“How would you make yourself useful to me?” Finn asked cautiously. While his company was preferable to Fiona’s, every instinct Finn had screamed that this man was dangerous.
“Yasney and Kaverax for starters. I would introduce you to your most formidable of defenses. It is best that you know them well and if you treat them better than the Dark lady did, then I’m sure they will prove themselves quite loyal,” Seth replied smoothly.
“He isn’t ready for that yet. He needs to finish his lessons,” Fiona objected coldly. “If you continue to interfere, I will make you regret it, Seth,” she added in warning.
“Empty threats, harpy,” Seth said with a wicked smile and turned his attention back to Finn. “Allow me to help you, Lord Death,” he implored and bowed once more.
“Why do you want to help so badly?” Finn asked with a raised eyebrow. “What do you gain from it?”
“My continued comfort in death, of course, Milord. I ask only that I be allowed to make myself useful to you so that I may continue to enjoy the benefits of my job.” Seth spoke with such humility and subservience that Finn had to smile.
“So which of you inherits my power?” Finn asked, his smile still in place. He watched Seth’s expression for any sign of guilt as he spoke, but the man simply looked shocked.
“Milord?” Seth gasped his tone filled with disbelief. “I’m afraid I don’t understand at all what you mean.” Seth’s eyes were wide and filled with such innocence that for a breath Finn believed he had truly misjudged the man, until he saw the approving nod from Fiona.
“I mean, when you take me outside of the citadel to introduce me to the most formidable of my defenses, who inherits my power? You, or the dragons that rip me apart?” Finn explained, his gaze still locked on the slender man.
Seth let out a long breath and stood straighter, letting his feathered cloak fall back over his worn leather armor. His face lost all expression for a span of breaths and then slowly he smiled again and there was genuine amusement in the expression rather than simple flattering charm. He shrugged slowly and clicked his tongue against his teeth. “Me, if I happened to be fast enough. Which I usually am, though I’m sure as far as the dragons are concerned it would be them gaining your power. They are rather greedy for power you know, but then most dragons are.”
“And now?” Finn asked, wondering what the man would do, knowing that his plan wasn’t going to work.
“And now, I’m going to ask how I may serve you while you continue your training,” Seth replied with a sigh. “You can’t really blame me for trying, though,” he added with a grin.
Finn returned the smile and shook his head. “I don’t blame you at all. I would have tried in your place, I think,” he agreed.
“If I might make a suggestion, Milord, for my first order?” Seth prompted and watched Finn with a hopeful expression.
“Does it involve feeding me to anything else?” Finn asked.
Shaking his head, Seth smiled again and waved a hand toward Finn. “It involves finding more appropriate clothing for the Lord of Death. Honestly, the threads you wear now would be cast off by most beggars.”
Finn frowned and gazed down at his ragged clothing. Fiona had brought the scraps of clothes for him and it was either wear the rags or go naked. The shirt was badly stained and made of such a poor quality material he wouldn’t have wiped his horse down with it had he still be among the living. The pants were in even worse condition and the boots were so tattered he was amazed they held together each time he put them on. “Please do, and hurry about it. I think Fiona finds some sick amusement from seeing me dressed thus,” Finn said with a firm nod.
“It was an attempt to teach you humility and remind you that your former life no longer has any bearings upon you. The dead do not care what you wear, Finn Sovaesh,” Fiona snapped.
Finn smirked and pointed a finger at Seth with a raised eyebrow. “He apparently does, Fiona.”
“He does not count. He is simply trying to gain favor with you by pandering to your earlier vices,” Fiona shot back and glared at Seth as if her expression alone could dismiss him.
“On the contrary, Fiona. The recently deceased do, in fact, still notice details as trivial as clothing and I’m sure Lord Death will be dealing with the recently dead very soon. He will have to. The line of spirits already extends well past the city. Ignore them much longer and many will become lost souls, Milord,” Seth said smoothly, his eyes twinkling at Fiona’s anger.
“Then I suggest we return to your lessons, Milord, and stop wasting time with this one,” Fiona snapped and turned her back on Seth completely as she set her withering gaze on Finn.
“Go, Seth, and bring me proper clothing when you return. Fiona is right. I do need my practice,” Finn said with a heavy sigh as he turned back to the table once more and pulled on the magic. Carefully he began to pull the fragments back together, but couldn’t help smiling as he heard the sound of wings behind him. Even if he wasn’t trustworthy and Fiona apparently hated him, there was no doubt in Finn’s mind that Seth would prove useful and entertaining.
Chapter 19
Kithvaryn
Warm arms wrapped around her and Jala sighed in contentment. Her eyes still closed, she nuzzled closer to the warmth and smiled. “Finn,” she breathed. All of her frustration and pain melted away with the strength of his arms. “I had the most horrible dream,” she mumbled as a wave of icy wind brushed across her face.
“I’m not Finn, Jala, and it’s not a dream.” Sovann’s voice shattered the fragile illusion her dreams had built and Jala’s eyes snapped open.