Page 129 of Winds of Ruin
Caym
The pane that holds me grows thin. I reach out through this pitiful cage they deemed worthy of containing me.
“Kneel to me,” I command.
The ruddy-faced King of the West Corridor does as told.
Haag Bringham’s anger rules him.
And I rule his anger.
“Yes, Master Caym.”
“I offer you a world devoid of magic; that is what you desire, is it not?”
The king nods, kneeling by his throne. His pupils dilate in fear as he peers at me through a mirror.
It took many years to figure out how to reach a new envoy through the panes.
“The sword that pierced my heart will poison its beholder. Soon I will release my power. I count on you to distract the other meddlesome rulers of the realms.”
“Yes, Master. I will do whatever you wish.”
A slice cuts the King’s cheek, and he shouts, holding his palm to the open wound. Blood drips onto the gray stone beneath his knees—his blood oath complete.
The other Source Origins think their descendants can stop me; their faith in them is futile. This world and every pathetic creature within it will be mine.
The western King will see a world devoid of magic, yes.
It will be devoid of everything.
Chapter 49
Elsedora
I’d left a sleeping King in my bed. He’d looked so tranquilly mussed, flushed from the warmth of the fire, and nothing like when he’d slept under the curse.
Falling asleep beside him, finding him still there in the morning—it all overwhelmed me. Instead of waking him, I’d scribbled him a simple note.
“I will see you tonight, puppy.”
Then I’d sent a hawk to a few dear friends and brought an invitation to a florist in Luz. Self-preservation, or self-sabotage? To be determined.
I lingered at the gate of the Faulkers’ cottage, readying myself to enter when Sybilla and Lark exited, carrying an empty basket. Lark spotted me first.
“Aunt El!” She bounded up to the gate. “We were just dropping off some bread and meat. Are you going inside?” she asked hopefully.
I smiled and shook my head. “No, no. I was looking for your mother to see if she needed any help in Helos this afternoon.”
Sybilla trailed her daughter and glanced between us with a furrowed brow. “All settled there. Leave that to me—but we received some startling news this morning. Bringham is doubling his men at the border. You were my next stop.”
Glad to find an excuse for avoiding going into the cottage with my apologies, I said, “Then, you leavethatto me.”
As we walked back to the palace, she gave me my next mission.
The wind guided me west at dusk. Mayra gleefully squawked as we descended through a rain cloud and the West Corridor came into view.
Great—my riding leathers were soaked through, and my braided hair clung to my shoulder. It would make cleaning up for tonight’s celebrations more difficult.
