Tam pursed his lips. “First Elade, now this Solarian priestess…why didn’t I ever think of pretending to be a respected Bound before?”
“Because that would require discipline and tact,” Sarina told him, “and you don’t have either.”
“Says the woman who’s started more bar fights than a drunk chagari,” Tam grumbled. “Look, it will take us at least five days to get to Celenest on horseback, possibly a whole week. Your father could be gone by then for all we know.”
“There might be another way,” Selvhara whispered. She still looked pale, even more so than normal. “We also happen to know a Legion General.”
“Darius?” Jason asked. “I haven’t spoken with him in years. He does owe me a favor, though. More than one, actually, considering I saved his life.”
“Some of the Solarian soldiers were saying that he is currently in charge of the border forces at Garos and Isen. Garos is only a day away from here, and it has a portal to Celenest.”
“That’s a good point,” Jason said, nodding. “We could get to town the same time as dad.”
“Garos has a standing army of what, 20,000 soldiers and probably five hundred or so Bound?” Tam asked. “Yeah, walking through those gates is a great way to remain inconspicuous.”
“We’ll be fine. Darius knows my father, too—we all served together at Isen. He’ll want to help us.”
“Great,” Tam murmured. “Fine, we’ll do it your way, as always. I guess anything is better than staying here. But you get to be the one who tells Gor where we’re going—have fun with that.”
Sarina glanced around. “Where is he, anyway?”
“Helping the rebels build some new fortifications,” Selvhara said. “I’ll go and get him.”
“I need to ask you something first,” Jason said, touching her arm. “When I first mentioned demons in there, you seemed less surprised than everyone else. Why?”
The elysian flinched. Sarina wondered if Jason was already reading her mind; if so, they were going to need to break him of that habit very quickly. Some thoughts—most thoughts—were meant to stay private.
“I didn’t know he was alive, if that’s what you’re implying,” Selvhara murmured. “You know I would have told you that.”
“But you did know he was working with demons,” Jason prompted.
She grimaced and sat down on the edge of one of the bunks. “Before Tibel, both Tevek and I knew he was starting to dabble in demonology. I don’t know who was teaching him or how he learned it, but I…I knew what he was going to try to do with it. That was when I left him and came to find you.”
“You never mentioned that before.”
“He was dead by the time I tracked you down,” she replied defensively. “You never got along as it was. I didn’t want to sully your memory of him even more.”
Jason closed his eyes, his jaw visibly tightening. “And Tevek didn’t do anything about it, either?”
“I convinced him not to. We both regret that decision.”
“Yeah,” he muttered. “I bet you do.”
Sarina let the silence go stale before she decided to toss out another happy thought. “You realize all this means the attack on Tevek and Elade when they entered Lyebel was a setup. Your father was trying to kill them before they got here.”
“I thought about that too,” Tam said. “He must have figured they’d sniff him out if they got too close.”
“Dad hates Tevek,” Jason said flatly. “That was probably reason enough.”
“He doesn’t hate Tevek,” Selvhara insisted. “He’s never liked the Dawn; he always thought their principles were arcane and naïve. He disagreed with Tevek all the time, but he respected him as a potential ally. He wouldn’t try to kill him.”
“He would if he saw the knights as a threat to his plans, which they obviously were. That’s probably why he fled the city in the first place.”
“But they survived and nothing happened,” Tam pointed out. “By the sound of it, it was a tough fight but obviously not an unwinnable one—your dad doesn’t sound like the type to take a risk like that and not send enough heat to finish the job.”
Jason bit at his lip. “He also would have known they were coming in advance and been able to move his demons away. You may be right, but that means the attack had another purpose.”
“Getting the Solarians’ attention,” Sarina reasoned. “The moment they heard about a demonic attack they sent in reinforcements.”
“Yes, that’s exactly how Ethan thinks,” Selvhara agreed, nodding.
Sarina bit down on her lip in thought. “You said the knights were going to send Elade back to the Citadel, right?”
