But in those final moments of her life, Baile hadnt wanted to be saved. Before Pashkah had taken her head, shed wanted his just as much.
The triplet who wielded the sword gained the power, leaving Kavya unaffected. She hadnt just remained in her childhood home so she could become his next victim. Shed run.
Now, having reduced their family to a series of grim victories, Pashkah stood within a few hundred yards of success. He would take Kavyas gift and add it to the power hed stolen from Baile. He would become thrice-cursed with his true potential sewn together in violencewhile the shrieks of two dead sisters would destroy his sanity.
Tallis shook her by the hair. What is this, part of your big announcement? Bring in muscle to make sure everyone complies?
This is my brother having found me after decades of searching. This is . . . this is the brink of chaos. Worse than you even thought of threatening with two barbarian swords.
She jerked free of his hold and stared him down. At least now she knew who he was. His true identity.
Tallis of Pendray. The Heretic.
She still wasnt able to read his mind, but his seax held residual memories so strong that shed caught flashes of his true self. His identity. His life on the run.
A man of myth. But still a man.
You dont need telepathy to sense the panic. She tipped her chin toward where Pashkah owned the altarthe altar shed hoped would be host to an evening of peaceful triumph. Those are lambs being herded toward a butchers knife. This man is fear and danger. Nothing Ive done, no matter your delusions, will match the crimes hes capable of committing.
Hes your brother. I wouldnt expect anything less than deceit and mind-warping delusions.
Kavyas heart was expanding with each beat, until it shoved against her trachea. Everything shed worked for was at Pashkahs mercy. Do you hate me so much that you deny the obvious? Look at the men at his back. Every one of them is twice-cursed.
You can tell? Youre reading their minds?
I dont need to. Theyre Pashkahs Black Guard. Whole communities have been rolled over by their arrival.
He kills Dragon Kings? The Council and the other clans wouldve heard about that.
Kavya shook her head, her eyes filling. Not killing. Trying to breed . The Black Guard was responsible for the Juvine forty years ago, when women were stolen from the South and held captive here in the mountains. Retaliation after retaliation followed, reviving the same deeds and the same hatreds that split our clan three thousand years ago. By trapping me, youve given him unchecked permission. The Black Guard will continue its spree.
Tallis had fascinating skinsmooth except for those places where emotions pushed to the surface. So animated for a Dragon King, he frowned with his whole face until it took on the gravity of a pending typhoon. Finally he seemed to be taking her fear seriously.
Unbind me, she said, pressing her advantage.
So you can flee? What do you think I am?
An idiotic, brainless thing . All I want is to face my brother without ropes around my wrists. She forced strength into her voice just as shed forced calm into her body. You wanted me discredited, not martyred, remember?
That I can agree with.
First obeying me, now agreeing with me. Youll be undone by dawn.
Suddenly you expect to live that long, he said with an edge of a smile.
You have no idea the consequences if I dont. Forget martyrdom. Ill be the dead soul that gives Pashkah what hes always wanted: the powers of a thrice-cursed Indranan.
He shook his head. Legend.
No, fact . Just like how the Heretic seems to have graced me with his presence.
That caught him off guard, but only for a moment. So you admit it. Youve known who I am.
For the last few moments, yes. Your weapon tells tales to a telepath, even if I cant read your mind. But none of it means your accusations hold merit.
He silenced her by dragging a seax nearer to her flesh. Although she shuddered, she appreciated the knife more than his kiss. She could endure pain. Life had taught her those lessons and the means of coping with what no one should have to endure. The surprise of pleasure, however, was still frothing through her veins. Every hair stood on end. Her skin pulled toward his touch and his Dragon-damned kisses.
The conflicting emotions were too much to process.
The tip of the seax was as fine as the point of a needle. Engraved scrollwork along the blade caught the last of the dying sunshine. She recognized the etchings as the ancient language of the Pendray but had no idea of their meaning. Tallis slid the tip between her wrists and sliced the ropes with one swift cut. No wasted motion. Perfect mastery of his weapon.
Members of the Sun Cult, came the voice that sent hot dread up her spine and ghostly chills back down. Your leader is no longer here. Because I am her brother, Pashkah, you can imagine the consequences if I take her lifeor if I already have. Perhaps shes merely fled, leaving you to my mercies.
The Black Guard marched to the edge of the altar.