Page 129 of The Shadowed Oracle
“You think you’re very clever, don’t you?” She was still too drained to scream, but with the help of her glare, the words managed to convey disgust. “Like I said, take me to wherever you’re going to—” But before she could finish, she felt a coldness at the side of her neck, right at the jugular vein.
“Are you rethinking your oath already?” Sylan asked.
Ingrid didn’t look up at him. Sylan’s blade was in position to open her up with one flick of the wrist, and she wouldn’t dare move.
“Have you?” he repeated softly.
“No.” She answered him quickly, but not out of fear for her life. It was out of fear that her mouth would jeopardize freeing her friends. She needed to think about them now. Not herself. Not the anger she had burning inside her.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” Sylan said, lowering his sword. “But don’t mistake my generosity for mercy.”
Ingrid only dabbed at the spot the sword had just been—no blood.
“Let’s move, Oracle, before either of us changes our minds.” With a jerk of his head, Sylan gestured in front of them, waiting for his prisoner to start walking. Which she did, slowly and methodically, processing some of what had just happened and pushing other bits down.
Of all the flashes cycling through her mind, the hardest to shake was Callinora’s screams. She couldn’t stop guessing at what kind of care she’d be given in the custody of Enitha’s minions. What kind of scarring would be left on her, and what kind of mental torment she’d be under after being bound by those branded symbols?
She could think of no worse fate for an immortal. To go on without respite, without release from the suffering. A circle that never closed. What kind of place was this, really, to contain such dark magic? She’d preferred Ealis to Earth in many ways since first glimpsing Peloria Forest. The beauty of it. The simplicity of the common folk. The quiet. But underneath that was something far darker, far more ruthless than any evil that lurked on Earth.
“Keep moving,” Sylan ordered.
They passed the crypts, venturing back down the dark corridors, through the open verandas overlooking the now quiet city, until they were back at the room Ingrid had been bathed and changed in.
At the door, both Viator stopped, growing roots as they stared at each other in silence.
Sylan waved his hand. “You may leave us now.”
The Occian soldiers marched off without a word, leaving Ingrid alone with the prince. Neither of them broke eye contact, giving nothing away.
Finally, surprising herself, Ingrid asked, “Are all of you so cruel?”
Sylan took a moment, either in contemplation or to gather an excuse. He sheathed his sword, adjusted his belt. “No,” he said simply.
“No? That’s all?No?”
“You asked a question, Oracle. I answered.”
“That’s not an answer.” Ingrid shook her head, a hole forming in the deepest quadrant of her gut. “You mentionedyour generosity. Is it really generosity? Do any of you really have hearts? Or is it always about power?”
Despite her vicious tone, she really wascurious to know. There had been moments in their brief meetings that Ingrid had sensed something in Sylan that verged on empathy. Or at the very least, a conscience. Was it real, though? Or was it only more games?
Sylan cocked his head. “What else would it be?”
“Manipulation?” Ingrid offered. Like Enitha had manipulated them into thinking they’d breached her castle walls safely. That they had a chance at success. When all the while, they were only rats in a maze.
“To what end?” Sylan asked.
“To torture me, like Enitha will do to my friends. Give me the smallest taste of hope, then rip it away.” As soon as she’d said it, she wished she could take it back. Why, she thought. Why would she give him a chance to try and convince her of his motives?
The Hydorian general took his time with an answer. “I told you. I don’t want to kill you. I don’t want you to suffer.” There was no emotion in his words.
“But Makkar does?”
Sylan shook his head. “No.”
Then to control her? To use her? To ally with her until he has full control? “Which is it?” Ingrid asked.
“He wants to train you. Help you realize your power. So that you can help him restore Ealis.” He paused. “I imagine you’ve been told all sorts of stories. But do you remember what I said to you, Oracle, that first night we met?”
