Page 39 of A Dark and Drowning Tide

Reluctantly, she met his gaze. For the first time, she noticed he had scars like Sylvia’s, notched into his temples and shining dully in the moonlight. They were fainter, though, and old. He clearly won his duels more often than not.

“I suppose you’re expecting gratitude,” she said.

“No.” His lip curled. “That wasn’t for you. Sometimes Heike needs to learn to keep her mouth shut.”

“Then what do you want?”

“I want to ask you something.” He spoke every word as though he were spitting out a mouthful of glass. “Howdidyou gain your powers?”

“The same way you did,” she replied icily, “I would imagine.”

He narrowed his eyes. Clearly, he did not believe her. “Who taught you, then?”

“Ziegler.” The pain that knotted in her chest almost knocked the breath from her. Desperate to steer the conversation into safer waters, she added, “It’s reasonably common among my people, but few of us practice magic.”

Magic dwelled in water; that much was a scientifically observable phenomenon. Brunnestaaders took great pride in their magical abilities and saw it as an intrinsic link between themselves and the land. Yevani, however, didn’t fit neatly into the narrative.Rootless, they were called: suited to enterprise and city life. Yevani wielding magic made Brunnestaaders uncomfortable, and discomfort made them violent. Easier to forgo magic entirely than to invite them into the Yevanverte’s walls with their stones and torches. Ziegler had always disdained bigotryof that sort. Any institution that sought to bury the truth had no place in her world. And so, she had taught Lorelei to manipulate water as part of her studies.

“With training, you would fight well,” he said. “Unless you’re holding back. I’ve heard of Yevani who can manipulate the very blood in your veins.”

“Regrettably, I haven’t yet found an entity willing to teach me that,” she replied sourly. “You’re wrong about us.”

“I’m not wrong about you.” He met her eyes steadily. “You might have defended us today, but that changes nothing. You will turn against us when it suits you.”

“So assured,” she spat. “How will you be able to live with yourself when you’re forced to bow to an Albisch queen?”

Johann suddenly looked exasperated. “If this is about the other night, I spoke in anger. Wilhelm has a strategic mind, and doing what he can to quiet Albisch discontent is a wise move. I fought for him and that dream of his. I can be patient in seeing it realized.”

Lorelei was surprised to hear him say it. “And what is that?”

“A united Brunnestaad,” he replied, with something like reverence in his voice. “Something pure.”

God, she loathed him. She could not keep the disgust out of her voice. “And you believe he’ll deliver you that.”

“In time.” Johann frowned. “Once he has the area fully under hiscommand—andthe power of the Ursprung in hishands—hecan administrate it as he sees fit. I look forward to it myself. Peacetime is so dull.”

“What if he doesn’t see fit to do what you want?”

“Herzin is influential,” he said coolly. “He will see reason.”

Lorelei was not sure what disturbed her more: his vision of a “pure” Brunnestaad or how thoroughly he had upset her expectations. If he was willing to acceptSylvia—andWilhelm—thenhe had no motive. Scrambling to regain control of the conversation, she said, “You don’t believe one of your own would be better suited to rule?”

He smiled coldly. “Not all of us are as disloyal as you.”

Lorelei did not rise to the bait. “I know you’re not here for Wilhelm. I heard you were here to fulfill an oath.”

“Adelheid told you about that?” He adjusted his glasses, clearly flustered. “I seldom think of it, honestly. Alexander saved my life on the battlefield, yes, but Adelheid has saved it every day since. That’s stronger than an oath.”

“How romantic,” she said dryly. “I almost envy you.”

He scoffed. “There’s nothing to envy in that regard.”

“Then what is it?”

“In Herzin,” he said after a long moment, “from the moment you can walk, they take you by the shoulders and point you toward an enemy. They place a sword in your hand and call it purpose. She is the only one who has asked me to set it down. I don’t know what you call that.”

For a moment, he seemed almost weary.Human. Lorelei studied the fang glinting around his neck. “Do you know what a golem is?”

He eyed her almost warily. “No.”