The Heart Forger (The Bone Witch #2)(64)

“An eye for an eye, Bard. I do not forget.”





17


Fox looked on with amusement as I sat on the lid of my overflowing trunk, endeavoring to close it despite all evidence to the contrary. Sensing my irritation, the azi tossed and turned within the depths of my thoughts, strangely uneasy.

“There,” I grunted, finally latching the lid and allowing the servants to carry it out. “Perhaps Princess Inessa might decide to forgo the trunk and ship my whole closet to Daanoris instead. I must be bringing more than she is.”

“She’s bringing twice what you have.”

“How do you know that?”

“She and the empress haven’t stopped fighting about whether or not she should accompany us. I could hear them from the other end of the palace as clearly as I could hear everyone in between.”

Likh peered into the room. “Althy says we’re to leave at first light, with either a small legion of soldiers or, er, a dozen depending.”

“Depending on what?” I asked.

“On whether the princess or the empress wins the argument. Although it seems moot at this point. I am told a pigeon from Daanoris has just arrived. The emperor refused the delegation unless the princess comes with us.”

I groaned. “Perhaps my azi can swoop down and bully the emperor into helping us find the forger.”

“Tea!”

“I’m serious. If I had a choice, I’d stay here. I don’t want to leave Mykaela and Polaire.”

“I know. At least they’ll be well rested when they wake.”

I laughed. “Likh, you really do look on the bright side of every situation, don’t you?”

“I try. We need all the positivity we can.” Likh shifted. “Tea, are you close friends with Khalad? Do you know much about him?”

“As good a friendship as a bone witch and a Heartforger are capable of having. Why do you ask?”

Likh stared at a wall. “I didn’t know there was another option for male spellbinders beyond joining the Deathseekers.”

“Khalad is an exception. The Kion forger is the only remaining master of his trade, but he’s also extremely selective when it comes to apprentices.”

“And you give Khalad memories for his ingredients?”

“Yes. Asha replenish their own memories. Regular people can’t.”

“So I can give memories too?” Likh’s face was earnest and easy to read.

“Well, yes. Why are you—?”

Several things happened instantaneously. The azi reared up in alarm. Its wings spread, and all three heads hissed angrily, then the beast shot out of the lake it had been nesting in.

At the same time, there were shouts along the corridor, the sounds of running feet and frightened yelling. From the direction of the Kion city gates, I could see dark, heavy smoke rising into the air.

I felt the sudden flicker of a Compulsion rune, saw the surprise on a servant’s face before her expression turned blank. Wordlessly, she picked up a poker she had been using to tend the fireplace and raised it at Fox’s unprotected back.

A barrage of wind swept into the room, the Hurricane rune gleaming in Likh’s hands as the maid slammed into the door, knocking her out.

A sudden scream ripped through the air, and Fox was out the door in a flash.

“What’s going on?” Likh cried, alarmed, but I was already chasing after my brother into the royal chambers. Empress Alyx was on the floor, stunned. Princess Inessa stood before her with a sword in hand, eyes wide as the unfamiliar guard approached her, his own blade raised.

Fox took one look at the faint bruise marring the princess’s cheek and a growl rose from his throat. One broad stroke was all it took to send the soldier on his back, but I leaped forward before he could deliver the killing blow.

“No, Fox! He’s being compelled!” I forced my way into the fallen man’s mind, the azi giving me the strength I needed to fight through the barriers in my path, and commanded him to sleep. The man obeyed.

“Are you hurt?” Fox’s eyes were still blazing. I could taste his fear.

“We’re fine, just shaken up. What’s going on?” the princess asked.

“The city is under attack.”

“Someone’s compelling people!” I shouted. “We need to—”

I broke off and stumbled, my mind on fire. White-hot heat scorched my vision. All I could see was the strength of our wings as it kept us aloft in the wind, our three heads snapping at invisible attackers as we continued our inexorable trek to Kion. Danger, the shadows breathed. Danger, Master.

I could feel warmth and a pair of arms as someone carried me down the hallway, shouting, before setting me somewhere soft. A babble of voices washed over me, concerned and questioning. I heard brief snatches of conversation, swimming in and out of focus—

“—what’s wrong with Tea?”

“—collapsed. Not a coincidence—”

“—no demands that we surrender. Going too far, even for him—”

“—tried to attack Princess Inessa and the empress! Barricade the door!”

“—aren’t you allies? Would he go so far as to—”

“—betrayed—”

“—battering the gates. It will fall before long—”