“Fine,” he reiterated and gestured for me to go first.
“Whose magical signature is in the air?”
“I am so glad you asked that question, Kaos. His name is Torin d’Eshu, Lord of Iluul.”
I frowned. The name sounded familiar, but I was unsure as to where I would have heard his mortal name before. The man’s words rang true, but there was a hint ofsomethingI couldn’t quite place; not exactly a half-truth, but almost like there was vital missing information.
“Who is Torin d’Eshu, Lord of Iluul?”
“Ah, ah, ah!” the man said with a shake of his head. “The deal was a truth for a truth. If you’d like to devolve further into another deal after I make good on my request, then that is up to you.”
“Ask your question,” I grunted, growing bored of entertaining him, but still feeling like I needed that final piece of information.
“Why are you here, Kaos?”
“To see if the mines really did collapse,” I said, the truth falling from my lips unbidden.
The man cocked his head to the other side and blinked rapidly as if processing the information.
“Shall we play again?”
“Who is Torin d’Eshu, Lord of Iluul?” I asked again.
The man’s grin spread to almost manic proportions before he hopped off the rock, his boots thumping against the rocky ground, producing a cloud of ash in their wake.
“Me first,” he said, walking until he stood a mere foot from me.
He is definitely insane.
“Why are you here, Kaos?”
I frowned. “I just?—”
The man cut me off with a quick shake of his head, a frown marring his features.
“No. Why are youhere, in Elyria?”
Now it was my turn to pause.
I opened my mouth to give him an answer, but closed it just as quickly. While my gift was to detect lies and truths, I could lie if I wanted to—it was just difficult for me to do.
“I-I’m not sure,” I said. My eyebrows nearly met in the middle of my forehead as I frowned harder. I knew why Solace returned to Elyria, but I had never shared her affinity for world domination. At the end of it all, I knew she’d try and kill me simply so she could have the power for herself; until that time, my existence was useful enough for her.
“Something to think about,” he said, his initial ease returning as he slowly backed toward the spot he’d appeared from earlier.
“My question,” I demanded, and he nodded his head once.
“Torin d’Eshu, Lord of Iluul, is the one who was promised. One who will rise as another falls; the heir of Fire and Water, of Earth and Air.” A chill skated down my spine with his words, the very air around me seeming to still.
“The boy who was created millennia ago at the end of the Sundering,” the man came to a stop outside the mouth of the caves before a smile took over his face once more. This time, itwas a terrifying thing, one that held the promise of violence and retribution. With a flick of his wrist, the air blanketed him from sight once more. I held my breath, willing him to appear again; his speech had brought more questions than answers.
I stood there for a few minutes, sure that man had disappeared, but just before I stepped through my portal, back to Solace and the inordinate heat of the desert, his whispered voice echoed around once more.
“One who can tip the scales and restore balance . . . a godling. And now, my purpose is fulfilled. May Fate guide and keep you.”
This was dripping with the scent of my father.
If Solace killed five soldiers just because she was feeling rather pissy, I wonder what she’ll do when she hears of our father’s needling . . . and the existence of a godling.
