Crimson by Arthur Slade

Author:Arthur Slade
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Canada
Published: 2018-03-18T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

The Tiny Request

“YOU WILL GO TO VELCHAN’SSSS FORGE AND BRING BACK that which you find there.”

Fen had no idea where or what the forge was. But it didn’t matter. It was the best way to get to her sister. “What am I bringing back?” she asked.

“You will know when you ssssee it, Fen. The answer is sssstaring you right in the face.”

Fen couldn’t see the answer. She still felt the warmth of her sister’s hand. And smelled the horror of that jail cell. May should not spend one moment longer than necessary in that place.

“Your head,” Marcus said. “You want her to bring back your head.” Fen glanced over at him, impressed by how quickly he had put things together. I should have figured that out.

“Ssssmart Queen’s guard. Yessss. That issss it.”

“And why can’t you get it?” Marcus asked.

“All of my shirkerssss who have tried have died. And others I’ve sent.”

“You’ve sent others?” Fen fixed Ithak with a gaze. Ithak shrugged. “Other wildmagics?”

“Yessss. They were very brave. Good friendssss. But they failed. And died.”

“And why would I survive?”

“Survival is not a certainty. But only I can ssssave your sister, and only you can save me. Again, it is ssssomething friends would do for friends.”

The voice was not as overpowering as it had been before. She wondered if she were just growing accustomed to talking to a dead man. No. A dead god. “And how will you save my sister?” Fen leaned a little closer.

The tree rumbled with the voice’s laughter. Leaves fluttered around them. Fen backed up a half step. “I will tear down the walls of Regentium and kill my dearest love, the Queen.”

“Your dearest love?” She wasn’t certain if that had been said in jest. “How can you defeat Servilia? I’ve seen her armies.”

“I will manifesssst the conditions. And all will be free, including your ssssister. That is my solemn promise, Fen. One thousand yearssss in chainssss issss too long for you mortals.”

The voice spoke with such absolute confidence. “And what will I need on this journey?” Fen asked.

“Your hand.” Her hand tingled at the mention. “Take the Queen’s guard. He cannot live here. Though I see his good heart.”

“If he will come with me, then he is welcome.”

Marcus looked Fen directly in the eyes. There was more emotion on his face than she’d ever seen. “Our fates seem to be intertwined. I have nowhere else to go. And I do owe you one last life. Of course I will come.”

Fen wanted to hug him. Instead she turned to the statue. “Tell me how to find your head.”

“Ithak, come closssser.”

Ithak shuffled up. He looked to be almost bowing. “Yes, Mansren.”

“I am not him yet. I am jusssst his aspect.” If he was only an aspect—a portion—then Fen wondered what it would be like to be in the presence of Mansren himself. “Give the girl the pointing sssstone.”

Ithak hesitated before reaching into his pouch and pulling out the black stone finger.

“Take a piece of mysssself with you,” the essence said.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.