His Final Secret Page 16

  A talon.

  Light filtered into the palace through shattered windows. The smell of must and blood was stronger here. Eryn could see the thick stains of it on the rugs that lined the stone floors. She could see pools of it dried in the corners.

  What she didn't see were bodies.

  Worm must have taken note of it at the same time, because when she glanced to him he had his knife in hand, and his eyes were shifting cautiously to each of the intersection's entry points. Her left hand fell to the hilt of Talon's sword while she put out her right, ready to summon her Curse in their defense.

  "The soldiers may have done it," she said. "Robar said they were to keep the palace intact. They might have cleaned it up a little before they left."

  Worm put his hand out. Maybe.

  He didn't look convinced.

  They made their way through the palace, pausing at each room to check it. Nearly everything of any value had been taken, either by the soldiers or by scavengers and while there were plenty of stained carpets, there were no bodies.

  Eryn felt her breath hasten when they reached the throne room. She remembered the first time she had been there, when she and Talon had killed Feng and Overlord Iolis. She remembered how Talon had taken the Overlord's head out to the balcony and thrown it into the crowds, and of how the rebels had taken the city that night. She remembered how she had felt. She had done her best then, as she was doing now. Her best had evolved so much in so little time.

  The scene inside the throne room was the same as in the rest of the palace. It was clear there was fighting, but still there were no corpses.

  "It doesn't make sense," Eryn said.

  Worm looked at her. Then he tilted his head slightly to the side, as though he was listening to something. It was an odd expression, one that she didn't understand.

  "What is it?" she asked.

  Worm spun on his heel, ducking down and stabbing out with his knife. A moment later, a Shifter appeared, impaled on the blade. It cried out and fell to the ground.

  Shifters? Here?

  She recognized them. The same kind she and Talon had fought in the Rushes. Yellow eyes, black skin. They were similar to the orcs they had encountered in Genesia, but they seemed more primitive, more feral.

  How had Worm known it was there?

  There was no more time to wonder. A Shifter appeared next to her, reaching for her with its claws. She backed away, only to be confronted by one from behind.

  Worm was on it before she could think, jumping on its back and pulling it down, his knife sliding across its throat. He leaped from it to the next, catching its arm and throwing it across the room. Eryn recovered from her initial surprise, finding her calm and summoning her Curse. She could slow time, make them visible and stab them one by one. She had done it before.

  Worm grabbed her arm, squeezing it hard enough to break her concentration. He shook his head at her. He didn't want her to create the distortion field, it would make her weak.

  His eyes seemed empty, but they were focused on something else, somewhere else, or some other time. It was as though he could see them through the distortion, and he moved among them, cutting his blade through vacant air only to have it occupied a split second later, digging into appearing flesh and knocking the Shifters down. Not only could he see into the distortion, but he seemed to be ahead of it, able to anticipate how the two timelines would interact.

  It was over in less than a minute. Worm stopped, moving in a full circle before returning to her side. He smiled at her proudly and wiped the Shifter's blood off his knife and onto his pants.

  "How did you do that?" she asked.

  He shrugged.

  "Are there more?"

  He shrugged again. I don't know.

  "We need to search the entire palace. We need to make sure it's safe."

  Worm's expression confirmed her fear.

  It might never be safe.

  CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

  Talon

  "Talon," he said, his voice distant and flat. "I was waiting for you."

  "Then you know why I've come," Talon replied, moving closer to the stone.

  "Yes. I know everything. What happened at the Refinery, what is happening here in Edgewater." He paused. "You shouldn't have broken the seal. You have no idea what you've done."

  He was referring to Aren.

  "He was my son," Talon shouted. "He was in pain. I set him free. He was my son."

  Talon felt the grim sadness threatening to overwhelm him. He clenched his teeth, forcing it away. He wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

  There was a long pause before he spoke again.

  "You made a promise, Talon."

  "A worthless promise, predicated on lies."

  "No. An important one. You think that you are saving these people? No. You are killing them. Each and every one of them, with every move you make against me. Do you understand that?"

  Talon could hear the hint of fear in his voice. He couldn't help but smile at it. Revel in it. "I understand that you're afraid. You know that I'm winning. That your time is coming to an end. That this world will be free."

  "This world will be dead." A third pause. "It is already dead, and I don't know if it can be saved."

  "It will be saved when you are gone. I came up here to tell you as much. I came up here to challenge you. Come out of hiding, wherever you are, and face me. Come out and let them see. Come out and fight. Come out and die."

  "No," he said.

  "Why not? Does the immortal wizard fear me? Or do you fear the juggernauts, or perhaps General Spyne? Did you know he has joined me? That he too has realized the truth?"

  "If he has joined you, then he is as broken as you are. I do not fear you, Talon. I'm asking you, begging you, to reconsider your position. To give up this quest for vengeance before it is too late. It may already be too late."

  Talon was surprised by the choice of words. Begging? His heart raced, his anger threatening to escape him.

  "Why?"

  "The promise."

  The word rekindled his waning fury. He crowded in on the farspeak stone, placing himself close enough that he could feel heat rising from it.

