A cheer arose from the corner where a Gifted had singed a mustache and bushy eyebrows on Tomar’s image. Mara shook her head. “I don’t understand why he’ll still coming. Bridgette is dead, and there’s no love for him here.”
“Do you really think that matters to him? Besides, it’s customary to wait a month before announcing the new Warlord. The Rei probably hasn’t heard.”
“Someone should send an Avem.”
“Do you really think that would stop him? If anything, it might encourage him. Wynn might have set a record with how long she’s stayed alive so far, but she has a small following and a tenuous foothold. Tomar would see her as an easy target.”
Groaning, Mara rested her head on the table. “Why did we leave Mikkal and the newly Gifted in Merrowhaven? With them at our side, Tomar would think twice about challenging Wynn.”
“They weren’t ready,” Ethan said. “Besides, it would take weeks for them to make the journey here.”
“I know that.” She raised her head high enough to glare at him, throwing her hands up in exasperation. “I still think we should send a message to Tomar and let him know that we have his son. He deserves to know.”
Ethan gave her a grim smile. “Think about what you just said. You’ve met the Rei. Do you think there’s any way he wouldn’t misinterpret that?”
“That’s a good point.” Mara pursed her lips. “But I still think he would listen to reason if he would just listen to us. He might be a terrible person, but everything he’s done, he’s done for his family. How many could say the same?”
His eyes softened, and he reached out to hold her hand beneath the table. “You think the best of people, even when they show you the worst.”
“I have to, otherwise what’s the point of all this?”
“Do you think we’ll avoid bloodshed?”
Could they? Mara glanced around the room at the battle-hardened Gifted. Now that they’d had a taste of victory, hoping that they’d resolve the coming conflict peacefully seemed impossible. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I don’t know, but we’re about to find out.”
24
They didn’t have to wait long. The next day, a winded scout hurtled into the fortress with the news—Tomar’s army had been spotted twenty miles south and riding fast. Hours later, Wynn, Mara, Ethan, and Alex stood on top of the fortress, watching as the riders came into view. Wynn had abandoned her ratty travel attire and now wore something that looked vaguely like armor but without the benefit of protection. The leather tunic hugged her thin frame without restricting her movement and she wore leather bracers on her forearms. It was like she was taunting everyone around her to attack her, but she was confident enough that they wouldn’t touch her. Small throwing knives were strapped to her arms, and she wore her dirks at each hip. A special pocket had been sewn into her trousers to conceal the double-bladed knife that Mara had given her in Oxrest. Even more daggers were strapped to her thighs and ankles.
To Mara, it seemed like overkill—who needed that many knives? —but to the Lingatians, she might as well have been unarmed.
Her stomach dropped at the sight of the riders crossing the barren plane. Tomar had clearly conquered many clans to the south. Remembering how Bridgette had treated her people, Mara wondered if Tomar had needed to do much fighting, or if the clans had joined him willingly. Either way, Tomar was here, and he was out for blood.
Still, they had the moat for protection. Ethan had seemed confident that no one could breech the walls without losing a substantial number of troops. She couldn’t imagine that Tomar would be reckless enough to try. They just had to hold them off long enough to explain.
One of the Tuir Gifted who had chosen to support Wynn stepped forward, pressing a fist to his chest. “Warlord, what are your orders? We can easily defend from the south. If they split their forces, they might take the Aonach Neart first and fight their way in like the Order dogs. These Kerani savages aren’t above murdering women and children.”
A smile crept onto Wynn’s face. “We let them in, of course.”
As one, their heads whipped to her. Mara couldn’t tell her what a bad idea that was if she’d had all day to do it. “Are you out of your—”
Ethan cut her off with a warning glare and Mara snapped her mouth shut. They couldn’t undermine her authority in front of her people, not when her claim as Warlord was so tenuous.
The Gifted’s eyes volleyed between them as if he wasn’t sure who to look at. “Warlord?”
“Tomar isn’t aware that there’s been a change in management. We don’t have enough people to meet him in the field for battle, and there isn’t enough time to summon the clans to the north. Somehow I don’t think Bridgette’s corpse would be enough to turn him back.”