“Yes.”
“Were they going to escort her?”
Selvhara cocked an eyebrow and shrugged. “I don’t know. Lavonde doesn’t trust her, but he only has two other knights here with him. I doubt he’d want them to leave.”
Sarina looked to Jason and grinned. “Then I think we might want to convince our vaeyn friend to take a little detour with us before she heads home.”
“Huh?” Tam blurted out. “What are you talking about?”
“Finding dad in the middle of one of Torsia’s largest cities won’t be easy,” Jason said, smiling back at her. “But I’ll bet fifty bricks he’ll summon at least a few demons to help him once he arrives.”
“And who better to sniff out some demons than a Knight of the Last Dawn?” Sarina finished.
“That’s a great idea,” Tam said, “except for the fact it involves three Unbound channeling Aether right in the middle of the Alliance capital—four if you count Jason. Elade is already in trouble, and this ‘plan’ sounds like it could put your friend Krystia in an awkward position.”
“She’ll be fine, and this is the best plan we have,” Jason said. “Elade is also friends with General Iouna—he’ll definitely help us if she’s around.”
“She won’t go,” Selvhara murmured. “The only reason she surrendered to the knights in the first place is because they promised Tevek wouldn’t be dismissed for keeping her condition a secret. She won’t risk jeopardizing that pact.”
Jason frowned. “Do you believe them?”
The druid considered for a moment. “I don’t know. Lavonde gave her his word, but Tevek has told me about the rift Elade had torn in the order. Even good men can be blinded by prejudice.”
Tam snorted. “Typical. The gallant and courageous paladins who fight evil across the world want to demonize a woman for an accident of birth.”
“I’ll talk to this Lavonde and see if he’s lying,” Jason said, his eyes narrowing.
“And if he is?”
“Then I tell Elade and see how she responds,” Jason said. “I have a feeling the confrontation won’t end well for him.”
“There’s one other problem,” Sarina said. “Are we going to tell the other rebels what’s really going on here? Or the Solarians? You know she’ll want to.”
He grimaced visibly as he stood up. “I don’t know.”
“Adar may have lied to all these people, but that doesn’t mean we have to.”
“If the truth comes out, it will end any chance of a real insurrection in Galvia,” Jason said solemnly. “These people are fighting to get their country back. I’d rather not take that away from them.”
He turned on a heel and left the room, and for a moment no one spoke. Sarina stared at the doorway, and out of the corner of her eye she saw Selvhara shaking her head.
“That,” the druid whispered, “is exactly what your father would have said.”
Chapter Eight
“One day, my friend, you will learn to see the world as it is rather than how you wish it to be.”
—Ethan Moore to Tevek Dracian, 1997 AG
Sir Lavonde was sitting in his makeshift office shuffling through a pile of scrolls when Jason arrived. Elade was in a chair on the opposite side of the room with her eyes closed and legs crossed. She wasn’t shackled to the wall or stuff
ed behind bars or anything so dramatic, but her sword and armor were resting on the floor near the desk.
“Mr. Moore,” Lavonde said, glancing up from his reading. “I’d heard whispers you were finally up and about. How are you feeling?”
“Reasonably well, under the circumstances,” Jason replied evenly. Elade turned and smiled at him, and he offered her a fractional nod. “To be honest, I’m a bit surprised you didn’t rush in to check on me. Everyone else here is practically giddy at the prospect of witnessing the awakening of a new Ascendant.”
The knight chuckled softly. He appeared calm and collected, as if nothing Jason could say would possibly surprise him. “Let’s just say I have lingering doubts about the veracity of this so-called ‘divine spark.’”
“I see,” Jason whispered, glancing back to Elade. “And apparently you had more important issues to deal with.”
Lavonde smiled. Dealing with traitors is more important than hand-holding a few pissant rebels. “An internal matter, yes,” he said instead. “But I’m glad you’re up and about. I admit I didn’t expect you to recover for some time.”
