Page 199 of Starside

How could he know? My emotions? My tear?

More are falling now. I shake my head, my pulse brushing the shining metal. “No. But I might as well have. I … I should have.” I sniff. I should fear this angry immortal, who could end me in a moment. But being with someone who knew Stellan makes me want to be honest. “He wanted me to. But I wasn’t strong enough.” I take a rattling breath. “He’s dead because of me.”

Vander just studies me. Top to bottom, he studies me, and then he frowns, and I can almost read his disappointment, seeing that I am what his friend gave up his life for.

“Everything in me wants to kill you,” he says. He sounds like he means it.

Then, just as suddenly as it was drawn, his sword is back against the wall. He sighs. “But if he died for you … I won’t let it be in vain.” His eyes meet mine. They are harsh and fierce. “Why are you making the quest?”

My answer is immediate. “Revenge.”

He looks surprised at that.

“On who?”

Telling him would be a risk. The gods are revered on this side. Even the faelings told me Great Houses are associated with them. Though I haven’t seen any hints of reverence in the castle.

But Stellan trusted him. If I’m going to make it to the end of my journey, I need to trust him too. “The gods. I’m going to kill them.”

Silence. The world stills.

Then a slow smile spreads across Vander’s face. “Now, human, you’re getting interesting.” He looks toward the door and, as if commanded by his mind, it flies open. An attendant is waiting. “Get me a vial of healing elixir.”

The immortal rushes out of the room.

I lift my brow. “You’re helping him?”

“I’m helping you. This is only the first step. We’ll discuss the rest tomorrow.”

The attendant returns with a vial. He hands it to Vander, bows, then leaves us alone again.

Slowly, Vander turns back to me. “You say you want to kill the gods?”

I nod.

“You don’t stand a chance.”

I frown. “I—”

“Alone. You don’t stand a chance alone.” My skin brushes his as he hands me the vial, and my shoulders spike at the otherworldly cold. “You’re staying until I say otherwise,” he says.

Then, he passes me by, and leaves the room, glowing sword hurtling after him.

Raker’s eyes fly open.

They go right to me, standing on the other side of the barn watching him. Then they go to the chain fixed around one of his wrists.

He looks up at me, bored. “Really?”

“They’re afraid of you,” I say.

He glares past the sweat spilling down his forehead. He isn’t wearing his mask. His hood is down. “Then at least not everyone here is a fool.”

I throw the vial at him, and he just manages to catch it before it hits his face.

“Take it,” I say.

“Poison?”