  "To Heden with the promise. I can't even remember what the promise was, and I don't believe anything you say. I've had enough of your lies and deceit, your trickery and manipulations. I will take the juggernauts, take my armies, take my Cursed, and I will march them across the Empire and free each province one by one until you have nothing left under your control. Why should I give up? Why should you be allowed to rule for all of eternity? Spyne told me what you made him do in Genesia. I know what you did to Aren. The Cursed? The mines? Whoever you once were, whatever you used to be, you are nothing now but a walking blight upon this world. One that I intend to destroy. If you care about these people as you seem to think you do, then come out and fight. If not, I will find you."

  His chest heaved, his body shook. A bead of cold sweat ran down the bridge of his nose. He stared into the spinning stone, waiting for him to say something. Anything.

  Tense silence followed until finally he replied.

  "Talon," he said. "I see that nothing I say can convince you. I can only hope that you remember. Please, think on the promise. Think on the past. I am sorry for what has happened. All of it. I am sorry for what was done to you, to all nine of you. I am sorry for what was done to Aren. I can not allow you to do any more damage. I can not, and will not come to you. I can only hope that you will recognize-"

  Talon winced as he placed his hands on the spinning stone, the friction burning his palms in an instant. He ignored the pain, gripping it tightly and forcing it from its place in the center of the room. He clutched it in smoldering hands, carrying it to the window and holding it up, opposite the twin tower on the other side of the palace.

  Then he cast it out, watching as it fell to the earth, striking a parapet and exploding into dust.

  He had tried to talk him out of hiding, but Delia had been righ
t. He wouldn't come.

  He stood at the window for a moment, scanning the city below.

  First he found the barracks.

  Next he found Spyne.

  Finally, his focused gaze landed on the one-armed, rusted juggernaut standing beside the General.

  If he won't come to us, then we will go to him.

  CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

  Talon

  Talon rejoined Jeremiah, Delia, and Spyne in the courtyard of the palace. There were three dozen mounted soldiers spread behind them, along with the three Carriers. Spyne moved ahead of them as Talon exited through the front doors of the building, descending the steps and meeting halfway.

  "Did you get what you wanted?" Spyne asked.

  "He won't come," Talon said.

  "A foolish idea. I could have told you that."

  "How goes the fighting?"

  "Over," Spyne said. "Mostly. There are still pockets of resistance, but after the soldiers saw what the Carriers were doing to their brothers, their loyalties changed quickly."

  "Can we trust them, then?"

  "If they value their lives."

  "What about once we leave?"

  "If they value their lives."

  They walked together to where Delia and Jeremiah were standing.

  "It is pleased to follow First of Nine," Jeremiah said.

  "Did you save them?" Talon asked.

  Delia nodded. "All but two. Is he coming?"

  "No. You were right."

  "You had to try."

  Talon held his anger. He had wasted his time, and at least two lives.

  Murderer.

  "We can't waste any more time here," Spyne said. "Jeremiah knows where to find him."

  "He isn't going to allow us to run about the Empire uncontested."

  "The Carriers-"

  "The Carriers are powerful, but they can still be brought down by a large enough force, or by a ballista. We need part of the forces here to come with us, and the rest to stay and keep the peace."

  "It will take a day or two to organize them."

  "I know. I hate to give him more time to prepare, but there is nothing we can do about it."

  Spyne shook his head. "There is, brother. We can go on alone."

  "We can't free the people of the Empire that way."

  "We'll free them when he is dead."

  "You don't understand, do you?" Talon asked. "If we kill him with no clear path of succession there will be nothing but more chaos and despair. Every Captain with a few loyal men will be looking to make their own way, forming militias and challenging one another for pieces of the Empire. The provinces will vanish, as will any small sign of law or order. No. We must make a show of force and take control of the land that we can. The people need to know there is hope after him. That there is a strong head."

  "You?" Spyne asked, sounding incredulous.

  "No. I'm an old man, and when this war is done, I will be done with it. Let the people decide who will rule them. As long as the provinces have a strong leader they will carry on."

  "And begin creating militias of their own. One Empire will become thirty."

  Talon thought about it. Then he shrugged. "Maybe it's better that way. If the power is divided, no one person can oppress all of the world."

  "Fine. I've as much interest in ruling as you do. Regardless, we'll need to leave someone here in Edgewater as Overlord. If we abandon it with an army with no one to report to, it will fall to chaos as you say."

  Talon rubbed his chin with his hand. "Yes. I've considered that." He turned his attention to Delia.

  "What?" she asked, nervous at the way he was looking on her.

  "Your father raised you to be a merchant, to run his business and manage its affairs."

  She shook her head. "Talon, you can't be suggesting? No."

  "You are loyal to the rebellion. You have a level head on your shoulders. You're educated and intelligent, and you can defend yourself should anyone try to take your place."

  "No. Talon, I told you, I never wanted to take my father's place."

  "You aren't, my dear. You would be taking the place of the Overlord of the Capital city. The site of the Academy, and likely where Wilem will wind up when this is over."

