His Final Secret Read online

  "I'm going to teach them to control it, to hold it back so that it won't kill them. Then we're going to try to find a new cure. When he is gone, there will be no more burning books, no more suppression of the past. Perhaps we will find our answers there."

  "I hope so."

  Talon and Spyne approached them. Spyne's eyes traveled the length of Delia's body, but there was no hint of lust in them. While he remained angry and violent, the return of his memories had changed some parts of him.

  "As Overlord, you need to know that there is a secret place below the palace," Spyne said. He had told Talon about their encounter with the Inspector earlier. "A man named Jean was capturing Shifters there, using them to experiment. To find a way to kill them."

  Delia had seen the way the Shifters had destroyed Fulton. She nodded. "Good."

  Talon smiled. He had seen no reason to put an end to their work, even if test subjects would be harder to come by after Jeremiah destroyed the portal. It was obvious there were still Shifters hiding in various places around the Empire. An easy means to kill them was a benefit to all.

  "He'll be expecting to hear from you, though I think everyone else who knew he was down there is dead."

  "How do I find him?"

  "He'll find you, I suppose. Don't be surprised if he appears at your bedside in the middle of the night."

  Delia laughed despite Spyne's serious tone. "He might wind up with a knife in his eye."

  "So be it."

  She stared at him for a moment before looking away, feeling her flesh pimple at the sudden chill. Spyne was a gruff, frightening man, and she was doing her best to confront that fear instead of submitting to it like he wanted. She had lost this battle.

  "Everything is ready, General." A small, round woman scurried towards them. She was one of the servants that Delia had rescued from the soldiers.

  "Thank you, Hilda," Talon said. He could hear the crowd outside, their voices low in anticipation. He remembered the same sound in Elling, right before he had thrown the Overlord's head into their midst.

  "Are you ready?" he asked.

  "As much as I will ever be," Delia replied.

  "Spyne, are our preparations done?"

  "Yes. We have two hundred cavalry three miles down on the Empire Road, ready to ride. Plus the juggernauts."

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

  Two hundred horsemen would mean nothing against one of his armies of thousands. They were purely for show to the villages and towns they would pass on the way towards the Killorn Mountains. The Carriers and Wilem were the true offensive. It would only take the deaths of a few to cow the many.

  "I'll be with you shortly." Talon put his arm out to Delia. "Shall we, my dear?"

  Delia held up a hand and approached Wilem. "Be safe," she said.

  "And you."

  They embraced, kissing one another gently before she pulled away. She closed her eyes, tensing her muscles and then releasing them. "Okay. I'm ready."

  There was little fanfare. Talon took Delia's arm and guided her to the balcony, where her Overguard waited arranged on either side. Talon was calm, almost hopeful, though he could feel Delia's hand shaking more and more as the crowd became visible to them, and they became visible to the crowd. It silenced immediately.

  "My name is General Talon Rast. Once I was the Commander of his Northern Armies. Today, I am leading the free people of the Empire in a quest to scourge his dark mark from this land."

  His eyes crossed the thousands that squeezed into the courtyard and fed out into the streets beyond. He watched their anxious faces turn at his words and felt the force of their cheers wash over him.

  "Edgewater is the first of his cities to fall, taken in the night against overwhelming odds by those who once followed him, but today follow the path of freedom," Talon said. "I promise you it won't be the last. Those who are loyal to him have been allowed to leave in peace today. I don't know where they will go tomorrow, as this land becomes a free land. A land of hope and light. Together, we will drown out his darkness."

  More cheers followed, a wave that crashed and echoed through the city. Talon shifted his head so he could look up at the tower high above them.

  Let him see how his subjects hate him. How they turn on him so quickly given an alternative.

  "I want to introduce you to Delia Fastre. She is the daughter of a merchant, and a staunch supporter of my rebellion. She is my personal choice as Overlord of Edgewater."

