They walked for miles until they took a break and sat on the shore. They were the only ones on the beach, feet in the sand as they talked through the night. Airess told him things she never had told anyone before: the truth about her anxiety, the night she was taken to the Luciena capitol, and how it was living with Arzhel Lucien.
Taryn caressed her hair as he listened, watching her intently as she spoke. He told her he cared. He told her she didn’t deserve it. Taryn listened, and promised they would have a better life here.
Airess hoped with everything in her that the promise would come true.
Chapter 33
A Godling will be marked by their eyes. If you see the glow, you will know it is them who walks the earth once more.
— The book of Tevye
The Vulture
The Vulture stood in their usual waiting spot, the back alley where they had met previously in the outer-ring. They were growing impatient, tapping their feet against the gravel, back leaning against the wall. Eryx should be here by now. Had he failed? Had he killed Taryn and taken Airess?
The Vulture felt a wave of overwhelming anger and grief drifting from down the alleyway. Footsteps approached–the frame was far too tall and slender to be Eryx himself. The Vulture’s heart sank, not out of emotion, but out of disappointment. Their plan had failed again.
“Is he dead?” The Vulture asked the man who approached. He was tall, dressed in black leather from head to toe. His brown eyes bore intothem as the man took his hood off, revealing sandy blond hair. His expression was grim, lips pressed together tightly.
“Yes.”
Shit.
“How?”
The man bristled at the question, as if not wanting to be reminded of what had occurred. “That silvered-haired bitch killed him. Anyway, Eryx wanted me to give you this. The Guild is yours now.” The Vulture didn’t miss the man’s resentful tone.
The man handed The Vulture two pieces of parchment. One was Eryx’s will, entitling the Vulture to the Guild and all its assets. The other was a piece of parchment titled:
Everything I didn’t tell you. This is how you achieve the Allpower.
The Vulture snorted and shoved the will in the man’s chest. “I have no intention of being anyone’s Guildmaster. For all I care, you take it.”
His brown eyes widened, mouth parted open slightly in shock.
“What?”
“Youtake it. I have no interest. When my work is done, I’ll be ruling over all of you anyway. Who knows, maybe I will recruit you into serving the crown by then.” After a pause, The Vulture’s eyes narrowed, crossing their arms over their chest. “Do you accept?”
“Y-yes,” the man said, folding the paper. The Vulture nodded, giving him a once over.
“What’s your name?”
“Raiden.”
“Raiden,” they said, testing the name on their tongue. “Well, Raiden, today is your lucky day. You are now acting master of the Mrkynian Guild. I only ask one thing of you in return.”
“And what is that?” Raiden asked.
“Transportation to Rune.”
Chapter 34
‘The prophecy is unraveling. Our son bears the eyes of the Gods.’
– Unsent correspondence from Rinya Kazimyr to Tann Azar
Taryn
