“No.”
“It’s because we’re told how to act. How to be. Those with a more liberal agenda can’t understand what it means to be marginalized, to have the ways of others forced upon us. You have magic? Fine. Here’s how you need to act. Here’s how you need to practice. Here’s what you can and cannot do. And there are so many more of us that reject that false narrative, that don’t believe we’re to be regimented and defined by what we’re capable of. We’ve lurked in the shadows, waiting for our time to rise.” He looked up at Kevin, then back at me. “And there will be a cornerstone, a person who will keep you from reaching your true potential. And you must love them. You must cherish them. You must put them above all others, and gods help you if they should reject you. Betray you. Die. Do you know what happens to the mind of a wizard who loses his cornerstone, Sam?”
I had an idea. I had the evidence right in front of me.
“It breaks. It tears. There is nothing that can prepare you for loss, Sam, not of this magnitude. Whether it be death or the act of betrayal, it hurts. It wasn’t a quick process, no. Even before I revealed myself, I could feel the bond between Randall and myself fraying. I loved him, Sam. I hope you understand that. If you read my Grimoire, then you should have seen just how much I loved him.”
“But you loved magic more.”
He flinched and tried to hide it, but I saw it for what it was. Shame. “It wasn’t about loving something more than him. It was about becoming free from the constraints placed upon me.”
“And what if he’d said yes to you?” I asked, suddenly curious. “What if he’d decided to join you? He’d still have been your cornerstone. You still would have depended on him.”
He smiled grimly. “I guess we’ll never find out, will we?”
No, we wouldn’t. Because Myrin wasn’t even half the wizard that Randall was. And he never would be. “You were cast in shadow then.”
“I was. And I learned things that this world could not have taught me. That there is no one to depend upon but myself. That I control my destiny. Not the gods. Not a prophecy. And certainly not a child who was supposed to be my antithesis.”
I grinned at him. “Funny, then, how this all turned out.”
“Oh, it is. And soon you will see exactly why.”
Well, that was ominous. There wasn’t a very good chance he meant funny ha-ha like I did. “Well, you monologued, I told you I read your diary, and now we are totally on the same page, so maybe we should—”
“I believe you.”
I arched an eyebrow at him. “Come again?”
He stared intently at me. “I believe you. That you’ve forsaken the people of Verania. That you’ve embraced the darkness. I can see it in your eyes. I can feel your fury. Some of it is still directed at me, but it’s… more than that now. It’s not like it was in Mashallaha. Or even in that house with Morgan. Your time away changed you in ways Randall and Morgan could not.”
“Good,” I said, relieved. “I’m so glad you believe me. Now, let’s go do Dark wizard things, just you and me. I don’t want there to be anyone… overhearing us, if you know what I mean.” I glanced pointedly at Ruv, who scowled at me.
“Of course,” Myrin said. “There’s just one more thing.”
Uh-oh. “Oh. Well. If you insist.”
“I’m afraid that I must.”
“You’re the boss, so. Whatever’s clever.”
“There’s still the matter of your cornerstone.”
“What about him?”
“You’re tied to him, Sam. As long as he draws breath, you cannot move forward. The bond must be broken. The prophecy must be fulfilled.”
“Oh yeah. That. Dude, I totally get what you’re saying. And if it makes you feel any better about this whole situation, I’ve already told him that we’re breaking up because he really doesn’t do it for me anymore. You know what they say—once you go dragon, all the rest is laggin’.”
Kevin snorted. “I knew it! I mean, whatever you say, Master.” Then, out the side of his mouth, “But I knew it.”
Myrin squinted at me. “You went… dragon?”
I shrugged. “Eh. Something had to happen. I mean, I was in the woods for a long time, you know?”
I’d never seen so many people look disgusted in my direction all at once. It was really remarkable.
“Be that as it may,” Myrin said slowly, “I don’t think we need any more… details on your extracurricular activities.”
“I respect that. So, we were on our way to being by ourselves so we could—”
“Your cornerstone, Sam.”
“Right,” I said hastily. “That. No worries. Like I said, I already betrayed him, so I’m pretty sure that bond is on its way to breaking. I mean, oh no! Everything hurts because he’s my cornerstone and it sucks and I’m feeling a little crazy and stuff.”
Myrin looked amused again. I was quickly discovering I didn’t like that expression on him. “Yes, I’m sure. I can see you splitting right down the middle. However, it’s not enough. Think of it as a test to prove your loyalty to me.”
The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. “My loyalty?”
“Yes, Sam. Your loyalty. You come here spouting these pretty things about forsaking your people and expressing a desire to join me, even though I gave you that chance once already back in Mashallaha, which you firmly rejected.”
“Right?” I said. “Sorry about that. I guess it was… shocking, wasn’t it?”
Gary snorted while still pretending to be knocked out. It was quite the feat.
“It was,” he said. “Which is why I won’t make that mistake again. Regarding Ryan Foxheart—”
“He means nothing to me.”
“No? Then your task will be a simple one.”
Shit.
Myrin the Bright Star smiled a terrible smile and said, “You must kill your cornerstone.”
There was a beat of silence, and then Tiggy and Gary exploded, struggling in Kevin’s grip. “No!” Gary bellowed. “Who the fuck do you think you are? You listen to me, you little bitch. I am going to gut you. Kevin! Set me down! It’s time to end this, Unicorn Style!”
“Sam!” Tiggy cried. “No, Sam. Bad, it’s bad!”
Kevin didn’t let them go, even when Gary’s horn began shooting rainbows and glitter. It bounced off the dragon’s chest, his blood keeping Gary’s magic from harming him.
Ryan stared down at me, jaw clenched.
I looked away.
“You speak pretty words I wish to hear,” Myrin said gently. “And they show me just how much we have in common. You’ve read my Grimoire. You know the lengths to which I’d go to make my vision of a glorious future come true. What I’ve given up. How those close to me chose to lock me away as the shadows tore down my mind and rebuilt me from the ground up. I won’t make you go through that, Sam. You are powerful, yes. I have great respect for you. But even one such as you must do what is necessary in order to realize your full potential.”
“Kevin,” I said through gritted teeth, “set Ryan down.”
“Kevin! You do that and I will never forgive you!” Gary snarled. “Sam, what the fuck is wrong with you? You can’t be seriously considering this?”
“Is Sam a Bad Sam now?” Tiggy asked tearfully.
“No,” Gary retorted. “This is just a game, right? A trick. He’s fooling. He won’t—Kevin, why the hell are you doing this?”
“Because Sam told me to,” Kevin growled. “And I must obey.”
“But we were—he doesn’t control—Ryan! Run! Run, godsdamn you!”
But Ryan stood there, just out of reach. His eyes were narrowed and his jaw tensed, but he stood tall and proud, left hand in a fist at his side, his sword in his right. His armor shone brightly in the sun. I’d never seen him look more handsome. Even as the Dark wizards began to yell insults, jeering wildly, he never looked away from me.
“So, this is it,” he said.
“Yes,” I said. “I suppose it is.”
“I always knew you’d be the death of me.”
I smiled faintly. “What can I say? The gods wished it so. I’m—”
“Enough,” Myrin said. “No more discussion. Sam. Do it now, or I shall do it for you. Either way, Knight Commander Ryan Foxheart will die.”
I nodded tightly.
Ryan never looked away.
I worry.