A Day of Darkness (Watchers of Outremer Book 3) by Suzannah Rowntree

Author:Suzannah Rowntree [Rowntree, Suzannah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bocfodder Press
Published: 2020-12-02T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter XIX.

He had been called Reshep, Rudra, Apollyon; but in all his manifestations, Qeteb was a noonday spirit. At night, his power waned, and so all he could do was float blindly in the wind and rain far above Tripoli, beyond the borders of Lilith’s influence.

Yes, it was certainly her influence; until now he had never been quite sure. If Qeteb was a creature of treacherous foresight and iron-fisted order, Lilith was a being of blind chaos, consumed by her own appetites. Nearly a hundred years ago, having grown impatient with his plans to build an empire, Lilith’s hunger had led her to seek a more immediate satisfaction through an alliance with the Franks. Until now, he’d half suspected she was in the wealthier city of Acre. But tonight’s exertion—the summoning of a wind—bore her signature. Amidst the myriad soul-sparks in Tripoli, her spirit had lit up with unmistakeable power. Her presence was beyond doubt now.

Once Lilith fell, the whole of the Coast would be easy pickings. Qeteb licked his jaws in anticipation. This place was holy to all mortals, and it pleased him to think of the desecration he meant to wreak upon it.

The memory of the blood he spilled here would drive his other enemies into a panic. By the time he was done with the Coast, his foes, from the kings of Nubia to the il-Khans of Baghdad, would sue for peace. Then, when Khalil had taken possession of the throne, he would take possession of Khalil and conquer whatever was left.

The time was long gone when he might have masqueraded as a god. Instead, he would crown himself emperor.

There was no sign of Lilith now. She had coiled back in on herself, damping her power to hide behind the light of another, and Qeteb couldn’t pick her out from among the sparks below. Still, he didn’t need to see her to know she was there. Khalil’s pet mamluk must have come close to capturing her.

Qeteb scanned the city for other soul-lights. Near to where Lilith’s light had glowed minutes before, a smaller soul-light flickered, lending its warmth to another. Small as the light was, it was pure and intense; Qeteb winced. Tripoli still had Watchers, then; Gifted ones even. He would recognise a Healer’s light anywhere. He ought to have had Khalil command the mamluk to eliminate them all, for the damage they might do to his plans, even now, was immense.

Ah, there it was—Soraya’s soul light, different again from either the mortal Watchers or the blaze of Lilith’s power. Qeteb focused on the pinpoint of light, checking that the bonds he’d put in place might had not come loose. It was a risk, letting an ignorant meat-creature like the mamluk have access to such a spirit, but from what Qeteb could tell her bonds remained firm, her light slumbering as though dormant.

Tripoli would not fall tonight. The mamluk was moving more slowly than usual, but tonight had evidently witnessed…developments.

Patience, Qeteb thought, had never served him ill in all the endless years of his life.

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