“Stop!” I screamed. “Stop. Please stop. If I give you the stone, will you let everyone else live?”
I knew. Even then I knew there would be no letting me live.
Gadrith paused, letting the few strands of light fall between his fingers back to her body. “I’m not interested in them, young man. What you wear is all I desire. Their deaths are only meaningful if they will lead me to that purchase.”
I licked my lips. “Release me. Release me so I can give you what you want.”
Gadrith studied me, then motioned to Thurvishar. “Do it.”
Darzin walked back over and yanked me up to my feet. “Don’t try anything stupid,” he suggested as I felt Thurvishar’s marble binding fall away.
I yanked my arm from Darzin’s and slowly played with the fastenings of the necklace. I needed to buy time. I needed to delay things just long enough—
Gadrith formed his hand into a claw again over Miya. “I will count to three.”
I pulled the Stone of Shackles off my neck.
It was easy this time. I held it out to Gadrith. “It’s yours.”
Thurvishar shook his head and turned away as though he could not bear to watch.
Gadrith’s fingers trembled as he walked away from my mother and claimed the gemstone. “You’re brave,” he said. His voice was flat, and I couldn’t tell if the emotion he was expressing was sarcasm or sincerity.
He fastened the Stone of Shackles around his neck.
The room was quiet. I couldn’t hear the sounds of sobbing although I knew the dead were being mourned. Still, everyone seemed to be holding their breath, as if waiting to see if Gadrith would break his word.
“Well?” Darzin asked.
Gadrith put his hand to his neck and smiled. “It’s everything I’ve always wanted.”
Then he waved his hand. “Bring Kihrin. Leave the others.” He turned and walked from the room, his undead falling in behind him.
And that’s the end of my story.
I lost. You all won.
And we all know what happens next.
78: THE LIGHTHOUSE AT SHADRAG GOR
(Talon’s story)
That’s it? That’s where you’re leaving off?
Oh Kihrin, I never protested that you didn’t fill in the gaps while you were a slave on board The Misery, but you can’t just leave the story there.
Very well. I suppose I started all this, it’s only fair I finish it.
* * *
Kihrin made the barest of token protests as Thurvishar D’Lorus took him by the arm. He moved with the slowness of one drugged or injured, but then he looked at the wizard.
“It would have been better if I’d given you that stone years ago, wouldn’t it—before I was kidnapped?” His voice was dull and black.
“Probably,” Thurvishar agreed. “I can’t claim to know for certain.”
“Where are we going? Ol’ Pedron’s summoning chamber down in the crypts?” Kihrin hadn’t forgotten certain conversations overheard in years gone by.
“Not yet,” Thurvishar said. The wizard paused and stared at a section of wall that glowed with spiraling runes of rainbow colors. The wall faded, grew misty, and then Kihrin could see beyond into a giant chamber of rough, natural stone with large shuttered windows. The new room was lit by mage-light. It could have been anywhere.
“Hold on,” Talon said. She looked like Talea (although more accurately, she looked like Morea). “I’m coming with you.”
Thurvishar scowled at the mimic. “Would you mind looking like someone else?”
She shrugged and changed into Lyrilyn’s form. “Where is Talea, anyway?”
“Safe and a long way from you,” Thurvishar answered. “I’m not inclined to let you collect the whole set. Where have you been?”
“Pretending to be the High Lord in case anyone showed up asking questions. Don’t worry, I’ll go back to sentry duty once we’re finished.” She gave Kihrin a wink before returning her attention to Thurvishar. “Shall we?”
He blocked her way. “Your skills aren’t needed here.”
She smiled. “Ah, ducky, don’t be like that. Besides, someone needs to be the dear child’s jailer while you and Gadrith are busy preparing your little spells. Would you rather it be Darzin? I don’t think that would work out.”
Thurvishar studied her. “Fine. Go.”
He held open the magical gateway until the others were through.
They arrived inside a thick stone tower, with walls that slanted inward. A strange noise came from outside—a low thrumming hum. Thurvishar banished the gate. He paused, and frowned as he looked around. He kept wards here to tell if the lighthouse defenses had been breached. Those wards had been triggered. Someone had been here and then left again.
He would mention it to Gadrith later, but only if he was asked.
“Something wrong?” Talon asked.
Thurvishar shook his head. “Nothing that concerns you. Bring him upstairs,” Thurvishar said, “and be careful. He’s thinking of running.”
Kihrin threw Thurvishar a shocked glance. “How—?”
Talon raised an eyebrow. “How indeed?”
“Never mind that,” Thurvishar said. “Bring him along.”
Talon reached for Kihrin; he shook her off. “Don’t touch me,” he snarled.
“Aw, ducky, you’ll hurt my feelings,” she told him.
“Good.” Kihrin turned back to Thurvishar. “This won’t work, you know. I brought friends with me. They’ll find us.”
Thurvishar motioned for Kihrin to follow up a set of winding stairs around the edge of the tower. “Yes, I know. Teraeth and Tyentso. Actually Teraeth and Raverí D’Lorus, which will be a fascinating reunion when Gadrith finds out.” He shrugged. “I’m sorry, but they won’t make it here in time.”
“You sound awfully certain,” Kihrin said.
“I am.” Thurvishar unlocked an iron door nestled under the landing between one stairway and the next. He opened it for Kihrin. “You’ll stay here until we need you. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry it worked out this way.”
Kihrin looked inside. It was a jail cell, and not a huge one, although it seemed cleaner than most of its ilk. “Why are you so certain?”
“This is Shadrag Gor,” Talon said, wonder and awe in her voice. “This is the Lighthouse at Shadrag Gor. I thought this place was a myth. Is it really outside of time?”
Thurvishar ignored her question. “Don’t kill him. Don’t hurt him. Don’t eat him. I don’t have to spell out the consequences if you have a lapse in judgment, do I?”
Talon shrugged. “I know why you want him. Gadrith didn’t kill all Darzin’s family. You can always use someone else—”
She made a gurgling sound as a green energy field arched out of Thurvishar’s hands and pushed her form to the wall, pushed so hard that her body deformed and pulsed. Talon tried to shift, but the field of energy conformed to her every shape and edge, so she was the one forced to accommodate it.
“I’ve had time to research dealing with you,” Thurvishar said. “I took advantage. Do as you are told or I will destroy you. Understood?”