Jason nodded distantly. Paladins, he knew, were taught an immense array of tricks to defend themselves against channelers. Their shields could repel almost any attack, from a bolt of lightning to the sharp edge of a sword, and they were typically able to block out mental intrusions of all kinds. But Selvhara had once explained to him that most of these techniques required substantial concentration, and right now Lavonde’s guard was down. If he played his cards right, Jason could keep it that way.
“Well, it turns out your skepticism has merit,” he said. “The artifact wasn’t what we thought it was. The details are a bit…esoteric, but suffice to say it wasn’t a divine spark. I haven’t Ascended.”
“The Solarian priests mentioned that you hadn’t developed any channeling ability,” Lavonde said. “I wasn’t surprised. The entire concept of finding a divine spark inside a tomb sounded like a drunken Asgardian’s fantasy.”
Jason forced a smile. He had only known this man for thirty seconds and already he wanted to punch him. Either Sarina was already rubbing off on him, or Malacross’s presence had made him especially edgy. “The rebels aren’t taking the news particularly well, but they’ll get over it eventually. That isn’t why I came here to speak with you, though.”
The knight studied him for a moment. You’re going to try and bargain for Elade’s freedom too, aren’t you? I wouldn’t waste your breath. “What’s on your mind?”
“My companions and I are leaving Lyebel soon. We have a lead on the source of the demons in the city, and I was hoping Dame Devarath could accompany us. We could use her expertise.”
Lavonde’s brow creased. “What lead is this?”
“The details are a bit rough,” Jason said, choosing his words carefully, “but we have good reason to believe the warlock responsible for the infestation has fled into Solaria. Unfortunately, he’s also very well connected, which means that the more people know we’re looking for him, the better the chance he’ll bury himself even further underground.”
The knight grunted. You don’t seriously expect me to fall for such a flimsy pretext, do you? “I’ve heard you’re an intelligent man, Mr. Moore. Surely you realize I’ll need more details than that.”
“I know, and I wish I could be more specific. But suffice to say I know this man well, and with Dame Devarath’s help I believe I can track him down before this infestation spirals out of control. I heard there was another attack on the Crell garrison just yesterday—we need to stop him before he attempts to do the same in Solaria.”
“I’m sorry, but what you ask is impossible,” Lavonde told him. “Dame Devarath has agreed to submit herself before the judgment of the Conclave for violations of Maeleon’s Code. Until her trial is over, she isn’t going anywhere.”
“Because she’s Unbound?” Jason asked.
The knight’s cheek twitched, if only just. Of course, the Highlord’s elysian concubine already spoke to you, didn’t she? “I’m afraid this situation doesn’t concern you, Mr. Moore. I’m sorry I cannot help you, but you’ll have to try and find this ‘warlock’ on your own.”
“I see,” Jason murmured. “Well, then I guess it’s a good thing I didn’t come here to ask you.” He turned towards Elade. “Come with us to Solaria. We need your help.”
The vaeyn’s blue eyes glimmered sympathetically, but she shook her head. “I can’t, Jason. I promised to go with them if they left Tevek out of this. I don’t want him to be punished for my mistake.”
“Being what you are isn’t a mistake. Besides, do you really think he’d want you to do this?”
“I won’t let him suffer because of me,” Elade told him firmly. “I’m the one who broke the Code, and they can exile me if they want. But he has to be left out of it.”
Jason turned to Lavonde. The man’s self-satisfied smile stretched from ear to ear. But behind his smug confidence, Jason could sense a well of simmering rage. If he could tap into it for just a moment…
“Isn’t your Code supposed to reward self-sacrifice?” he asked. “Why not just let her come with us for a few days? Or do you not trust her enough to return?”
Lavonde’s smile vanished. Imbecile. “It’s time for you to leave. I don’t wish to become…rude.”
“So you’re really going to let Tevek off the hook if she turns herself in?” Jason asked, stretching out with his mind…
Not a chance, Lavonde thought. The Conclave has suffered under his reckless leadership long enough. A few will sympathize with him, but in the end it won’t matter. They will both be stripped of rank and title and exiled.
