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He nodded gravely.
“I saw it burning… before it ever happened. And then a few weeks ago, I saw a man materializing out of black smoke in the center of the arena.”
He reared back. “You saw me?”
“And I haven’t stopped seeing you, Fordham. The visions keep pushing us together. That’s how I knew what element you should use that day. It’s how I knew you were going to fall in the second task.”
“And the raven medallion?” he guessed.
She nodded. “I don’t know what it means, honestly, but if it’s in my vision, it’s important.” She wrung her hands. “I’m not supposed to tell anyone about it. Only Helly and Gelryn know the truth of it…” She bit her lip. “And Dozan.”
“Dozan? Why would you tell him?”
“He was there… that first night when it happened. I was assaulted in the streets, and in the middle of it, I had my first vision. Dozan nursed me back to health, and when I woke up, I thought he’d taken care of the people who had hurt me, but when I had that energy explosion with you, I realized that I was the one who had killed all those people.”
Fordham sank back down onto the stone seat. “That’s a lot to take in.”
“I know. The last person who knew was Lyam… and then he turned up dead,” she whispered. “And Basem was there the night I had my vision of you. I’m not sure if it’s all connected… if he knows.”
“Gods, that’s another motive that you didn’t mention.”
She chewed on her bottom lip. “I know, but I’ve never told anyone else about my visions, and the one person who found out was just murdered. I don’t want that to happen to you too.”
Fordham stood and put his hands on her shoulders, gentle this time. “That’s not going to happen to me. I’m glad you told me.”
“It’s good to have it off my chest actually.”
“Likewise,” he admitted. “Everyone back home knows about my curse. It’s common knowledge, but here, I finally feel…”
“Free?”
“Precisely.”
“Me too.”
He brushed a lock of her hair behind her ear. “I don’t know what to do about this.”
“I don’t either.”
She stared up into his eyes, knowing that was a lie. All she wanted was to kiss him again, to feel his perfect lips on hers. Yet she could see that he was being honest. That he believed he would hurt her if they continued forward. She didn’t know what to do about that. Her heart ached, just thinking about it.
“We’ll figure it out,” she told him.
He nodded.
“What a touching moment,” a voice said from the other side of the gazebo.
Kerrigan and Fordham wrenched away from each other and turned to face the woman. She was dressed in head to toe black with her shock of white hair visible but her face hidden by a black mask.
“You!” Kerrigan yelled at the assassin.
She drew her magic to her and shifted into a defensive stance. She could sense Fordham do so next to her.
“Now, now,” the woman said, holding up her hand. “I’m not here to fight. Would I have announced myself if I were?”
“What do you want?” Fordham snarled.
“I’m here to deliver a message.”
“From whom? Basem?” Kerrigan asked.
“As a matter of fact,” the woman said with a sinister smile. “Basem would like you to meet him in Row Park by Irena Fountain in a half hour, or your little friends will die.”
All the color drained from Kerrigan’s face. “What did you do to them?”
“Me? I didn’t do anything. I’m just the messenger, but Basem isn’t likely to back down. So, chop-chop. Clock is ticking. Oh, and you should go alone if you know what’s good for you.”
And then the little assassin traipsed away into the dark.
42
The Hostages
Kerrigan walked into the park alone.
She had a minute to spare when she reached Irena Fountain. The enormous fountain was made entirely of a white rock from the heart of the Vert Mountains far up north. A carving of Irena, the first dragon rider, stood atop the structure with dragon heads at her feet, spewing water into the concentric pools beneath her. The fountain stood on the cusp of the lake at the center of Row Park. And waiting just in front of it was Basem Nix himself.
With her head held high, she approached the fountain, counting off the number of goons he’d brought with him while telling her to come alone. Two at the fountain, holding Darby and Hadrian. But not Clover… was that a good thing or a very bad thing? She counted six along the waterline. Two were trailing her from the entrance to the park. And one more against the tree line. A dozen in total, including Basem. No sign of the assassin.
“Well, well, well,” Basem drawled, “look what the cat dragged in.”
She stopped before him, standing casually in the dress that was far from made for fighting. Gave off the distinct impression of being young and innocent. Not a threat. Of course, Basem already knew she was a threat. That was why he’d kept trying to kill her.
