“We saw his constructs with our own eyes,” Jentt said.
“Remnants from the war,” Lorn said dismissively. “I’ve known they still roam the forbidden zone. That is, in part, why it is still forbidden.”
“Hundreds of them?” Kreya said.
“Only the few that remained after the battle,” Eklor said. “A handful of guards, for my own protection. They would nothave harmed you if you hadn’t trespassed. I can assure you my remnants will harm no one else.”
“Oh?” Kreya asked. “And we’re supposed to believe you? You made those soldiers to kill—you’re saying they’re harmless now?”
“They’re harmless because I destroyed them,” he said promptly. “I directed them to gather in one of the tunnels and then I collapsed earth and rock on top of them, and for good measure, I set fire to the plains. They’re buried and burned, as they should be.”
“You believe this nonsense?” Zera asked Lorn.
Kreya wished she could ask Marso to read the truth, but she wasn’t about to ask anything of him while they stood here with the grand master and their worst enemy. She saw that Marso hadn’t moved so much as a twitch. As still as a mouse seen by an owl, he was staring motionless at Eklor. She regretted bringing him here, but how could she have known?
It seemed the last few weeks had been a series of “How could I have known?” moments.
But the thing was, she was their commander. Sheshouldhave known.
“I did not, at first,” Lorn said. To Eklor, he said, “Show them.”
Kneeling smoothly, as if he’d expected this, Eklor withdrew a handful of bones from his pocket. He scattered them on the rug before him and said, “Prynato.”
Reveal.A bone reader’s command. But Eklor was a bone maker, like Kreya, not a bone reader. She knew of no one who had both skills. They each required too much training and specialized skill, not to mention innate talent and affinity for the kind of bone work—
Mist arose from the bones.
She took a step backward.
Within the mist: Flames. An undead soldier. A charred tree. The soldier screamed, silent, but still Kreya flinched as the fire licked over him. It wavered in the mist, and she saw the ruined tower. Then the image melted into swirling gray.
All of them stared at the mist as it dispersed.
“Well, that was conveniently clear,” Zera said. Her tone was flippant, but Kreya could hear the tremor in her voice. It was difficult to dispute what the bones had just shown. The vision had been sharp and unambiguous.
No wonder Grand Master Lorn believes him,Kreya thought.
“You know a bone reading shows only the truth,” Eklor said. “The truth of the past, the truth of the present, the truth of the future.”
“Unless it doesn’t,” Marso whispered. “Unless it’s warped.”
“Ahh,” Eklor said with a smile, “but such a warping would warp the mind of the reader, and look at me. I am sane, whole, and here.”
Kreya doubted “sane,” but she couldn’t deny “here” as much as she wanted to. Still, he was right—deliberately twisting a bone reading was known to endanger the mind of the bone worker. Given what she knew of Eklor’s narcissism, it was unlikely he’d take such a risk...
But ithadto be a lie!
Or a partial truth. “It doesn’t mean he destroyed the whole army.”
Grand Master Lorn spoke. “The guards at the wall reported smoke blackening the sky. In the aftermath, I had my best soldiers scour the entirety of the forbidden zone. Master Eklor’s bone reading shows the truth. The tunnels have been collapsed, and all remnants of his ancient army have been destroyed. The past is burned and buried.”
Jentt caught her eye. By his thigh, he held his hand with two fingers out. She knew what he meant—if two of them rushed at Eklor with a speed talisman, Lorn wouldn’t be able to stop them. Zera nodded once to show she’d seen and understood.They’re waiting for me,Kreya thought. A nod from her, and they’d attack.
But this was the grand master of the Bone Workers Guild. As much as she disliked him personally, as much as she disagreed with some of his decisions, she’d never truly questioned him. She’d been a loyal soldier, honored when he’d chosen her to select and lead her group of heroes to confront Eklor when the extent of his depravity was first discovered.
I trusted him.
So she held off for the time being. “Why?” Kreya asked Lorn. She packed everything into that word: why was Eklor here, why was the grand master defending him, why were they being asked to accept the ludicrous idea that he sought redemption.
