Page 96 of Sword & Shadow
Grimacing internally, Evylin wondered if this trip into Dunneshead was destined to be as dull as a day on the road. She hadn’t considered that when she’d asked to accompany him. And while the novelty and distance from Deckard would be a boon, she couldn’t help being disappointed with the excursion’s projected experience.
In the taciturn air between them, Evylin considered how she could goad him into entertaining conversation. She didn’t want to discuss magic since she was uninterested in thinking about Deckard or encouraging Auden to bring up Bonding. Though she would like to learn about Warriors, she doubted that he knewany more than Ilain. And as that was the sole extent of her understanding of his interests, she was at a loss.
As the last topic of discussion, Evylin’s thoughts reverted to their time in the Water Keep. Her throat tightened as the memories of falling into the water threatened. She pushed them down instantly and latched onto the one subject she could think of.
“Had you ever met Blount?” she asked suddenly. “Before the Keep, I mean.”
Auden turned to her, emerald eyes wide. “No. Despite our position as Mages, Ilain and I aren’t nobility. And with the king’s paranoia, he rarely invites our kind into his company.”
“But you knew him,” Evylin said. “The second you saw his face, you knew who he was.”
With a slow nod, Auden admitted, “I did.”
Evylin frowned. Despite being the crown prince, if the Calders hadn’t been even indirectly in his company, it was unlikely they’d ever have the chance to see him. Ephria’s crown prince, Caspar, had been wholly unknown to Evylin until their meeting in Banbury. Why should Wauld’s be any more common?
“Is his likeness that well-known?” she asked.
Auden adjusted uncomfortably on his horse. “Not particularly. But in the Alliance, they’ve ensured we all know the greatest threats to our success. Although we were unaware of his immediate plans, we were aware of his interest in the Relics. And as heir to the throne, he was our natural enemy.”
“Oh.” Evylin couldn’t help being disappointed in the mundane answer. She supposed it was smart for the Alliance to pass around sketches of their enemies. Knowing of Blount might have prepared her better for his cruelty in the Keep.
The reminder caused Evylin to frown again. Her jaw, where he’d kicked her, ached with the memory. His villainy hadastonished her. Though Evylin had read of evil men and women in her novels, she’d never actually met one until Blount. She hadn’t known a person could be so vile. Her skin crawled as she remembered the pleasure he’d taken in torturing Auden with Night magic. Her heart stuttered, thinking of how flippantly he’d pronounced Auden’s death.
Evylin found herself frowning again.“‘Kill him,’” she murmured Blount’s last order aloud.
“What?” Auden said tensely.
Evylin met his narrowed gaze.“‘Kill him,’ he said,” she repeated. “Why not ‘killthem’?”
Auden’s expression pinched as she continued with new understanding. “What did he want with me?” she asked.
Auden sucked in a deep breath. His eyes flickered to the nearing settlement. They were only moments away from the village, and this wasn’t a conversation to be had among adversaries.
He slowed his horse, lowering his voice to say, “You’re a Warrior, Evylin. AfemaleWarrior.”
An icy sensation scraped along her scalp.
Auden gave her an apologetically direct look. “Warriors are rare enough,” he said darkly. “Being a woman makes you even more special, the discovery of a lifetime for Blount. Something he probably never expected to find. Regardless of your allegiance, he would have undoubtedly forced you to Bond with him.”
“I would have refused,” she insisted.
“Would you?” he asked. “Even after decades of torture?”
Evylin had no answer to that.
“Or perhaps he would have tried another approach,” he offered. “Perhaps he would have attempted to woo you, earning your trust, knowing that once you Bonded, he’d regret whatever evil he’d done to you because he’d grow to love you.”
“He’s a sadist,” she spat. “He couldn’t love anyone.”
Auden’s expression turned sorrowful. “Everyone loves someone, even the most vile of creatures.”
In her quiet discomfort, Auden continued, “Don’t underestimate the power of magic, Evylin. No matter what he did or would ever do, if he succeeded—if Blount managed to Bond with you—you would come to love him. And whatever cruelty he enacted to make you his, you’d forgive him for it.”
Evylin’s whole being squirmed. She felt violated at the very thought. If magic could make her forgive such heinous acts, if it could unite her to such a depraved man, she swore she’d kill herself before he ever got the chance to Bond with her.
Neither of them said anything more, riding up to the edge of Dunneshead. The village’s gray stone buildings had black slate roofs. Everything was dull and murky like the sky above them. Though slightly larger than Whickam Village, the homes and businesses were more densely packed in the sloping valley. A massive, lazy river skirted the village, almost encircling it.
Officious guards patrolled the uneven dirt streets; their severe gazes fastened to Evylin and Auden as they rode past. Due to the prohibition on weaponry in Wauld, she’d left all but a few hidden daggers behind. She felt naked under the guards’ intense glares.