“Nothing will stop him until he has his son back,” Mara murmured.
“Exactly. We’ll invite him inside to discuss terms.”
“And if he turns on us?”
Wynn shrugged. “We have his son.”
Mara reared back. “If we use Tamil as a hostage, we’re no better than Cadmus.”
“Ye’re not the only one who loves that boy, Mara, so ya can stop looking at me like I’m a monster. I can’t risk the lives of thousands of people for one child. If Tomar fights his way through the Aonach Neart, he could kill them all, or he could take them as captives to sell. With Tamil as leverage, we can avoid bloodshed.” She turned to the Gifted and said, “Bring Tomar inside with as many Gifted as he wants to keep his pampered arse safe. We’ll meet with him and offer two choices—he takes his son and leaves, or he stays, and I’ll be happy to fight him. I still owe him payback for what happened in Kearar.”
Mara said fervently, “He’s a Venelo. You’ve seen what Tamil can do, and Tomar has years more experience.”
“I’ve got a score to settle with him. He took us captive and sold us as slaves in Kearar. If he wants to leave without fighting, fine. But if he decides to attack, I won’t hold back.” She smiled and punched her on the arm. “Don’t ya worry about me, Mara.”
Mara wanted to argue, but Ethan met her gaze and gave her the smallest shake of the head. He wanted her to drop it and trust Wynn, but how could she, when Wynn was about to let a viper into their den?
Mara didn’t miss it when Ethan brushed his hand against Wynn’s then stiffened, his eyes going wide with horror.
“What is it?” she hissed when Wynn was out of earshot.
Ethan tracked Wynn’s retreating form into the bowels of the fortress. He swallowed. “Wynn can’t be allowed to face Tomar. If she does, she’ll die.”
Four hours later, Tomar was escorted into the throne room. Wynn sprawled in her chair, picking under her fingernails with a tiny dagger. Ethan and Mara flanked her chair, exchanging a long look. Mara kept replaying Ethan’s words. How was she supposed to prevent this from turning into a fight? Tomar was a coiled serpent, just waiting for the right moment to strike. And Wynn was equally as hot-headed. Throwing them in the same room together was an explosion waiting to happen.
Mara took a moment to assess Tomar. He stomped inside as if he owned the place, scowling at the dim lighting and sparse décor like it was a personal offense. He wore a light blue suvali that was adorned with thousands of golden beads. He must have added them as he conquered his way north. Tomar’s focus went immediately to Wynn, and his face went blank, as if she looked familiar but he couldn’t place her. “Who are you? Where is the Warlord?”
Wynn didn’t bother to greet him properly. “Don’t ya recognize me?”
Tomar frowned, his sly eyes shifting from Wynn to Ethan, then Mara. His head jerked back. “Mara. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Mara inclined her head. Someone had to show a modicum of diplomacy around here. “Rei. A pleasure to see you again.”
Then his eyes flickered to Ethan. “You!” Understanding flashed across his expression, and his gaze returned to Mara. “He brought you here after he purchased you?”
Ethan stiffened, and Mara rushed to explain. “No, he let us go and we weren’t reunited until sometime later. It’s a long story.”
“I don’t have time for long stories. I’m here to challenge the Warlord. Where is she?”
“Ye’re looking at her. If ya were expecting Bridgette, I think they chucked her body into the moat out front. Doubt there’s much more than ash left for ya, but ye’re welcome to try.”
Tomar pulled himself up to full height. “Fine. I challenge you.”
“If ya insist, but maybe ya should hear my offer first.”
“There’s no offer that could possibly tempt me.”
Wynn gave him a lazy smile. “Not even yer son?”
Tomar froze and his face transformed into a sneer. “My son? What do you know of him?”
“I know ya abandoned that boy.”
“He’s the entire reason why I’m here. I’m going to tear the Order apart and claim him, but to do that, I need the support of the clans.”
“Ye’re nothing but a coward.”
Tomar went deathly still. His voice was a whisper, and yet it was far more threatening than if he’d shouted. “What. Did. You. Call. Me?”
