Roan, do not make me do this!
“Why not? You’ll have those digits back in no time, Legion. But you didn’t really think I was going to let you take something from me and fuck this all up without consequences, did you?” Roan mocked.
We have no time for me to be injured! Weryn will come! He could be here already!
“He won’t even know what year it is if he comes here. His mind will be a mishmash of old and new.” Roan waved a hand through the air. “Not at his best. That’s for sure. Maybe I’ll put him in another soul gem. But this one I won’t let you have. I’ll keep it.”
Nooooooooo!
“I know that your fear isn’t that I’ll imprison Weryn again, but that you won’t have him,” Roan laughed. “I’ll make sure he knows that. Now stop stalling. Remove those fingers for me.”
A voice rose up from the darkness. It said one word, “Enough.”
It was Weryn. Weryn had found them after all.
WHISPER
Earlier…
The moment that Sana had teleported them to the Hunter’s Path, Elgar had started to Whisper. She’d transported them to a darkened spot behind one of the large statues that lined the path so that they were out of the eyeshot of the three Sect members, but they could hear them. Weryn had started to move towards their enemies, and with just a thought, Elgar stopped him.
Wait! Let me increase the tension between them. Let them do some of the work for us!Elgar sent to the others.
Weryn gave a tense nod after a long moment. He wanted thisdone. But they were three formidable Vampires, including a slice of an Immortal. More importantly, Roan had the unknown artifact. Elgar could not lift what that was from any of their minds, because Roan would sense him. That information was too tightly grasped for him to pluck it out without leaving a trace. So he Whispered instead.
The Whisper was so slight and insidious that no one–perhaps not even Eyros himself–would have realized that theywere being influenced. All it did was to take the bad feelings that these three had towards one another and amped them up. Slowly but surely, he emphasized old hurts, sharpened aggravations, and solidified legitimate gripes. He escalated suspicion and insinuated treachery so that they would trust each other less than they already did. The Whisper teased their aggression and stoked their fears. Anything and everything that would engage their most negative feelings towards one another was woven into the Whisper.
What are you doing, Elgar?Demos asked with a lifted eyebrow.The hair on the back of my neck is standing on end!
He scrubbed the back of his neck as if to eliminate the feeling.
The Whisper travels through the air and the ground. It is a vibration,Elgar explained.It is not dangerous to you. It affects only those I wish it to: our enemies.
Demos rubbed the back of his neck.I’m glad you’re on our side.
Yes, I am a worthy opponent,Elgar admitted simply.
No false modesty here!Demos chuckled with a flash of that broad, warming smile.
My Master has not allowed himself to remember my power. And I know that my behavior since I have returned has caused many to doubt my strength,Elgar said.I will show everyone that I am not so broken that I cannot fight as I once did.
Demos gripped his shoulder for a moment.We just feel your pain, Elgar. That’s all. And we want to fix that. Protect you against more of it.
Yes, and I have relished this attention. Perhaps too much,Elgar told him.But it was because I did not realize that I was leading others to believe that I could not protect myself and them as well.
What you went through…Demos shook his head.No one should go through that. And to come out of it… Well, we all just want to take care of you. That doesn’t mean we think you’re weak. It just means you’ve done enough on your own.
I am still emerging. Like a butterfly from a chrysalis.Elgar imagined the dark earth that had held him for so long breaking apart and him wriggling out of it, still holding onto Eyros’ skull. A Death’s Head moth. A connection to his Grandsire.This is the next step in my journey.
I’m glad to be taking it with you,Demos admitted with a broad smile.
As am I.Elgar inclined his head.
Demos got down on his haunches and peered around the statue towards their enemies. Ryder/Weryn joined him. Both watched as their enemies argued and taunted one another–at least in the case of Roan and Legion–while the Whisper fed Shaela’s fear and distrust so she backed away. Her urge to run was so strong as to be almost physically palpable.
They’re getting more agitated,Demos remarked and rubbed both of his arms.I thought that Legion was out of control when he bit Roan’s finger off, but now Roan seems off his head.
I am stoking the division and distrust between them. It is not difficult. They are not allies in any real sense,Elgar said as he lightly read their minds.These three are bound together by bonds of fear and desperation.
