me explain,” Death said. “All immortals are already immune to much of the spells that Aranren has created with Death Magic.”
“We can't be corrupted,” Kel said.
“Precisely, but a basic attack, using the magic as a weapon, as you use the elements, cannot be warded against,” Death went on. “Death is akin to Spirit. Remember that, and it will help you understand the magic better. Spirit can be used to attack, as Ember does when he uses it to join the elements and share his magic with you. Aranren cannot block that attack. But Ember's wraith did nothing to him. It is the same with Death Magic.”
“All right,” Rath said. “You can't protect us. Can you at least warn us?”
“In what way?”
“We need to know when the Corrupter learns about the celebration, and if he is coming.”
“Ah. You want me to be the spy you accused me of being. Just in reverse.”
“Yes. Will you do it?” Rath stood up and faced off with Death even though Death had no face.
“I will try, Lord Ratharin,” Death said. “But as I cannot be listening to you all the time, nor can I listen to him. May I offer a suggestion?”
“Go on.”
“I could help Ember cast a ward around the village of Tusara. As soon as Aranren enters, Ember could trap him.”
