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“You may join me after sundown,” he said to the Keun Marow waiting on him, the most recent leader of his army.
“By then, the need for subterfuge will be at an end.”
The creature’s eyes narrowed to slits as it shouldered its own crude weapon. “We will wait until we know the way is clear. He’s bested you more than once.”
Asher’s frayed patience snapped. He rounded on the fey hunter, murder in his voice. “You speak to me as if we were equals. Partners. You forget your place. Yours is not to question, but to do as you’re told.”
The Keun Marow cringed, its nostrils flared in panic, its gray skin blanched white.
Much better. There would be no wavering now. Dissent would not be allowed.
But the creature’s stupidity was unequaled. It shuffled forward, hunched in surrender, squinting up at him out of one bold eye. “He might still use the girl.”
Asher smiled as he motioned to Bligh’s kinsman, standing sullenly in the corner. “I don’t think so. Do you, Simon? Go ahead. Tell them what you told me earlier today.”
The man took a few grudging steps into the room, his arms folded across his chest.
His grim countenance and sour disposition grew worse by the day. It was good that Asher no longer needed him. He’d not regret killing him when the time came. When the purging of Other began.
“Speak of what you’ve learned,” Asher barked. The man straightened, defiance further marring his unpleasant features.
Oh, yes. His days left were few. “Conor married the woman yesterday.”
Asher laughed. “Took her to wife. Can you fathom it? He’ll not wed her one day and sacrifice her the next. Not even Bligh’s as treacherous as that.”
Simon scowled. “I tell you there’s got to be a mistake. Conor’s hard as stone. Not even Ysbel kept him from his mission. He let her die as easily as snapping his fingers.”
Asher crossed the room. “But she was a sister, after all. Not his slag.” He licked his lips as he gripped Simon’s shoulder. “Too bad I had to kill her. She was delicious in bed once tamed to the whip.”
The man’s body grew tense as a drawn bow. A muscle jumped in his clenched jaw. But he remained silent.
Asher smirked. It was just too easy. So much guilt. So much hate. It ate the man like a cancer from within. Asher felt it and fed on it. Death when it came might almost be thought a release.
“As I said, victory is assured. Meet me at Ilcum Bledh by midnight. All of you.”
The creature nodded, but Asher felt its continued skepticism. He would deal with it tomorrow. Place a new leader in charge. One of these ragged monsters was as good as another. Still, perhaps if he offered it an incentive. “Don’t forget. I’ll have a feast ready and waiting.” He gave Simon a shuttered glance. Hardly any mage energy that hadn’t been begged, borrowed or stolen from others, but now was as good as later. The Keun Marow weren’t picky. Two would serve as well as one. “Simon, you come with me. I want you to watch Bligh’s destruction. A new age built upon his
bleached bones.”
He nodded tightly. “Very well.”
Asher leaned in close, tilted the man’s head back with one crooked finger. Looked him in the eye. “Perhaps I’ll let you deal the death blow. Would you like that?”
Simon’s answering stare was long and cool. “Yes,” he said finally. “I’d like that very much.”
Afternoon was fading into evening as Ellery strode across the field toward the barrows, anger and love, disappointment and resignation all simmering just below the surface of her skin. Tightening her chest. Pricking her eyes.
He’d never even said good-bye.
As if he’d said it all last night. Or as if last night hadn’t mattered.
Well, damn it, it had meant something to her. It had cemented her decision. She would go to Ilcum Bledh. She would fulfill the molleth. For Conor. For all the Blighs. In return for a happiness she never expected and would have denied existed until now. Because as she’d come to find, even this brief taste of love had been better than an eternity without.
She hadn’t been the only one to notice Conor’s sudden absence. She’d stumbled upon a confrontation between Mikhal and Morgan.
“You’ll stay here, and that’s an order.”
“I won’t let Con face Asher alone.” Ruan and Jamys stood at either side of their sister as if guarding against her escape.