“I have given her my word,” the man said.
“Ah,” Jason murmured. “And I suppose that’s all she needs from a fellow Knight of the Last Dawn.”
“A paladin does not break his word.”
“Then you’re not much of a paladin, are you?” Jason turned to face Elade. “He’s lying. The Conclave will exile Tevek whether or not you turn yourself in.”
“What?” Lavonde stammered, standing from his desk. “You would dare to question my honor?”
She frowned at him. “Jason…”
“I saw the truth in his mind,” Jason told her. “It’s not easy to lie to a telepath.”
Lavonde’s face instantly drained of color. His mind suddenly went dark as he erected his mental shields. “You’re not a telepath,” the man hissed. “You’re not anything.”
“I’m not an Ascendant,” Jason corrected. “Not like any you’ve ever met, at least. But I am carrying around the spirit of a true Immortal, and I can hear your thoughts as plainly as if you were screaming them across the hallway.”
Elade’s eyes narrowed, and he could feel her stretching out her mind to contact the other knights in the Conclave. After a few seconds, she stood from her seat and glared at Lavonde.
“The Conclave won’t answer me,” she said. “You are lying, aren’t you?”
Lavonde’s jaw trembled in barely controlled fury, and his knuckles curled around the edge of his desk. “You and Highlord Dracian have committed treason against Maeleon. Honor demands that you both be punished for your crimes.”
“Honor demands that a knight never break his word,” Elade reminded him. “You lied—you all lied. Why did I even trust you?”
“Because you actually believe in the Code,” Jason whispered. “The important parts, at least. He, on the other hand, is just a power hungry coward wearing a knight’s tabard.”
Even with Lavonde’s mental barriers up, Jason felt the knight’s abrupt surge of anger…but he wasn’t prepared for the speed or viciousness of the man’s response. A gauntlet flashed in front of Jason’s eyes and smashed into his face, and he collapsed to the floor in a dazed heap. By the time he managed to cry out in pain and clutch at his broken nose, he heard the unmistakable ringing of steel as a sword was drawn from its scabbard.
Lavonde loomed over him, weapon
at the ready, but his attention was no longer focused on Jason. Elade leapt up from her chair and pounced at the other knight, and he tried to subdue her with a quick smack from the flat of his blade.
He needn’t have bothered. With an impossibly agile flip, Elade vaulted up and over Lavonde’s assault and landed right next to her sabre. In a single, smooth motion she picked up the blade, flipped it about, and parried away the man’s follow up strike. Growling under his breath, Lavonde attacked again, this time with all the force a trained Knight of the Last Dawn could muster.
Their duel, if it even could be called that, was over in less than five seconds. Sparks showered the room as steel met steel, and Jason could barely make out what was happening in the dizzying blur of motion. But then Lavonde’s sword flipped harmlessly across the room, and an instant later Elade’s sabre was at his throat.
“First you lie, and then you strike an unarmed man,” she growled. “You just proved him right.”
“And you just doomed your friend,” Lavonde rasped between clenched teeth. “Highlord Dracian will never again lift his blade for what he’s done.”
“If this is what the order has come to represent, then I’m not sure he would want to.”
“He was mistaken to bring you to the Citadel, and he was foolish to teach a shadow knight our techniques. The Conclave was planning to banish you, but you’re far too dangerous to let free.”
“I am dangerous,” Elade told him, her voice so cold it sent a chill down Jason’s spine. “You should remember that.” She held her sabre in place for a few long seconds before finally stepping away. “I am leaving with Jason and his companions. We’re going to track down this warlock and end the infestation. Once the problem is dealt with, I will return to the Dawn Citadel. You have my word.”
Lavonde snorted. “The word of a dark elf heathen…”
“She’s not the one who just lied,” Jason murmured as he hauled himself to his feet. He kept a hand clutched to his nose to try and staunch the bleeding.
The Godswar Saga (Omnibus) Page 58