  Delia stepped forward and waved to the crowd. Talon watched their faces. Man and woman alike gawked at her, soaking in her radiant beauty. She looked like a queen, and for as nervous as she was, she gathered herself enough to act like one as well.

  "People of Edgewater," Delia said. "I am honored to take this position as Overlord of the city. I am humbled by the faith that General Rast has placed in me to help protect and guide the interests of the province. However, my appointment is intended to be a temporary one. In time, once the rebellion is over, we will make arrangements for an Overlord that is chosen by you, the people. Edgewater will no longer live under the thumb of any one man, but will determine its fate for itself."

  Talon's head snapped towards her, at the same time the crowd erupted in the loudest cheers he had ever heard. They hadn't discussed her position being temporary. She looked back at him and smiled. As Overlord without an Emperor, she could do as she wished, and she knew it.

  He overcame his shock and smiled, walking towards her and bringing one of Olmas' rings to hand.

  "In the name of the free people of the Empire, I hereby name you Overlord of Edgewater, with all of the rights and responsibilities assigned," he said, slipping the ring onto her finger.

  "I'll make you proud, General," she whispered.

  "You already have," he replied.

  Her smile broke for a second, threatening to turn to tears. "Bring him back to me."

  Talon's smile fell, his face serious. Delia didn't lose hers, despite his reaction.

  She turned back to the crowd, waving and accepting their cheers while Talon retreated to where Spyne, Wilem, and Jeremiah were waiting. Wilem's face was stone, but his heart was obvious behind it.

  "Let us end this," Talon said.

  CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

  Eryn

  Eryn had no choice but to bring the refugees into Elling, and into the palace. There was nowhere else for them to go, and there was no way to know if there was anywhere in the province that would be safe from the Shifters if they had decided to leave the Rushes. There was little enough they could do to protect themselves besides shoring up the walls and keeping them from coming back in.

  She and Worm had found the bodies shortly after they had killed the creatures. They were in the dungeons, their armor discarded and nothing but bones remaining. There had been more Shifters down there, too, and Worm had killed them as easily as he had the others. She had asked Worm to help her carry some of the heavy armor back to the courtyard, and though he was confused he had complied. She had taken the armor to the barrack's forge, where she had used her magic to light the kiln and her sweat to break down the armor into flattened plates. Worm protested the use of her power, but she rebuked him.

  "These people need to feel safe. This is the least magic I can use to make that happen."

  He didn't look happy, but he nodded and helped her with the work. Once all the armor had been converted, she had summoned her magic once more, taking hold of the broken gate and shifting it back onto its hinges, merging the splinters back into the wood, and then pressing the plates against it. There were nails at the forge, and she used them to fix the pieces together, to reform the gate so that it would be unbreakable by soldier or Shifter alike. Even a ram would take ten or more strikes to tear apart what she had made.

  Then they had returned to the camp. She told Robar what they had found, and he agreed they had little choice. The people needed somewhere to settle, and protection from everything that might seek to hurt t
hem. The palace in Elling City was as good of a place as any.

  They packed up the camp and made the journey. Many tears were shed on the way at the sight of the destruction, at the stains of blood and the rotting corpses and the smell. It was a long, sad march, though there was also a hopefulness to it that sustained them all. His armies were leaving Elling, and it was possible they would never return. All Eryn had to do was follow Worm, and then stick Talon's sword in his heart.

  It sounded simple. She knew that it wouldn't be. There was no doubt he was surrounded by juggernauts if nothing else. She had asked Worm if he knew, and if he had a plan to reach him. The painted man had nodded but refused to try to explain. It wasn't his way to explain anything. It was the reason she still didn't know where he had come from, who had sent him, or how he knew about him. It was as if Amman had answered her prayers and sent him to her as some kind of avenging spirit.

  Amman? Or Heden?

