There could be no arguing with that. Indisputably, Thiago had let them live. He had let them escape.
Why?
For Karous sake? Had she pled for their lives? Not
bargained for them?
Akiva looked up the slope where she had gone. She stood in the arched entrance to the kasbah, watching them, too distant to read. He turned to Thiago, and saw that his expression was still devoid of cruelty or duplicity or even his customary coldness. His eyes were open, not heavy-lidded with arrogance or disdain. It made a marked change in him. What could account for it?
One explanation occurred to Akiva, and he hated it. In the torture chamber, Thiagos rage had been that of a rivala losing rival. Beneath the age-old hatred of their races had burned the more personal wrath of an alpha for a challenger. The humiliation of the one not chosen. Vengeance for Madrigals love of Akiva.
But that was absent nowas absent as the reasons for it. Akiva was no longer his rival,
no longer a threat. Because Karou had made a different choice this time.
As soon as this idea came to Akiva, Thiagos lack of malice seemed hard proof of it. The White Wolf was sure enough of his place that he didnt need to kill Akiva. Karou, oh godstars. Karou.
If it werent for their bloody history, if Akiva didnt know what lurked in Thiagos true heart, it would seem an obvious match: the general and the resurrectionist, lord and lady of the chimaeras last hope. But he did know Thiagos true heart, and so did Karou.
It wasnt old history, either, Thiagos violence. Karous downcast eyes, her tremulous uncertainty. Bruises, gouges. And yet the creature standing before Akiva now seemed the White Wolfs best self: intelligent, powerful, and sane. A worthy ally. Looking at him, Akiva didnt even know what he should hope for. If Thiago was this , then an alliance stood a chance, and Akiva would be able to be in Karous life, if only at the edges of it. He would be able to see her, at least, and know that she was well. He would be able to atone for his sins and have her know it. Not to mention, they might stand a chance of stopping Jael.
On the other hand, if Thiago was this intelligent, powerful, and saneand he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Karou to shape the destiny of their people, what place was there for Akiva in that? And more to the point, could he bear to stand by and see it?
And there is something else, said Thiago. Something I owe you. I understand that I have you to thank for the souls of some of my own.
Akiva narrowed his eyes. I dont know what youre talking about, he said.
In the Hintermost. You intervened in the torture of a chimaera soldier. He escaped, and returned to us with the souls of his team.
Ah. The Kirin. But how could anybody know that Akiva had done that? He hadnt let himself be seen. Hed summoned birds, every bird for miles around. He just shook his head now, prepared to deny it.
But Liraz surprised him. Where is he? she asked Thiago. I didnt see him with the others.
Had she been looking? Akiva flickered a glance her way. Thiagos glance more than flickered. It sharpened, and settled on her. Hes dead, he said after a pause.
Dead. The young Kirin, last of Madrigals tribe. Liraz made no reply. Im sorry to hear it, Akiva said.
Thiagos gaze shifted back to him. But thanks to you, his team will live again. And to return to our purpose, was not his torturer the very angel we now must oppose?
Akiva nodded. Jael. Captain of the Dominion. Now emperor. Were standing here while he gathers his strength, and while your word means nothing to me, Ill trust one thing: that you would stop him. So if you believe your soldiers can distinguish one angel from another long enough to fight Dominion beside Misbegotten, come with us, and well see what happens.
Liraz, to Ten, added coldly, We wear black, and they wear white. If that helps.
It all tastes the same, was the she-wolfs laconic reply.
Ten, please, said Thiago in a warning voice, and then, to Akiva, Yes, we will see. He nodded a promise, holding Akivas eyes, and the sanity was still there, the cruelty still absent, yet Akiva couldnt help remembering him ripping out throats, and he felt himself at the precipice of a very bad decision.
Revenant soldiers and Misbegotten, together. At best, it would be miserable. At worst, devastating.
But in spite of his misgivings, it was as if there was a brightness beckoning to himthe future, rich with light, calling him toward it. No promises made, only hope. And it wasnt just the hope kindled by Karous subtle gesture. At least, he didnt think so. He thought that this was what he had to do, and that it wasnt stupid, but bold.
Only time would tell.
6
BEAST EXODUS
Karou had overseen one transfer of this small army from world to world already, and it had not been the best of times. Then, with a preponderance of wingless soldiers and no way to transport them from Eretz, theyd had to take multiple trips, and still Thiago had opted to release many of them, gleaning souls and bringing them along in thuribles. Deadweight, he had deemed the bodiesexempting of course his own and Tens, and some other of his lieutenants, who had ridden astride larger, flying revenants.