Serpent Mage
Page 45
“They have heard his prayers, Maigrey. Words of repentance come from his lips, but not his heart. Sagan is filled with rage and resentment, doubts and questioning. He did not enter the church humbly, baring his bleeding soul to the healing light. He skulked into the church like a hurt animal, using it as a place to hide and lick his cuts. And consequently, the wounds have not healed, but fester and pain him still.”
“And whose fault is that?” Maigrey cried. “When he asked for forgiveness was there an answer? No, only silence.” She resumed her distraught pacing. “As for the covenant I made, I will break it. I must. That's what I came to tell them.” She paused. “Though I don't consider it truly broken, for I don't consider it truly made. It was a trick, a trick meant to keep me from helping Sagan. They only want their revenge, they want to see him suffer—”
“You're not being just, Maigrey,” Platus interrupted sternly. “You know that isn't true. Man brings his suffering on himself.
They grieve to see it, as they grieve to see your suffering, my sister. I grieve to see you bound to him. I sometimes think it would be best if you would leg go—”
“I can't!” Maigrey turned on him, her hand on the hilt of her sword. “I won't.”
“No, I know you can't. Nor should you.” Platus sighed. “Derek Sagan stands upon a precipice. Your hand is all that holds him back, keeps him from falling past redemption. You are the one bright star in his darkness. But now you must consider this, Maigrey—if you fall, what will happen to him?”
She was angry. Her lips parted to make a sharp retort.
Platus held his ground before her anger, did not return it. Once he, too, had been unable to let go.
Maigrey wavered, broke, lowered her defense.
Platus slid in past it. “The covenant was not a trick, sister. You knew when you made it that sincere repentance was his only hope. Together you walked the paths of darkness as the prophecy said. Now he must walk the path alone. You can light the way for him, but you can't lead him by the hand. He has to find the path to redemption himself.”
“Or lose it utterly,” Maigrey said, trembling. “And it's not fair!” Her fists clenched. “They slant the path downward, make it easy to fall, far more difficult to climb. They place temptation in his way. They did not show me this, when they urged me to make the covenant.
“And what of Dion?” she demanded before Platus could answer. “What about the danger he's in? Aren't you worried about him?”
“I have faith in Dion, Maigrey, to do what's right…”
“Implying that I don't have faith in Sagan!” she retorted bitterly.
“Do you?” Platus asked.
“Yes,” Maigrey answered, eyes gray as a storm-ridden sea. “I have faith in him. In them, I don't!” She pointed her gloved and armored hand at her brother. “And you can tell them that. And you can tell them something else. That if he falls, I go with him.”
“Maigrey—” he began, but she cut him off.
“Don't worry. I will keep the covenant, for the time being. I will not speak to Sagan or reveal my presence to him. But remind them of this, brother:—I made no such promise regarding Dion. And if I can help him …”
With a sharp, cold nod, she turned, the pale hair whipping about her like a fierce wind. Hand on the hilt of the bloodsword, she stalked away, the stamp of her booted feet striking like steel against the anvil through the vast vault of heaven.
“You may help Dion,” Platus said softly. “But who will help you?”
SERPENT MAGE
A Bantam Book
PUBLISHING HISTORY
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