Chapter 507: Copy of Upper hand (2/2)
“You mean you’re disappointed to miss out on yet another way to try and make me beholden to you,” I said There was no disrespect or vitriol in my voice, only the pure stateh to ensure my adherence to our deal” This was a risk, as it drew Kezess’s attention to the aetheric binding he’d placed on ht for him—which I’d immediately broken and replaced with my own aether
“But that doesn’t mean we miss an opportunity to build trust with each other”
Kezess’s brows furrowed, and he fidgeted with the cuff of his sleeve “A strange tone to take if that is your stated goal, Arthur”
I cocked lance at our eavesdroppers “I’ to be clear, Kezess Because if we’re to be peers, reliance o both directions I refuse to take ”
His eyes narrowed suspiciously as he searched htened and adjusted his jacket “And what is it you have to give me that would be of any value?” he asked, despite already knowing the answer
It had been in the after and healing that the decision had clicked into place Conversation with the young asuras had started the wheel spinning, and the shared vision with Sylvie had forced me into a new perspective, but in the end, it had been e of what must happen to their homes and their peoples—that made ive you the hed, choking on his drink
S me to back up or let hireat lords Morwenna looked down, appearing almost disappointed with herself Rai and Novis both oblets Radix stared not at Kezess, but Veruhn, who had to cover his led to catch his breath
Kezess uise his sneer “Well played, Arthur”
If Kezess really could heal Agrona, then he could not onlythe people of Epheotus closure, but he could also help these youthful asuras understand their own past, and how it intersects with that of in a path toward belief in the future I needed them to not only see but to desire
“We’ll do it immediately, while sothe le Search for these allies you claim to seek I will send for you when it is time”
With that, he spun andand his steps thunderous There was a lull as everyone stopped to watch hione
‘So…did in? It see Kezess exactly what he wants?’ Regis asked into ht my eye from across the room ‘Not only did Arthur put himself in a position to publicly decline a boon from Kezess, he turned the tables and made it clear to the other lords that Kezess was reliant on Arthur instead’ She paused, raising one brow fully ‘A ’
I was extre over at Veruhn and the rest ofto leave Radix leaned back, his ar down at a plate of half-eaten food Rai and Novis had their heads together and whispered back and forth urgently
Veruhn, his coughing fit subsiding, excused himself from the others and stood I waited for him to approach, which he did “You remember what I said?” The question was simple, matter-of-fact
“I do,” I answered
The ancient leviathan nodded, his glassy eyes drifting across the roo for several seconds, he hter and the other leviathans
I locatedseveral atte the way
She beaure even a next to Mo archons at the party!”
Mom rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t keep the smile off her face “I am proud of you, you know And Rey…your father would be, too, if he were here”
Ellie h, a hiccup, and a sob “He wouldn’t believe any of this”
Mom shook her head “Actually, I don’t think he’d be surprised at all He always believed his son could do anything”
I rubbed the back oflike, ‘I always knew you’d end up a deity,ht here in the ether, then fell to chatting casually, re about the state of affairs back home Others flowed in and out of the conversation, but my focus turned toas to come after the celebration ended As if inning to offer us their farewells before exiting, and the crowd grew sparse
It felt like barely any time had passed before Morwenna of the Mapellia clan returned Her butter-yellow eyes sought rand hall, and she approached stiffly “Lord Indrath is ready for you” The other great lords had already left
Mom and Ellie looked at me in surprise, but I waved away any concern theyat the castle for the ti with the staff” After giving Moestured for Morwenna to lead the way
Regis hurried over Instead of causing a scene by padding along at my side, he melted into my body Sylvie and Chul stayed behind
Morwenna led us out of the grand hall, along a series of corridors, down several stairs, and finally to a barren patch of wall The tall hamadryad waved a bark-covered hand, and a portal appeared inside the stone She stood aside, and I stepped through
I was back in the plain stone corridor that led to Agrona’s prison cell
Morwenna appeared beside me, then continued down the corridor Before, there had been solid walls on both sides Now, a single door ave a stiff knock, and the door opened inward
The cell had expanded considerably since I’d last been there It was rooh to easily contain Novis, Rai, Radix, and Kezess, while still accoht at one side of the chamber Morwenna joined the others, and they all watched me carefully Each asuran lord wore a unique expression, but these powerful beings couldn’t entirely hide the thread of worry that connected therona, I recalled Veruhn’s words—his prophecy—about the ifted toThree boundaries to your transcendence Three lives bound to you in obligation You are the heart of the maelstrom All around you, chaos In your wake, destruction”
His words didn’t exactly inspire confidence, but even with King’s Ga the s of this “prophecy” Not that I doubted these echoes Veruhn saw in the aether-rich waves of the boundary sea, but I’d had ers of foresight
Kezess held out his hand Reaching into the extradimensional space connected to the runes onit over, I rolled it around inthe liquid within swirl Several seconds passed Kezess’s brows pinched together ever so slightly Biting back any second thoughts or regret, I set the pearl in his palm
Kezess took it firmly but carefully in his fist, then wasted no ti form, he opened the dirty, ripped shi+rt with a wave of his hand Kezess didn’t even bother to use a knife, just drew his finger down Agrona’s chest, and the skin opened Meat and bone separated, revealing the rough black lurona’s core
Deftly, Kezess inserted thehappened immediately Morwenna shuffled, then forced herself to be still I caught Rai, Radix, and Novis exchanging a look
The wound began to glow
Just like with Chul and then Tessia, mana poured forth, a veritable sea of it The prison cell was bathed in light, and Agrona’s flesh rapidly knit back together The hter until he was littlewas happening This felt different than before
Regis bristled inside me
The other lords took a step back Even Kezess shi+fted, his storrona
“His horns…” Novis spoke in barely a whisper
My gaze locked onto the antler-like basilisk horns that spread out fro, the central trunks growing thicker His fra several inches taller His features were shi+fting, but through the light, it was difficult tohi ht and wash ofto fade Details slowly became clear
The once sharp-featured face was now broad and flat Dull, blood-clot red eyes blinked open and shut rapidly An unfa to focus
Radix’s face scrunched in a combination of interest and disbelief “This sort of fusion ofat the Vritra, his fists clenched, knuckles gone white
“Who is this?” I asked, feeling suddenly like the only one not in on a secret
Rai took rona It’s Khaernos Vritra”