Page 300 of Of Empires and Dust

Again, no answer.

His boots clapped against the stone as he walked, each step filling him with more darkness. The light from the antechamber shone over his shoulder, carving a thin strip through the dark and illuminating the grey hairs in Gildrick’s beard.

“Gildrick?” Kallinvar’s breaths trembled. He stood before Gildrick, eyes adjusting to the dark. His mind and his heart warred when he realised that Gildrick’s chest did not rise or fall.

Please, Achyron, no. Please, no.

He reached out and touched his old friend’s cold neck, tilting Gildrick’s head and squinting to look more clearly upon his face.

There was no pulse, no beating heart.

Kallinvar dropped to his knees. He rested his hand on the side of his old friend’s head, using his thumb to peel back Gildrick’s eyelid. The eyes of a dead man.

He knelt there, his hand trembling against the cold skin of his dead friend’s face, until the door creaked behind him.

“Watcher Gildrick?” Tallia’s voice was soft. “Grandmaster, what are you doing here?”

Kallinvar held his gaze on Gildrick for a moment, then turned. “Where were you today, Tallia?”

He stood, the dread in his heart bubbling.

“What… what do you mean, Grandmaster? I was in the library in the temple. And… and out fetching tea.”

“I don’t believe her,”Achyron’s voice whispered.

“Wherewereyou?” Kallinvar’s voice rose, filling the room.

“I… I was in the library, I swear it.”

His thoughts swirled as he approached the young Watcher. Gildrick never sat in that chair. The candle had been freshly changed. The book… Poldor had said Gildrick had been reading one of the old Watchmaster texts. “Where is the book?”

“What book?” She stared up at Kallinvar, fear in her eyes.

“We do not have time for this, my child.”

Kallinvar grabbed Tallia by the shoulders and slammed her against the open door, roaring, “Whereis the book?”

Shouts came from the antechamber and Watchers rushed in. Not one of them dared intervene. But Watcher Poldor called out, “Kallinvar, put her down. Whatever has happened, this is not the way.”

Tallia’s gaze flickered from Kallinvar to Poldor.

“Gildrick is dead,” Kallinvar growled, staring into Tallia’s eyes. There was something behind those eyes, something he hadn’t quite figured out.

“She is hiding something,”Achyron said in his mind.

“What did you do?” Kallinvar growled.

“I didn’t do anything. I didn’t, I promise. He’s dead? He’s really dead?” Tears streamed from Tallia’s eyes.

“Grandmaster.” Poldor’s voice was steady. He didn’t lay a hand on Kallinvar, but he stood less than a handspan away, his face between Kallinvar’s and Tallia’s. “She is a Watcher of Achyron.”

“There are no wounds,” a voice called from behind Kallinvar. “No blood. He died in his sleep.”

“Did you hear Watcher Nandra?” Poldor’s voice softened. “Let her go, Kallinvar. I understand your loss. Your rage. But Tallia hasn’t been in the Watchers’ chambers all day. Gildrick sent her to the library.”

“That is true,” Watcher Timkin called from behind the door.

Kallinvar loosened his grip, shame washing over him. “I… the candle… the book…” He swallowed hard, turning his head to look at Gildrick’s lifeless body. “I… it can’t be.”

---