“So be it.” Jhiton closed his eyes and let out what sounded like a long sigh of defeat.
Maybe it was her imagination, but she thought there was acceptance in it as well. She hoped so. She wanted to believe she’d made the right decision.
Vorik woke on a blanket on the stone floor of the laboratory with Syla sitting next to him, holding his hand. The only thing better would have been if she’d been snuggled up beside him, perhaps under another blanket, but there were other people around. Soldiers, mostly, but Vorik surprisingly sensed Wreylith and Agrevlari in the space with them. Though cavernous, the laboratory wasn’tthatspacious, and they filled the area toward the back exit. They must have widened that hole in the cliff during the fight. Vorik had been too busy trying to keep his brother from killing him to pay attention to their actions, but he did recall hearing dragon roars.
As if thinking of him had summoned him, Jhiton walked up and gazed down at him. Since Vorik hadn’t seen if he’d lived or died after all that light and magic had descended upon him, he smiled with relief. It was strange, however, seeing Jhiton standing calmly in the same area as men and women in Kingdom uniforms. He wasn’t wearing his swords, but he also wasn’t in shackles. That was surprising.
Syla looked up at Jhiton without alarm. While Vorik had been unconscious, they must have exchanged some words. Maybe she’d elicited a promise from Jhiton that he wouldn’t attack anyone else today?
Syla released Vorik’s hand, then stood up and stepped back. To let them speak privately?
Since Vorik and Jhiton had tried to kill each other multiple times in the last week, Vorik didn’t know if hewantedto speak privately with his brother. At least there wasn’t any malevolent magic swirling about him.
“You look dreadful,” Jhiton stated, his tone flat, his face as hard to read as always.
“Oh?” Vorik asked. “You look a lot better now that your eyes aren’t glowing.”
“I don’t have any memory of that.”
“It made you look villainous. Even more so than when your cloak is flapping dramatically in the wind and you’re fondling your swords.”
“If you’re able to tease me, I suppose that’s a sign that you’ll live.”
“Due to Syla’s fine healing, I believe I will. I can tell from your tone that you’re ecstatic.”
“I am…” Jhiton gazed around. None of the soldiers were venturing close, though Sergeant Fel watched them darkly from a spot near the tunnel entrance opposite the dragons. If Jhiton had been confused when he’d woken, maybe not remembering how exactly he’d come to be in a cave on Castle Island, he’d had time to recover. “I am not displeased that you live.”
“Oh? Even though…” Vorik waved toward Jhiton’s gut, wondering if he’d had time to heal from the initial sword wound that had almost killed him back in the mine. Maybe Vorik shouldn’t have reminded him of it.
“I believe we discussed that there comes a natural time when the student surpasses the teacher and that it’s bittersweet but also a sign that the tutelage was successful.”
“You said that didn’t apply to brothers.”
“Perhaps I did not wish to accept that it may.”
“Well, you kicked my ass here.” Vorik waved to indicate the laboratory—their last battleground.
“I remember none of that. I was not… myself.”
“You were possessed by a crazy asshole of a god.”
“And thus not myself.”
“You cackled maniacally with glee as you stabbed me.”
Jhiton’s eyebrows twitched. “I do not believe you.”
“If you don’t remember our encounter, how do you know?”
“I know. Your queen would have stabbed me in the heart if I had been that openly inimical.”
“Did she have the opportunity to do so?” Curious, Vorik wished he’d seen what had happened when the magic had faded and Jhiton returned fully to his own head.
“She did. I woke with her standing over me with a dagger, contemplating my life.”
“I love her.” Vorik grinned.
“I’m aware.” Jhiton’s eyebrows twitched again, and he looked toward the dragons. “You do little to hide your feelings. We’reallaware.” He probably meant the entire stormer people, not only the dragons.
