“What is all this?” Roshan demands.
The captain cants his chin, and two of the Scavs—magi?—move forward, each armed with a piece of jadu. “Roshan,” I warn, but he doesn’t move, only angles his crossbow at the captain’s heart. The two men cast a rune I’ve never seen, and I hear Aran inhale sharply behind me.
Something shimmers to life in between the crystals. Though similar in appearance, it’s not a portal. It looks like a mirror... acommunicationsmirror. I’d heard of the Imperial House using a similar contact method with the heads of the houses in the different cities, but I’ve never seen one. And to think that these Scavs have both the jadu and the runecasters to conjure such a thing makes my worry heighten.
Just how powerful and organizedarethey?
Once more, these Scavs surprise me. The idea of themnotbeing mindless addicts is terrifying. The hairs on my nape stand at stiff attention, the magic in my veins going from a hum to a howl.
“Contact your superior,” Roshan growls to the captain. If the prince is surprised by the jadu mirror, he’s not showing it.
The captain nods at the runecasters to do as commanded. The opalescent panel shimmers outward like a stone falling into a still lake before a picture forms.
“General Vogon,” one of the runecasters says in a low voice, making us both gape.
“You’re contacting Vogon?” Roshan asks. “He’s your direct commander?”
He doesn’t respond. A chill scuttles over my shoulders when a face finally appears. This Scav is a small woman with spiky dark hair and a line of metal studs piercing both cheeks in a swirling pattern. A forbidding crowd of armed Scavs stand at her back.
“We await your command, General,” she says, and bows.
It hits like the force of an exploding volcano. My heart begins to pound as I look from her to Slash Throat. I move into a defensive stance, dagger at the ready, despite the fact that the general hasn’t moved a muscle. “You’reVogon.”
“I expect some form of introductions should be in order,” he replies with a casual nod. “We know His Majesty, the king, along with Prince Roshan, the second son of the late King Zarek.” His cool, calculating gaze flicks to me. “And you, of course. Such an unexpected prize.”
My stomach plummets to my knees at this point, magic and instincts firing inside of me with nowhere to go. Something feels off... something we missed. My fingers tighten of their own volition on the blade in my hand, even as wild power roils through me. He knows who Roshan is, too. But if he is Vogon, why is he here inthisgarrison, at exactly the same time we are? It’s too much of a coincidence to be believed.
We need to go. Now.
“Ro—” The name freezes on my tongue as I swing around. But I’m a half second too late as a very alert Javed leaps away from Aran’s hold, knife in hand. A second later, its very deadly edge is pressed to his brother’s neck. We all freeze.
A cold smile spreads across Javed’s ruined face as a laugh that chills my blood spills from his lips. “I could not have executed this better if I had planned for eternity.”
“They didn’t capture you, did they?” I say slowly.
“How clever of you, Lady Suraya,” he replies with a mocking bow. “They did not. I knew that you had disappeared with my maggot of a little brother for parts unknown. And that he was clever enough to make sure you were well hidden.” He shifts the blade slightly, and a deep line of crimson appears on Roshan’s brown skin. Javed chuckles at my gasp, his gaze falling to my curling fists. “Come now, sweeting, let’s not do anything stupid.”
I wipe my face clean of emotion. “Go ahead, do what you will. What do I care about some royal Oryndhrian by-blow?”
Javed’s eyes dance as he makes a clucking sound of disapproval. “But youdocare, don’t you? I saw the way he looked at you in the palace, and vice versa. I saw the way you looked at him just now, the way your heart tripped over itself at the sight of his blood staining the edge of this wicked little blade.” His leer widens. “I’d slice his worthless throat open in a heartbeat, but then I’d lose my leverage. It’s written all over you, your feelings for him... and that’s why you’ll do fucking nothing.”
That conniving piece of shit isn’t wrong. With Roshan under his knife, I can’t risk using my magic. As powerful as I am, I doubt my magic can repair a severed throat if Javed makes good with his threat. Aran shoots me a worried look, and I send him a tiny shake of my head in return. I glance at Vogon, who hasn’t said a word during the king’s grandiose speech. His silence is unnerving. I haul deep breaths into my lungs, attempting to calm the sparks starting to flare deep inside of me. “What does the general have to do with this?”
Javed waves a nonchalant arm. “What do you think all of this jadu is? Payment, my girl. I needed an army, one that can be bought, and since I control all the mines in Oryndhr, it was easy.” He grins and taps his chin. “My great-grandfather discovered Jade, you know. His runecasters formulated it to control the nameless—but then I found a much better use for it.”
“They’repeople,” I whisper. “You can’t just feed them Jade to turn them into puppets.”
“Why not?” His eyes glint with arrogance. “They get high; I get steadfast soldiers. Win-win.”
I feel sick. “You’re a monster.”
He goes on as if I hadn’t spoken. “My kingsguard reported seeing this traitor to the crown fleeing with you. I planned to draw him out, you see, and find out where you were hiding. But my brother wasslippery, so I had to resort to that obscene bounty to flush you out.” He directs his attention to me. “But I didn’t bet on Vogon’s scouts finding my brother in the Dustlands. With you! That was pure luck. Destiny, as it were.” He has an odd, fanatical glimmer in his eyes. “You were delivered to me just as you had been in Kaldari, willed by Fero himself.”
I suppress my shiver at the mention of the god of death.
“And your bruises?” I ask, trying to buy some time, but not quite sure of what I’m going to do with it if he does keep talking. A part of me hopes that he’ll become distracted enough to lower the dagger and give me a chance to take him out. Without Roshan at his mercy, I’ll have Vogon at mine. But Javed is not stupid. It’ll take a lot more than words to get him to lower that blade.
“Some are real. Had to make it look believable. I grow weary of talking. Do we have an agreement? Your hand in exchange for my brother’s life?”
