Page 96 of A Conduit of Light
Indeed,Ihave not yet seen him take his work so seriously as when he believes her life is in danger.Iknow the sentiment well.But, asItell him time and again, channelers will come and go fromFelgren, but he will stay.Andhe will take what he is given from them and move on.
Henever seems to like whenIsay this.Itmakes me worry about theBaronhe will become.”
“Bastard,” she mumbled aloud, turning the page.
“He’snot, really.”
Karuslooked up, seeingSylvastanding underneath her portrait, the stack of journals that had fallen now in her brittle hands.
Hereyes darting to the fire,Karusstood.
Sylva’seyes met hers and before she could take the fire from its setting,Sylvathrew the journals in.
Abillow of smoke flew from the fireplace as the journals were singed and blackened, even asKarus’smagic withdrew the fire into a column of smoke.
“No!”Shegrabbed the journal from the desk and moved toward the fireplace, willing to burn herself to retrieve them if she must.
“Don’t.”Sylvaheld a silver knife to her own throat andKarusstopped in her tracks.
“Iwill do it,Karus.Iwill take my own life to preserve his.”
“Why?”
“Whydoes any woman do what they do for a man?Ilove him.AndIhave come too far, we have accomplished too much together for it to end here.”
Karusshook her head.Sylvawas insane.
Thesmoke coming from the stack of journals causedKarusto move toward it.
“Stop!”Bloodtrickled down her neck asSylvasliced her own skin in an unhinged attempt to save theBaron’slegacy.
“Sylva…you don’t have to do this.Everyonedeserves to know what he has done.Theharm he has caused, the murders he has committed.Theworld needs to know.”
“Theworld cannot know.Theywill judge him before he has accomplished his goals, andIcannot have that.Iwill protect him with my life.Now, give me the journal.”
Karusheld it tighter to her chest.Thiswas all she had to prove the truth she had suspected.
“IfIdon’t?”
“ThenIwill be dead.Andmy death will be on your hands,Karus.Theymight even believe you did it.”
“NotifIshow them this.Notif they see how involved you were.Revichwill believe me.”
“Oh, will he now?Thenwhy not hand me the journal, child, and he will believe you still.Ifhe truly loves you, he will believe you.Isn’tthat how love goes?”
“Whathas he done to you?Howhave you ended up like this?Willingto take your own life to withhold the truth about him?Heimlenis a monster,Sylva.”
“Donot judge me, girl.Afterdecades of servingRevich, you will understand what it takes to love the most powerful man inArcaynen.”Hervoice was venom and salt on the wound of betrayal inflicted onKarus.
Shestepped forward, the journal held out in her hands.
Sylvasneered and took it, easing the knife off her neck, her wound still bleeding down into her dress.
“Thankyou, dear.Incendo.”
Theyboth watched the book alight with flame inSylva’shand before she threw it to the smoking fireplace with the others.
“Hewill be so relieved.”
