“Finish him, Elgar,” Weryn said. “You have the time. But it is bought with precious blood.”
That’s right. These creatures are dying for me. I mustn’t abuse this. I feel every one of their losses. They give their blood, their bones, their lives for me. I honor them. I will always remember their sacrifice.
Just as I will remember all those who I sacrificed in the War. I will not forget. I will not run from this. I will embrace it and remember.
Elgar nodded and turned back to Roan before intoning, “Youwilldo as I say, Roan Tithe. Your will is mine. You will do what I want. You will. You will. You will.”
Roan’s silver eyes went from gleaming with hatred and madness to a dull sheen of dumb acceptance. He brought up the soul gem. Weryn remembered a similar one being used against him. That flash of light then darkness. Darkness for so long.Endless darkness. And nothing. No one and nothing to speak to or to hear. No one and nothing to love. Only his own memories to reflect upon. He’d held onto the ones of him and Ashyr tangling their legs together in bed, laughing as they danced, hunting together in night shrouded woods, laying out under the stars and just talking. Talking endlessly or simply being together.
But then there were other memories. Memories of the War. Seeing beloved Children slaughtered by enemies who had once been friends. Sending others to their Second Deaths because it wasnecessaryfor some strategic move or simply to get revenge. Seeing love turn to distrust and then to fear and loathing. How many had said that they didn’t recognize him anymore?
“You’re not the Master I’ve loved!”
“The Master I serve would never do as you did!”
“You’re killing us! For what? Fornothing!”
“I loved Ashyr too! He wouldn’t want this!”
“You need to stop, Weryn! You’ve become worse than our enemies!”
“You’re ill! Just like Kaly!”
“We’re afraid. Afraid ofyou.”
Those voices had haunted him for so long. How long? He didn’t know. In the end, all he had become was a mass of seething self-hatred. If he’d had a body, he would have torn himself to pieces.
“Roan Tithe, do as I say,” Elgar whispered.
And he did.
There was a flash of light as the soul gem was filled. Roan’s body fell to the ground. Lifeless. Empty. Soulless. Elgar slowly walked over to the corpse and picked up the filled soul gem. He held it before him for some time, silent, and then slipped it into his pocket.
Sana and Demos were shocked into silence, too. Even the sounds of snarling and battle around them dimmed as they all watched Elgar. Shaela’s expression was dazed. Legion was not only still because Elgar willed him to be, but because at least one of the slices they had followed–one of their leaders–had just fallen. Not with a shout. But with a whimper.
“We can go,” Elgar said quietly, but then his head was snapping up. “Wait! Wait! The others are coming!”
At that moment, Caemorn, Balthazar, Fiona and Christian appeared in their midst.
“Fiona!” Sana cried out.
“Sana, you are all right! Balthazar said it was so but I…” Fiona’s gaze swept to the battle of the creatures around them. There was a “wall” of dead creatures surrounding them. “I was worried. But you did well.”
“Thank you!” Sana beamed. “But I did the least of anyone here. Shaela didn’t have enough strength to teleport them anywhere so–”
Fiona’s gaze shot to Shaela. “Shaela…”
Her tone was unreadable. Her eyes were shadowed. She stared hard at Shaela who, though she could not look away or move, seemed to curl into herself. Fiona said nothing, but her judgment was clear. Shaela had betrayed her to the bone.
“And then Demos and Ryder kept the undead off us while Elgar worked on Roan. All the animals came to our aid. Still are from the sound of it,” Sana said with an uncomfortable shrug.
They continue to fight. They continue to die and join our enemies. They continue to sacrifice. To keep us safe? That is worth it. But for anything else?
“Elgar… Well, he… he… ah, killed Roan.”
Sana’s voice dropped off as she gestured towards Elgar. Elgar turned towards Balthazar, Christian and Caemorn. He was pale,as he alway was, and clearly exhausted, but there was a peace on his face that had not been there before. He smiled.
“Master, Grandsire, Brother,” Elgar said and inclined his head.