“A coward,” Wynn said, enunciating each word. “If ya were so bent on keeping yer son safe, ya should have put up more of a fight when Cadmus took him from ya. Instead, ya let him steal yer son, and ya started selling yer own people to get him back. Makes me wonder what was more important to ya—yer son or keeping yer place as Rei. Seems to me that a decent man would have fought to his dying breath to protect his kin.”
“How dare you?”
“Even now, ye’re too scared of Cadmus to challenge him directly. Ya had to go and conquer my land first. Seems weak to go begging.”
Pale with fury, Tomar stepped forward, the tell-tale glow of poison appearing in his hands. Wynn leaned forward, eager for a fight. Mara waited for her to tell him that Tamil was here, but she said nothing. Maybe she hadn’t planned on offering the alternative at all. Maybe she was too thirsty for revenge. But if Wynn fought Tomar, she would lose. Ethan had predicted it. And she would be forced to watch her friend die unless she did something to diffuse the situation.
Mara stepped in front of Wynn, hands up. She plastered on a smile. “We have your son.”
Tomar stopped and tilted his head to the side.
Emboldened by him stopping, Mara rushed to explain. “Tamil is here. We—”
His face hardened. “You’re holding him hostage?”
“No, we—”
“If you think you can use his life against me, you’re wrong.” He slithered forward, and the poison coiled around his fingers like snakes. Mara paled when she realized that Tamil’s control of his Gift was nothing compared to the mastery before her. Tomar’s eyes gleamed. “I will slaughter you all and bathe in your blood. I will dig through your bones and tear this fortress apart until I find him!”
Quicker than Mara could react, Tomar flung the poison directly at her. She could only watch, stunned, as the droplets flew through the air. She should have flung up a shield, but she was reeling from his reaction. How had he misinterpreted her so quickly? She closed her eyes and braced herself for the poison to hit her.
But it never came.
Her eyes flew open at the sound of a choked gasp. Ethan stood before her, arms outstretched as if he could shield her. He wasn’t moving. “Ethan?”
No. She stepped around him, her eyes going wide at the sight. His eyes were bulging. The droplets sizzled on his skin where they’d hit him, eating through his clothes and into his skin. He gasped and clutched his throat, his face turning red. He dropped to his knees.
“Ethan!” Mara ran to his side and fell to the ground beside him.
This couldn’t be happening. He’d sacrificed himself to save her, but now she had no way of saving him. She could only watch, helpless, as the life drained from his eyes. Those eyes, which had looked at her with nothing but love, were now pinned to a point above her head as he struggled for breath. Her hands hovered above him, desperately wanting to touch him but couldn’t for fear of being poisoned herself. Ethan’s lips worked, but no sound came out. Mara covered her mouth with her hands and choked on a sob.
He was going to die.
She couldn’t let it happen. “Tamil!” she screamed.
Tomar jerked as if someone had struck him. In the deep recesses of her mind Mara knew that turning her back on Tomar was a terrible idea but she couldn’t bring herself to care. It didn’t matter if Tomar killed them all. If Ethan died, she would tear him to shreds with her bare hands as the poison claimed her, too.
Tamil rushed out of the small annex where he’d been waiting for a joyful reunion with his father. He dropped to his knees beside her.
“Save him.” Her breath hitched in her throat, caught somewhere between a scream and a sob. Ethan’s skin purpled. “No. Please, no . . .”
Without hesitation, Tamil scooped a finger-full of poison from Ethan’s arm and absorbed it into his skin. “This isn’t a poison I’m familiar with . . .”
“Please, please, please.” She could do nothing but chant the words as Ethan slipped away.
Bracing himself, Tamil drew more into his body and cycled it. Mara bit down on her hand. Too much time had passed. He wouldn’t be able to create the antidote in time. Tamil’s own skin boiled and peeled as the poison took effect. He hissed at the pain which was no doubt excruciating. She couldn’t imagine the agony, but she wouldn’t tell him to stop.
Maybe it was selfish of her, but he couldn’t stop.
