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“I already have.”
Neir’s conversation with his comrade rushed back to her. Caiven’s rant in the armory. Her talk with Kyer when he told her about—
The war. Neir helped Kael start it. “You’re working with Kael. How do you know him?”
“The knot of your guild led to one too big to untangle. Certainly not one I could handle alone, and by the time Kael got a whiff of my snooping, I’d already lost the drive to do anything about it. We came to an understanding: I provide access to the cogs that make the empire tick, and he lends me access to his network when I need it.”
Lily scowled at the dark ahead of her. “Kyer mentioned Kael wants control of Reave. What happens if he gets it?”
“When he gets it, we go after Failen.”
Lily’s lips parted, surprised. Though it wasn’t what she expected to hear, it was possible. The city had the manpower, the technology, and the weaponry… Reave was the only place that could stand up to the capital. “And then what?”
Neir grinned. “Once the Phantoms are defeated, there will be a void that needs filling for the throne—”
“And you intend to fill that space,” she speculated. Power comes to those willing to take it. From what she’d seen so far of Neir, he wouldn’t make much better of a ruler than those he was looking to overthrow. “How do I fit in all of this, other than priming Luka for the Guardian?”
“Your Flare and its standing have their uses among the undervalued and underappreciated.”
Lily sighed. He’d been spying on the camp. There was no point masking who she really was. “You must already know I’m not the Imordial Reatia thinks I am.”
“I figured that out the moment you escaped me, pet. The look on your face when you killed that woman settled it for me.” He rolled his wounded shoulder. “Along with helping us take control of Reave, I need you to hold off the Gnaw from attacking the empire while it is vulnerable. Negotiate or demand. Whatever you feel gets the message across.”
“I’m Rimore’s prisoner, not an ally.”
“Which is why I’m hoping my offer stands a little more enticing. I want to give you whatever it is you want without limitation, and allow you to use the Wraith whenever, and however, you choose.”
Everything he said was tempting to take hold of. If he had asked her months ago and if she were ignorant to everything he’d done, she couldn’t say she wouldn’t take it. But now? After all she’d been through and learned?
Lily brought her arms tight to her body. “I won’t betray them.”
“Are you their ally, or their prisoner? Because prisoners don’t owe loyalty to their guards.” Neir took a step forward and Lily one away. “Your biggest priority that benefits everyone right now is building back what the Wraith and the Guardian lost in the safety of the southern realms. Northern Eocera is in desperate need of new souls.”
Souls for fodder…
Amalia would never negotiate with the north, despite Neir dismantling the empire to build something new. They were akin to human lives in her eyes, and disrespecting them by using them as a source of power was reprehensible. Kael’s livelihood thrived on the use of souls, and Neir agreed that the ghosted tech needed to be expanded upon.
What he wanted was impossible, even if she was a competent Imordial.
“In the meantime,” Neir continued, “my first demand is going to be that this stays between us. This conversation, my intervention in Markoth’s siege, needs to be kept quiet.”
Lily didn’t respond, though the cut on her palm was screaming. All she knew for sure was that he was a threat to her now, and it was best she did what she needed to keep the people around her out of harm’s way.
“Lily!”
Luka. He sprang from the ground under a small lean-to sheltering farming equipment. Neir’s female accomplice stood behind him, and at her feet was an unconscious Maude.
Lily started for them, but Neir stopped her, turning her gently back to him. “Major Toman wants to eradicate this orchard using the Wraith, correct?”
Her heart kicked into a sprint. “I—I don’t have a choice—”
“If the Gnaw wants the orchards destroyed, by all means, do it. Kael tells me Reave keeps enough supply of Licane to last for years to come. Lithance blossoms go far, but for the eternity the Phantoms promise their people, losing this would be a detrimental break in trust they will feel—one I want to be the first to witness.”
Lily’s gazed drifted to the innards of the orchard, more visible in the first light of day. “And Markoth?”
“The death of both Mia and Marsh is regrettable. Necessary losses for Luka’s sake, of course. We needed to get to him before Whart. I instructed my man not to harm Mia, but she retaliated.” Neir smiled when Lily flinched. He reached for her cut hand, pinching Reina’s ring between his fingers. “Kyer’s fit to handle the town as if we never interfered in the battle. I assume he’ll pick a governor, filter out any imperial loyalists, and officially make it a part of Zaitrerin’s territory.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. Her stomach roiled. “How’s that sound?”
Neir’s darkening tone plucked against her nerves. Slowly, his thumbs brushed over the cuffs, and with a press, they lit up, opened, and fell to the ground. The Wraith throbbed beneath her skin. Neir let go of her hands, but he didn’t move away or make an outright threat, and neither did Lily.