  She wasn't sure. All she had was what she had seen on his back. The tattoos of Genesia and the talon. He was connected to the Nine. She was certain of that. He knew the elusive truth. At least, she believed he did. She thought it was amusing in its own way. It seemed that everyone who knew what had happened all those years ago wanted him to die.

  The refugees were frightened of the palace when they first ambled into it. Though she and Worm had removed the corpses of the Shifters to lessen the impact of the scene, it was still difficult for them to witness all of the stains, and to see the once proud palace reduced to such darkness. As the travelers moved into the large courtyard, she created a bright light in her hand, casting it up over them so that it shone down like a small sun. These people had no fear of her Curse, and they pointed at it in amazement, cheering and clapping.

  In no time, Robar had strung his instrument and began playing a fast, light melody. Sena added her voice soon after, and the tired people gained new life. They began to dance, a few at first and then more and more. Some of the men went out into the city and recovered wood, lighting a fire. Others made their way into the palace stores, locating cured meats that had evaded the army.

  When the smell of cooking meat reached her nose, Eryn allowed herself a moment to set herself loose from the bonds of revenge and savor the sudden community, so much like her village that it nearly brought tears to her eyes.

  When Robar began singing His Merry Stones, and nearly all of the refugees joined in, she couldn't stop herself from singing along, even though she didn't know the words. She stood next to Worm, shouting to hear herself over the din of the others. He was still and ever silent, his face a mask until she brushed against him while she was dancing. His expression didn't change, but his face turned red in sudden embarrassment.

  The reaction got her attention. She knew what the Historians did to women. He was embarrassed by a light touch from her hip? She stopped singing, turning to the painted man.

  "Worm, do you know how to dance?"

  He shrugged.

  She smiled and put out her hand. He glanced down at it, still motionless.

  "I'm not going to bite you, and you know my Curse can't hurt you. Take it."

  He hesitated before slowly reaching out and putting his hand on hers. She was surprised by how soft it was. She expected his hands to be rough and worn as her father's had been.

  She wrapped her hand around it and tugged on him. He was strong enough that he didn't need to move, but she could tell he wanted to. She kept pulling until he came forward, his body moving close to hers.

  "Now take my other hand." She held it out for him, and he took it. "Normally you would lead, but since you don't know what you're doing, just follow along."

  She stepped back, tugging him with her, moving through the steps her parents had taught her and her brother so long ago. She felt a twinge of sadness when she realized so long was not very long at all.

  The music continued past His Merry Stones, as did the dancing. Eryn could feel her whole body coming alive with it, and she yanked Worm every which way, spinning herself at the end of his hand before turning back in. Then she kept spinning, finding herself pressed against him, her head against his chest. He was like fire, his body warm, his scent burning. She lost track of the music in an instant, feeling her heart moving steps ahead of her, something else coming alive in a different moment.

  He was looking down at her, his blue eyes piercing hers as if he could see all the way through her. He was strong and handsome in his own way. He was quiet, but he had a confidence and posture that spoke more than words ever could. Before she knew what she was doing, she found herself tilting her head back and picking herself up onto her toes, aiming her lips towards his.

  Then she felt his hands shifting her, holding her steady while he backed away and then letting her go. She watched him move off in stunned silence, her heart doubling the rhythm of the music, her body tingling. She held out her hand and saw that there were sparks of power running along it, and along her entire body. She remembered then her feeling of elation at opening the passage to the reactor, and of the way her body had felt as the magic coursed through her. The Curse couldn't harm him, but it could hurt her if she set it free.

  She stared at his back, knowing that he had silently protected her once more.

  CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

  Eryn

  Worm found her early the next morning. She had settled into a cot in the barracks, along with two hundred of the other refugees. He woke her by putting a hand on her shoulder and squeezing it gently.

  Her eyes flashed open, looking up into his, framed in the flickering of a sconce on the wall. He put a finger to his lips and motioned for her to follow him.

  "Are we leaving?" she asked.

  He nodded.

  "I need to say goodbye."