“Mara . . .” Wynn hovered over her shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t.” Her voice was barely human. “Don’t you dare. You should have just told him Tamil was waiting for him when he came in. If Ethan dies, I’ll never forgive you.”
Ethan’s eyes fluttered closed.
“No! Don’t you dare leave me!” Mara threw herself on his chest. Tears flowed unrestricted down her face. “I can’t do this without you.”
She hadn’t even had a chance to tell him how she felt. She’d been too scared to admit to herself.
She loved him.
Her nails dug into his tunic as she clutched him tighter, too afraid to let him go. Too afraid to discover he was dead, and she was alone.
Tamil gasped. A water-like liquid pooled in his hands. “Quick! Lift up his head and open his mouth.”
“What?” Mara blinked through her tears.
“Now!”
She didn’t waste time with questions. She gently lifted Ethan’s head, supporting his shoulders on her lap. He was so limp. She pinched open his mouth and Tamil poured the antidote down his throat. Mara gently massaged his throat, encouraging him to swallow. Was it just a muscle reflex, or had he actually swallowed it?
“You need to take some too.” Tamil pointed to her arms and chest. She glanced down to see smears of the poison eating through her tunic from where she’d touched Ethan.
Obediently, she opened her mouth and swallowed the antidote, but her eyes stayed glued to Ethan’s face. What if they’d been too late? She couldn’t bear to hope. Not when there was a chance he wouldn’t recover. The seconds passed like centuries as she held her breath and waited for a sign.
Ethan’s eyes snapped open and he took a ragged breath. Tamil waved his hand over Ethan’s body and lifted the remaining poison from his skin and clothing.
Mara threw herself on him, joy breaking through the terror. Then, she pressed her lips to his, not caring who was watching. All that mattered was he was alive.
“If I had known that near-death experiences would affect you like this, I would have tried them long ago.”
A laugh broke through her sobs and she kissed him again before yanking Tamil down into a hug. She clutched Tamil’s face between her hands and pressed her forehead against his. “Thank you for saving him.”
Ethan dipped his head in gratitude. “I owe you a life debt.”
Tomar stared at his son intent
ly, as if he thought Tamil would disappear if he blinked. Mara smiled at Tamil and tilted her head. Without waiting for an invitation, Tamil launched himself into his father’s arms. Tomar lifted him off the floor and swung him around in a circle.
Mara heart swelled as she watched their reunion.
Stone-faced, Wynn marched over to Tomar who’s face had split into the widest grin Mara had ever seen. “Ya attacked my friend in my home. There will be retribution.”
Tomar set Tamil on the floor and pushed him behind his back. “Shall we settle this now? Just the two of us.”
“Stop! Both of you. Hasn’t there been enough fighting?” Mara jumped to her feet. She reached down and helped Ethan stand. He leaned against her, legs trembling. “Tomar, you have your son now. Why would you continue to fight?”
“I—” Tomar shut his mouth and frowned.
“Instead of killing each other, why not work together?”
Wynn growled, “He sold us as slaves. He almost killed Ethan.”
“I know, and nothing will justify that, but his motivations were sound. Could you honestly say you wouldn’t do the same or worse to save someone you loved?”
Ethan cleared his throat. “It’s time to move past this. Tomar, we have the same goals. We both want to destroy Cadmus and the Order, and we won’t be able to do that if we’re too busy massacring each other. You’re playing into his plan. All Cadmus has to do is sit back and wait for us to weaken ourselves so he can swoop in for an easy victory.”
Tomar’s lips pulled back in an arrogant sneer. “Why do you think I would help you? I have what I came for, and now it’s time for me to go home. The only reason I marched north was to save my son. Now that he’s safe, why should I risk my Gifted to fight your battles?”
“Because that’s what Tamil would want you to do.” Mara smiled at her young friend. “One day, Tamil will be Rei. Would you want him to make the same choices you’ve made? Do you want him to live under the Order’s thumb the rest of his life?”
Tamil looked up at his father, his brown eyes pleading, and said softly in Kerani, “Ada, pr’tava. Kas ik raken. Indsa veka maat atra kan.”
The Dreg Trilogy Omnibus Page 88