“We will use your power as well as anyone else would. The Found Goddess, in our grasp, to deny entry to the Lost God. He will never be allowed back, and we shall rule S’Kir as we were always meant to do.”
Who were these people? I didn’t have the power to open the gate or bring down the mountain. I was just the herald of the Breaking Times.
My mind froze on that face.
Iwasthe herald of the Breaking Times. Just as Elex had needed to show everyone his intentions with the dance, I was needed to show who had control…who was going to protect the people of S’Kir during the Breaking Time.
If this group of…dingbats…had me, they could claim that they were the protectors.
But I was of the temple. And the temple should have control. They had the armies, the knowledge, the history, the power that would lead us safely through.
Even if this maniac turned the magic against me, I had to get away. I had to.
The temple needs to be in power.
The maniac laughed. “I see you get it. Good.”
Sliding back to the driver, he started to talk to the man whipping the horses. I couldn’t hear their conversation over the rattle of wheels on paving stones. I only caught one word.
One name.
Dorian.
There was no time to react.
A tremendouswhompfsounded on the topside of the carriage, and the driver whipped the horse harder.
I realized I wanted his head for brutalizing that poor animal.
Anotherwhompfcame from the roof, and I ducked without thinking.
The maniac in the front seat was screaming at the horses to go faster, but a moment later, the door was ripped open on his side, and he was pulled out bodily.
The whip went up again and never came back down. The driver looked up and screamed just as a hand came down to snatch his collar and yank him away.
The horses slowed, and I could hear yelling. The carriage was buffeted by a blast of magic, exploding against the side and trickling in.
I couldn’t see what was going on, but I did know that I was calm enough now to try to use some of my own magic.
Slipping a few threads under the gag, I wiggled it a bit and felt the knot go loose. A moment more of wiggling, and it fell off. I gulped the air, rarely remembering it tasting so sweet.
Since it worked with the gag, I tried wiggling the ropes with the magic.
No luck this time.
Could I create a saw? There was no harm in trying, so I wrapped the threads around the rope. Before I could try, though, the door was yanked open, and I was ready to start kicking and screaming.
The face, though, was that of Elex, and I calmed immediately. He climbed into the carriage.
“Did they hurt you?”
“No. Well, not on purpose. My arms are sore, and I’m sure I’ve torn my dress.”
The flash of a knife blade disappeared behind my back, and the ropes were cut free a moment later. I rubbed my wrists. I would be sore for a few days.
“You’re sure you’re all right?”
“Yes. Please help me out of this contraption.”