  He shook his head. Then he pointed at her and motioned his finger against his neck. The cure.

  "I lost it in the reactor," she said. "You know that."

  He shook his head, drawing something from behind his back. It was a box like the one Wilem's teacher Kelkin used to carry. Worm flipped it open, revealing three vials.

  "Where did you find that?"

  Worm smiled and pointed back at the palace. Then he motioned for her to follow.

  It was quiet outside. The revelry of the refugees had faded hours earlier, and the fires were little more than sparkling embers. There were people sleeping out under the stars, feeling safe behind the battered-but-not-broken walls of the palace and the gate that she had repaired. They moved silently around them, heading towards the rear of the palace. Eryn knew where Worm was leading her. She had snuck in that way once before.

  "Going somewhere, my Lady?"

  Robar stepped out of the shadows as they passed the rear entrance to the main palace, near the kitchens. Sena was hanging from his arm, a smile on her face.

  "Coming from somewhere?" Eryn asked. The minstrel was missing his instrument, and his shirt was in disarray.

  "We are a happily married couple," Sena said. "There's nothing to be ashamed about."

  "As for you," Robar said, finishing the lewd suggestion.

  "Don't be yourself," Eryn said. "Worm was taking me to survey the walls in the rear of the palace, to ensure they are secure."

  Robar and Sena shared a look. Then Robar returned his attention to her. "Have you ever heard the expression, 'you can't lie to a minstrel?'"

  Eryn felt her heart speed up. She had wanted to say goodbye, not get caught sneaking around. "No."

  He laughed. "That's because I just made it up. But you can't, Eryn. At least not to me."

  "I don't need to explain myself to you."

  "No, but you have many people here who look up to you. Who are counting on you. Where are you going?"

  "How did you know I was leaving?"

  Robar motioned towards Worm. "I didn't, so much as I could tell that this one never wanted to stay."

  Eryn stared at the performers for a few seconds before releasing a soft sigh. "This one knows where to fi
nd him. We're going to put an end to this misery, once and for all."

  Robar's eyes widened, and he looked at Worm. "You know where he is?"

  Worm nodded.

  "How can we help you?" Robar asked, everything about him turning completely serious. "What do you need us to do, Eryn?"

  "Take care of these people," she replied. "That's all."

  "What about you?" Sena asked.

  "I can take care of myself." She paused and glanced at Worm. "And he can take care of me every other time."

  "You're certain?"

  "I am."

  Robar stepped forward, holding out his arms. "Then say farewell to us one more time, and come back safe and whole."

  Eryn moved into his embrace, fighting against the emotions welling up within her. "Farewell, my friend. I will see you again."

  "I know," Robar said, backing away. Sena replaced him, wrapping her up and holding her tightly.

  "You'll always be the bald girl unconscious in our wagon," she said. "And I'll always feel the desire to protect you as I did when Silas brought you to us. Please be safe, Eryn. You're the closest I've ever had to a child of my own."

  "I will. I'm a survivor, Sena. Never forget that."

  "Aye. I know you are."

  Eryn pulled away from her. "You're a survivor, too. Tell Lottie I'm sorry I had to leave this way. Tell the others that I'm going to kill him, and that they'll know he's dead when I return."

  Robar smiled at that. "I'll prepare them for your return, but you can tell them he's dead yourself."

  Worm took hold of her shoulder, tugging gently.

  "We have to go," Eryn said. She flashed them one last smile, and then followed the painted man away. She congratulated herself silently for managing to not shed any tears.

  Worm led her to the building where the palace's sewage gathered and flowed out into the sea. The pipes were barren from lack of use, and all of the muck had settled and dried along the bottom of it, making the footing slippery and the smell nearly unbearable. Eryn held her nose with one hand and gripped Worm with the other, trusting in his agility to keep them from falling and sliding out off the edge of the cliff. She wasn't excited about the prospect of climbing down, but it beat the alternative.