54: THE PROBLEM WITH TRUST

Jorat Dominion, Quuros Empire. Three days since Kihrin had a realistic sense of the odds

Before anyone else could say a word, Thurvishar reopened the gate behind him. This time, the point of view was much higher up over Atrine. Someone cursed as the portal framed a nightmare scene.

Urthaenriel’s edge left Relos Var’s neck; Kihrin couldn’t stop himself from staring. The night sky through the portal was lightening gradually—they had been up all night—but Atrine itself glowed with mage-light and fire. The flickering light highlighted the edges of a colossal shape, as it demolished a section of the white quartz wall surrounding the city. Screams echoed, audible even from this side of the gate.

If the scale hadn’t deceived him—and Kihrin didn’t think it had—then Morios towered in comparison to Aeyan’arric. Morios even dwarfed the other dragon Kihrin had seen: Sharanakal. Morios was gargantuan. And once the light hit the dragon’s scales just right—

“Are those—are those swords? Are those dragon’s scales swords?” Kihrin glanced over at Janel. “Why didn’t anyone mention the dragon is covered with swords?”

Thurvishar shook his head. “They’re not really swords, but they’re just as sharp and lethal. But it’s not just on the surface—Morios is metal all the way through.”

“How do you kill a dragon made from metal?” Ninavis muttered.

The dragon smashed a tower of the duke’s palace.¹ Pieces of stone flew, some hurtling straight at the open portal. Thurvishar waved a hand to close the gate, but several chunks of stone made it through. Janel and Kihrin both ducked to the side as one of the missiles slammed into the bar where they’d been standing, smashing paneling to kindling.

Relos Var turned to Kihrin. “Now can we talk?”

Kihrin’s sword wavered in his hands.

He lowered Urthaenriel.

“Everyone stand down,” Ninavis called out.

Kihrin turned to Relos Var. “Explain how this is supposed to happen, us working together here. Explain it to me like I’m hearing it for the first time.”

Kihrin knew cons. He knew scams. His adoptive mother, Ola, had been fond of them. So he wanted to see if Relos Var’s story would change from what he’d told the others; he also wanted to see how the story didn’t change.

Relos Var pressed his lips together. “The only way you can permanently destroy a dragon—much as the only way you can permanently destroy their corresponding Cornerstone—is to annihilate both simultaneously. Every dragon has a matching Cornerstone. Unfortunately, while dragons can be slain in a variety of ways, the only method I know to destroy a Cornerstone is Urthaenriel. You can understand why I never bothered telling Duke Kaen where Morios laired; until we had Urthaenriel in our possession, fighting the dragon would have been futile.”

“You still don’t have Urthaenriel in your possession,” Kihrin pointed out.

Relos Var ignored the correction. “We also required the location of Morios’s Cornerstone, but since Senera has the Name of All Things, we had simply to ask. We destroy both Morios and his Cornerstone together, they both die forever.”

Kihrin felt a chill wash over his skin. “Go back to the part about destroying Cornerstones permanently—are you saying I didn’t shatter the Stone of Shackles?”

“Oh, you did,” Relos Var replied, “but it won’t stay broken. The Stone of Shackles will reform, and eventually, people will realize gaeshing is once again possible. Too late to put the demons back in their cages, unfortunately.”

Kihrin ground his teeth. “And the Stone of Shackles is the heart of which dragon?”

“This is an unimportant tangent.”

“Tell me, anyway.”

“Rol’amar.” Var growled the name like it was a personal insult. A fleeting expression of loathing crossed the wizard’s face.

Kihrin carefully filed away the name Rol’amar for future use.

“Much as I respect your desire to continue your staring contest,” Janel said, “perhaps we can indulge later? After evacuating Atrine?”

Both men looked over at her in surprise.

“I never said I’d go along with this,” Kihrin said.

Janel cocked her head and stared at him in turn.

Kihrin coughed. “All right, yes. I’m helping.”

