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Cercing glanced at the sword aimed in her direction, but made no other move to attack or retreat.
"Care to explain yourself? Because from where we're standing it doesn't look good," Ari said. "And where are Triss and Vard? What did you do to them?"
"They remained on the beach to guard the Iron King's cell." She paused. "Former cell."
It had always sounded melodramatic when people said that all the air was squeezed right out of their lungs, but for a long moment Ari was back beneath the waves trying to breathe and finding only heavy, heavy water instead of oxygen. She felt the water closing over the top of her head as she sank, pushing her down. Down so deep there wasn't light or air or anything but water and a nothingness so complete it made her want to cry. She had expected this, but she still wasn't ready. "What happened?"
"I do not know. Nor do I know what happened here. When I arrived the crew had already been killed. However I do have suspicions."
"Then what are you doing here besides looking super guilty with no alibi?"
Cercing blinked. Her gaze took in Loren and Naiah standing to her side before she sighed. Then she reached into the bag hanging from her shoulder and Ari tensed. It was only the mirror that she pulled from it. "I came for this and a few of my supplies for a divining spell. I intend to track the Iron King to wherever he has flown."
Ari surprised herself again by laughing. Naiah gave her a disbelieving look. "And then what? Invite him back for tea and cookies? He already escaped once and the only reason you got him back into a cell was because he let you. What's your plan this time?"
"She intends to kill me."
Ari jumped and almost dropped Cheyna on her foot. "Could everyone stop sneaking up on me just for five minutes," she snapped because being angry was better than crying.
It made her feel slightly better to see that his appearance, or at least the appearance of his voice, had had a similar effect on Naiah. She looked ready to attack with knife studded hands and eyes wary.
"Was that not your Master's plan?" the Iron King went on. He seemed to rise straight from a convenient patch of shadow, soaking it up as he did, until the only part that remained was beneath his feet. "He always was a very practical thinker. Lacking in imagination. Just as he couldn't imagine the possibility that he might have enemies layered around him, one after another, like the skins of an onion. At least not until I told him." The Iron King cocked his head, long, matted hair falling over his shoulder.
"You did this?" Ari cleared her throat to get rid of the squeak before she tried again. "You killed them?"
Having the Iron King's gaze on her again without even the illusion of a cell between them was like standing too close to the edge as a train passed by. She could almost feel the promise of pain and injury, but there were still inches between her and it. He had gotten no less frightening in the last decade. He smiled. "Wrong once more. I am merely a pawn as well, though I suspect my usefulness is at an end, or nearly so, as she also attempted to renege on our deal by killing me. In light of that, I have one more bargain for you, Champion."
"I told you years ago, I don't make deals with—"
"People like me, yes, I know," he said. "But I suspect that on this occasion you shall. And you had best decide quickly. Time is short."
Ari folded her arms, or arm anyway, the other one was still busy holding Cheyna between her and the Iron King. It might not kill him, but Cheyna would slow him down a bit. Maybe if she got lucky it might set him on fire too. She'd heard so many stories about its spontaneous combustion powers, but she had yet to see them. No time like the present, she thought hard in Cheyna's direction.
The sword didn't answer.
"I'm listening. And judging you. Your odds don't look good," she said. "And who is this 'she?'" She glanced at Cercing but she looked just as curious as Ari felt.
The Iron King chuckled. His dark hair hung in tangles over one eye now, but he still looked regal and terrifying and so close to human that it made everything else worse. She had always expected evil to look like monsters. Finding out it looked like a man, maybe a little too tall and teeth too pointed, but attractive and with a pleasant baritone was still a hard lesson to learn. It was harder now than it was when she was sixteen.
He flicked his hair aside with one hand, baring a shoulder marred with fresh cuts. "I will let you think on that a bit. Perhaps you will even discover it for yourself. Listen first to what I have to say."
Ari gnawed at her lip. She didn't want to. Still she nodded. "Okay."
"Let us dispense with my only lie in this matter." He smiled. "Your quest is useless, Champion. And it always was."
Yet again, Ari forgot how breathing worked. And thinking. She forgot about everything except the way Cylian had looked in that tomb. He looked dead. If what the Iron King was saying was true, he was dead. "No. You're lying."
"You misunderstand." The Iron King held up his hands, the shackles still heavy about his wrists. "All you need do is remove these chains and I will be able to cure your precious king. I am all that you ever needed."
"Then you did lay the curse on the king," Cercing said. Ari had forgotten she was even standing there.
"No, little apprentice. Did you not hear me say that I was a pawn?" He tsked at her. "Though I cannot say I regret the circumstances which will lead to my freedom. And they will. Free me, Champion. Your sword can break the enchantments on these chains. One stroke of the blade and you will have your cure. Decide quickly, before he is beyond you. You haven't much time at all by now I think."
"What do you mean? If you really didn't curse him—and I'm not saying I even believe that but if—then who did? And how?"
His eyebrows drew together in a baffled frown. "Why, one of your own of course. Is that not obvious? It is far easier to topple an empire while standing beside it. Easier to hide while staring you in the face. Now, my bonds. Remove them." He held out his hands and gave the chains a brief shake.
"This is how they always trick you in the movies," Ari said even though she took a tiny step forward. "Cure first. Then the chains come off." Or maybe not.
"Hardly a fair deal as you would only betray me if I agreed to it. Conveniently though it is impossible. These chains also shackle my powers."
"You had enough to escape with. Twice."
"But not the full measure. Those were trifles. This is an effort. I need my full strength."
"Yeah, that's kinda why I don't want to remove them."
"Then I hope you said farewell to your precious king. Among others." His eyes flicked to the side, looking past her. His smile spread, those two sharp teeth peeking over the edge of his lip. "Oh dear. You look unwell, apprentice. Is anything the matter?"
Ari turned back to Cercing. She'd drawn back a little into the doorway she'd been standing in and her head was bowed in her hood. Something about it radiated illness. "What's wrong?" Ari asked.
"I am fine."
The Iron King's chuckle just confirmed that for the lie that it obviously was. "Perhaps you will not make it back in time to save him after all. I had no idea my spell would be so effective."
"Cercing, what the hell is going on?" Ari demanded, trying to keep an eye on her and the Iron King at the same time. "You're not fine. Don't tell me you're fine, tell me what's happening."
"It was just a momentary pain. It's gone now."
"Then why does he"—she pointed at the Iron King—"look so happy?"
"I'm still waiting for your answer, Champion."
"And what if I say no?" Ari snapped. For a fraction of a second he looked surprised and it gave her the courage to go on. "Because here's what I think, if you could actually escape even with those chains on you would be long gone by now, sitting on a beach drinking one of those drinks with the little paper umbrellas in them. Or whatever it is you people do here. But you're not doing that. You're here trying to convince me that I need your help. So far all you are is a liar. Maybe you're lying about this curse too. Maybe I can't trust any of you." She swung to take in Cercing, and by proxy Virgil, with the look. "Cercing, call Virgil on the mirror thing. We need to talk right now." She kept her sword pointed at the Iron King. "And you, don't move or we'll see if Cheyna really can set people on fire."