  "Talon-"

  "There is no one else I can trust with this," he said. "If we name the wrong person Overlord, thousands more may die. You helped those servants. I know you don't want that to happen."

  She looked down, defeated. "I don't. I'm not suited to be Overlord. I know nothing about it."

  "You know how to run a business, and you know how to fight. That will be enough. It has to be."

  She continued to stare at the ground, considering.

  "We don't have all night," Spyne said.

  Delia glared at him for a moment before nodding. "Okay. I'll do it for now. Until I can find someone else."

  Talon smiled. "Thank you."

  "You said Wilem will be at the Academy when this is over?" Delia said. "You're taking him with you?"

  "Not to separate the two of you. I need his magic."

  "Why? You have the juggernauts. They can handle any Mediators you run into."

  "What about things they can't handle? Like creating light in a dark place? Wilem's usefulness goes beyond killing other wizards."

  "He would be just as useful here."

  "You'll have the Cursed who remain at the Academy."

  "It is pleased to go with the wizard," Jeremiah said. "It is this way." The juggernaut pointed southeast.

  "That way?" Talon said. "Towards Elling?"

  A jet of steam escaped the juggernaut, and a wheeze that sounded like a laugh. "It is that way."

  "Back the way we came," Spyne said. "The reactor where Worm took Eryn."

  "It is there. It is active."

  "There were Shifters there. They tried to follow us through the subroute. There was a dragon, too."

  "The dragon again?" Talon had fought the beast once. He wasn't interested in battling it again.

  "Yes. It was very interested in reaching the reactor."

  "I'm sure it was," Talon said.

  "We will need the wizard's help if we are to move the tons of stone the reactor was buried under."

  Talon turned to Delia. She didn't look happy. "You're right, of course," she said.

  "It's settled then. Spyne, have the army spread the word that a new Overlord will be named tomorrow morning. The palace will be open to the public for anyone who wishes to attend." Talon looked back at the palace, up at the second tower, certain that he was watching. "Anyone."

  CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

  Talon

  The word was spread in the early morning hours, soldiers moving door to door, shouting out the announcement of a new Overlord at the same time they worked to root out any loyalists who were trying to hide. After the way Spyne and the Carriers had eased through his soldiers like a hot sword through ice, the wisest of those who wished to remain his loyal subjects took advantage of Talon's offer to pack their things and leave.

  By the time they had assembled on the balcony overlooking the courtyard, the city of Edgewater was in a relative state of calm. A few fires still smoldered, sending wisps of smoke into the sky, and there were signs of looting and damage in various parts of the city, but other than the trickle of people carrying all of their belongings on their backs or in wagons, the massive crowd that had gathered in the palace courtyard, and the ominous sentry of eight reflective suits of armor standing atop the outer walls and looking down on the proceedings, there was little to suggest that the day was different than any other day in the capital city.

  "Least bloody war I've ever fought in," Spyne said.

  "Are you complaining?" Talon asked.

  They were standing in the throne room ahead of the balcony. Jeremiah, Delia, and Wilem were there, along with Cassius, the eldest of the surviving students of the Academy. That he was to be the Headmaster while Wilem was gone was a testament to how efficiently the Generals
had thinned his ranks of wizards.

  There were also a number of soldiers and servants moving about the room, working to finish preparations. It had taken some effort to arrange for a quick coronation in the middle of the night, but steel was a great motivator, and they had managed to round up all of the necessities to turn the occasion into something the people would remember. Something light and proud and happy.

  Spyne ran his tongue along his fat lips. "Yes. And no. I'll tell you one thing, I have more respect for the ones we killed. Even if we have better numbers on our side, there's something to be said for a man who can't be bought."

  "I agree with you," Talon said, careful to keep his voice low. They had arranged an Overguard out of a dozen of the most experienced soldiers they had been able to find. Soldiers who fell into Spyne's view as weak and cowardly. They were decorated, skilled men. Talon knew they were also no match for Curio's daughter. "We use what we have."

  "You look radiant," Wilem said, his eyes large at the sight of Delia in the flowing yellow gown that had been made for her by a tailor frantic to please the new Overlord. Delia was one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen, that the world had ever seen, and the shapely but modest gown made her shine like the sun.

  Of course, that had been Talon's goal. To counter the blackness of his Empire with the light of a new dawn. All of the dark flags with their red eyes had been removed, replaced with ribbons of white and gold, orange and yellow. It was an amazing bit of work for one night. If Wilem hadn't seen it for himself, he would never have believed it possible.

  "Thank you," Delia said. She tugged at the top of the gown, shifting it slightly. "I've always hated wearing these things, so at least if you are enjoying me in it, there is some benefit."

  "The people are going to love you."

  "I don't want to be Overlord."

  "I know. Once I return, we'll be in the city together. Think of the things we can accomplish here. The Empire we can help Talon and Eryn build."

  "I have. It's why I agreed to do it. You say once you return, but Wilem, there is no more cure. You can't let the Academy students use their Curse anymore. It will kill them."