“We can best help Atrine by destroying Morios,” Relos Var told Janel. “If you focus on evacuation first, you’re letting sentimentality cloud your judgment.”

“No, I’m not. If we don’t pull people out of Atrine—right now—we shall soon find ourselves facing a combination of raging fires and terrified, screaming souls. And such a recipe summons a special sort of connoisseur to dinner.”

Relos Var made a face. “Demons.”

“Exactly. They’ll swarm Atrine. I’d rather face one enemy at a time.” Janel looked back at Thurvishar. “Can you open a gate to the east Atrine bridge? That’s where the Marakori slums are located.”

“I see no reason why not. Where’s Senera?”

Relos Var scowled. “In Atrine. She was supposed to signal me when Morios arrived.”

Thurvishar stared at the man hatefully. “You didn’t hear from her, with a raging dragon on the loose? And you weren’t going to say anything? Damn it!”² Thurvishar immediately reopened a portal and started to rush through. He stopped at the last second and turned to the room. “If the rest of you are coming along, do it now, or haggle with Relos Var for the privilege later.”

“Thurvishar!” Kihrin said.

“I’m not joking, Kihrin. I’m leaving now—with you or without you.”

Ninavis clapped her hands over her head. “All right, people, we’ve practiced this. Everyone through the gate, right now. We’ll regroup on the other side.”

Dorna ran toward the stable, yelling, “Arasgon! Talaras! Lead the others. It’s time to say goodbye. Palom—Star, help me out here.”

Kihrin saw even Relos Var looked bemused at Thurvishar’s reaction. Janel and Qown’s story had certainly implied that he and Senera had the opportunity to know each other, but this seemed to indicate a deeper relationship. Kihrin found himself wondering if they’d been something other than casual associates.³

Everyone must indeed have practiced this, because they cleared out with a speed and efficiency that struck Kihrin as militarized. Arasgon and Scandal trotted down the ramp, leading the horses, while Talaras was last to catch any stragglers who balked at traveling through the gate.

Finally, the only people left were Kihrin, Janel, Thurvishar, and Relos Var.

Janel turned her gaze to Kihrin and Relos Var with obvious concern. “Don’t be foolish, either of you,” she warned. “We need both of you right now.” She stepped through the portal.

“After you,” Relos Var said to Kihrin.

“You should tell Aeyan’arric she doesn’t need to sit watchdog over this tavern anymore,” Kihrin said.

“She’ll figure it out,” Var replied.

“Why are you really doing this? You don’t care if Morios is dead or not, and I really don’t think you give a damn what happens to a quarter million people either. What’s really going on?”

“Can we please hurry?” Thurvishar snapped.

“One moment,” Relos Var said. He turned back to Kihrin. “Let there be no lies between us. You’re right. I don’t care what happens to Atrine, and my feelings toward Morios are at best ambivalent. I’m doing this because I care about fulfilling the prophecies. I also care a great deal what it will mean when Janel stops Morios.”

“That’s right. You need to replace Duke Kaen as Jorat’s rebel ruler, don’t you? Janel’s the backup plan.” It was almost refreshing to hear Var admit he didn’t care. The wizard only ever helped when his goals temporarily aligned with others. Var wanted to see some Hellwarrior-related prophecy fulfilled—helped along by Janel overthrowing Duke Xun, by killing Morios. The population would interpret her victory over the dragon as proof of her right to rule them. Which put her one step closer to smashing the empire. And that was what Relos Var wanted. As always, he played the long game.

Var smiled. “By the way, if you break Janel’s heart, I will make your life a living hell.”

Kihrin felt himself flush with anger. “Seriously? You’re giving me the father talk?”

“I don’t see Qoran Milligreest stepping up to do it.”

Thurvishar cleared his throat. Kihrin hadn’t realized someone could clear their throat angrily before. Thurvishar looked like he was seconds from closing the portal on them both.

“Let’s go kill a dragon,” Relos Var said.

Kihrin walked through the portal.