Page 105 of The Anointed's Paladin

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Lydes is such a dick

Talon

Icollapsed as soon as the golems loosened their grip. We had reached the top of the stairs. My lungs were burning, sweat drenched my back, and every muscle I had was sore.

“Move,” Cassandra hissed. When I didn’t respond right away, she grabbed a fistful of my hair and dragged me forward. She cast me down when we reached the centre of the room.

My vision swam, and I blinked, trying to get a sense of my surroundings.

It was a large room with vaulted ceilings, thick wooden beams crisscrossing high above us. The light spilled in from various archways that led to a wraparound balcony. Most were open to the elements, but a few still had stained glass doors attached.

I didn’t have to wonder where the relic was. It called to me, thrumming with power and life that echoed in my veins. It hung, suspended from golden vines from the ceiling above. The vines were filled with glowing liquid, bubbles moving slowly up and down their lengths. The pod itself was a translucent green, made up of layers of clear leaves. There was no doubt this was the object that had given me my secondchance; I could feel the same warmth, the same energy that had filled me and cured me of the nagai’s poison, seeping into me again. It was restoring me. So slowly it was almost imperceptible, but it gave me hope. If I waited long enough, if I saved my strength…

I looked up, trying to get a glimpse of the object inside. I could see something solid inside it, and I peered at it, trying to make out the form. My blood went cold as it came into view.

It looked like… a baby.

Not just any baby; it was hellspawn. Two closed wings hung behind it, and its tail curled around its knees. Small, with tiny hands and tiny nub-horns poking out from wisps of black hair. It floated, a peaceful expression on its face, eyes closed as it slept. My heart sank.

I had seen another baby like that once—my sister, Percie. She had blue skin, whereas this child had red, but the likeness summoned a strong memory.

I was ten, and my mother laughed as she helped me brush Percie’s soft curls. I had been so scared I would brush too hard and hurt her.

She’s tougher than she looks,my mother had said.

Achild?Lydes had sent me here to entomb achild?

Cassandra was staring up at the orb, eyes narrowed, and arms crossed. I turned back to the door, leaning forward. Perhaps I could buy a bit more time—

The thought was cut short as the hilt of Cassandra’s knife slammed into my chest. I groaned.

She knelt by my side, lifting my hand and exposing the golden brand. I shook, dread building as she prepared her knife. Lydes could not come here. He could not be in the same room as the infant. Kaine and Nidori needed to come, needed to save it. The trickle of energy that I was absorbing was not enough for me to fight back yet.

I weakly tried to pull my hand away, but she tightened her grip with a click of her tongue. Her blade glinted as she brought it to my palm. She sank it deeply into my flesh, dragging it along the whole length of the eyes.

A sound like a thunderclap split the room, and a shimmering form cracked into existence. Lydes stepped forward, his expression cold. He scanned the room, lip curling in disdain.

“So,” he said, folding his arms and looking at us. “I send one corrupted being to fulfil my quest, and despite his best efforts tofail,another abomination summons me.”

Sorcerers. They stole their magic from living beings. Lydes was not a fan.

“You’re lucky I was here,” said Cassandra. “He was planning to abandon you.”

“I am aware. Tell me, enferni, how did you figure it out?” His glowing eyes were examining me.

I turned towards him, speaking through gritted teeth. “Fuck you,” I said, though I didn’t know what he was talking about. Figure out that it was a baby?

“I can only assume it was the companion you allied yourself with. The sprite. She is one who has escaped my efforts to… reshape their knowledge. Bad luck, on my part, that you would find out the truth before you got here.”

“That you plan to entomb a child?” I said.

He laughed, the amusement not reaching his eyes. “I was wrong,” he said, his eyes flicking back to the pod. “He is just a noble fool. No, Talon, the truth is, I am here toendthat atrocity.”

My blood turned to ice.

“But you said it sustained hundreds of lives… ” I managed, trying to understand what he was saying.

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