TEMPEST
Iwasn’t sure why I felt the need to come to this place again. But like back then and during the bone vision, I was drawn down the passageway by a flickering light. This time, I didn’t stop to spy into the small cave with the candle. With the hilt of a dagger in my palm, I strode into the cavern and over to the waiting Liege.
I’d wondered if any survived Kerune’s purge.
Like all the other Lieges I’d seen and battled, this one wore a torn robe over his skeletal frame held together by only sinew. The hood was up as usual, though his bony features poked from within the folds.
“Yes,” he hissed. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Why?” I remained far enough back he couldn’t snap out a hand to grab me. This one appeared uninjured. A leap, and he could take me down and consume me within an instant. Iwould not allow myself to fear him. I’d killed three Lieges, and I wouldn’t hesitate to eliminate a fourth.
“I sensed you needed me,” he said softly. “As much as I—we—need you.”
“I’ll never need one such as you, and I can’t see why you’ll ever need me,” I said with scorn.
“In both, you’re wrong.”
“Tell me why you called me here.” I tightened my grip on Vexxion’s family dagger. While I felt in control of this situation, I’d be a fool to relax my guard.
His glowing eyes fell on my hand. “That blade cannot serve your need.”
“My need to kill you?” I ached to do it, to wipe every single one of these monsters off the continent. Maybe if they all fell, the dregs would collapse along with them and Nullens would finally be safe.
“The need to fulfill your vow.”
The time for playing word games had passed. “If Ivenrail was here, I’d slit his throat with thisinferiorblade and be done with him.”
He cackled, a low, husky sound reminiscent of dry leaves skittering across rocky ground. “If Ivenrail was here, you wouldn’t get close enough to swipe your weapon across his throat.”
“I got pretty close once and I’ll do so again.”
“The fae king has not survived this long without discovering ways to protect himself that are unlike any other.”
“I’ll find a way.” With this blade or another. Or with magic. Was that what the Liege meant?
“Perhaps yes. Perhaps no.” His low laugh scraped across my skin like a jagged blade.
“How are you made? In my lessons at the fortress, I was told that the dregs were crafted from the bowels of the wasteland itself, but I know that’s not true.”
“What have you learned, one who still does not know who she truly is?”
“Yeah, yeah, Lydel heir. I know that already.”
“There’s still more for you to discover.”
“What might that be?”
“I cannot tell you,” he said.
“Won’t.”
He shrugged, and the simple yet common gesture jarred through me, reminding me that in many ways, Lieges may not be much different from us.
“You’re powerless Nullens gifted with . . .” I flicked my hand toward his body, “this.”
“Sadly, in this, you are correct.”
Finally, confirmation of what I read inEmber’s Shadow.
