Page 180 of Grave Situation

“Is he Master Leng?”

~Yes~

A gasp echoes through the room, followed by the rustle of movement as everyone sitting with Leng moves away.

I meet his gaze, surprised by how calm I am. He stares back, his face a mask that betrays his guilt more than anything else could. “Master Leng, is there anything you’d like to add?”

He shrugs. “Not particularly. My choices were made long ago.”

“Why?” someone cries, and I glance over at Master Gao, who’s another prophetic scholar. If I recall correctly, the two of them were arguing over their theories in this room when the stone came to us. “Why would you do this?”

“Because I wanted answers,” Leng hisses. “I spent decades studying the Prophecy of the Stone,decadesdebating whether the stone would champion us or choose a champion, and I wanted to know the answer!”

“For shame,” the records master wheezes, but my head spins. I suspected that was the reason, after what Uncle Domys said today, but part of me was convinced it couldn’t be. He raised zombies and killed thousands to infect them, all so he could find out if his theory was right? I barely even remember what the point of contention was, and he devastated Vaderyn for it.

While ugly words are thrown around the room, I reach out with Wasianth’s senses, searching the academy, and find what I need.

“Stop,” Master Cranch eventually shouts. “This is getting us nowhere.” He looks steadily at Leng. “You will be executed for this.”

Leng laughs. Standing, he saunters across the room and up the dais steps. “You can try, but I hold the power of necromancy now. Want to know a secret? I. Won’t. Die.”

I draw Tia’s dagger from the sheath at my thigh. The hilt warms in my hand, as though it knows it will finally taste vengeance. “That’s impossible,” I counter, stepping forward to face him down. “All beings die.”

He smirks. “Not me. Look at you with your knife, as if you know how to use it. We all know your sister was the fighter. You’re just a smart-mouthed waste of space.”

“You truly believe you won’t die?”

“I am immortal.”

“Then fight me. You’re right; I’m not a fighter. I don’t know if you are, but I’d say we’re either evenly matched or you outmatch me. But you’re the reason my sister’s dead, so that’s a risk I’m willing to take for the chance to hurt you.”

He laughs again, scornfully this time. “You want tofight? Very well. Someone get me a blade.”

The councilors look around uneasily. “Perhaps,” Master Cranch begins, but Leng cuts him off.

“A blade. Once I’ve dealt with this nuisance, the rest of us can discuss how things will be from now on.”

Master Cranch’s eyes narrow, and without looking at me, he says, “Do you have this in hand, Silverbright?”

“Yes.” Whether I fight fair or not, I will not lose and let this monster wreak havoc.

“Then by all means, we shall fetch a blade.”

“Talon—”Master sounds alarmed, but I can’t afford distractions right now, so I shut him out.

After an expectant little pause, Rider Master Hearne strides forward, pulling a dagger from its sheath. I’m grateful he doesn’t offer a sword—there would be no chance of me being able to fight fair against a sword.

“I hope I don’t regret this,” Hearne says, tossing the blade at Leng’s feet. The necromancer stoops to pick it up—then lunges directly at me.

Unprepared, I dart backward, glad I don’t trip over my own feet, and raise Tia’s dagger to defend myself. Leng doesn’t even pause to regroup, coming after me again with the blade held very competently. Dammit. How can an old man wearing robes move that nimbly?

I dodge again, trying to strike at him, but I’m not successful and it just seems to amuse him. Our “fight” quickly devolves into him chasing me around in a circle while I simultaneously try to stay out of his reachandsomehow get close enough to wound him. If I’d known this was going to happen, I would have asked Coryn to train me to fight.

Finally, the worst happens and I trip. It’s sheer good luck that I don’t impale myself on Tia’s dagger when I sprawl on the floor. All my grandiose plans of taking Leng down in a fight were clearly misguided. The groans of the watching councilors indicate that they agree.

Time to use my wits instead.

“I’m obviously not going to win this fight,” I say, scrambling back to my feet and out of the way an instant before Leng reaches me. “If I surrender, will you still kill me?”

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