Page 203 of The Last One
“No,” he says, “not until I conquer it. But how do I conquer without physically setting my feet on the ground? I seek help. In Vallendor, the Wakes lead this effort on my behalf, just like men in other realms who desire power and will do as I ask to acquire it. No, Kai, I can’t kill you because I’m unable to personally slide the sharpest blade across your neck. But that’s the job of the Wakes, again, on my behalf. And by the looks of it…” He casts his eyes to the realm beyond us. All that fighting and death. “I’m not worried. This won’t take much longer.”
My mouth goes dry, and I grit my teeth so hard my head aches. My focus returns to Elyn, now trying to hide her sneer and disgust at the sight of Danar but failing miserably.
“You asked what this is?” he says. “Power. That’s what this is. I give Emperor Wake what he wants—power to rule all of Vallendor—and he gives me what I want.”
“Which is?” I ask, ignoring the ache behind my eyes.
He flounces a hand around. “To have what Supreme has: worshippers. I’ve given Wake a weapon to conquer every province without killingeveryone—you must have living beings to be worshipped. Wake enjoys power in this realm. I gain more power in the realmscape.”
Elyn now openly glares at Danar—if she hatesme, then she must loathe this traitor, this evil, the Vile One.
I can agree with Elyn on this—I too am repulsed by this… “Piece of shit” does not capture what I think about him. I scan my brain for any word and find the Dindt vulgarityscantivant, the shit of the shit.
Jadon looks back at the battle behind us, where Gileon wields that giant sword of his with more ease than seems possible.
“You are the reason Wake and his sons are so strong,” I say to Danar. “You are the magic that lets a mortal kill otherworldly,” I continue. “To block me from hearing their thoughts.”
Jadon’s head snaps back to me. “Hearing their thoughts? You could hear—?”
“Oh, now you speak?” I ask him, eyebrow high.
“You really think your thoughts are terribly interesting to a woman who’s hadgods?” Elyn snarks. “As her former best friend who’s met some of them, I can say”—she looks Jadon up and down—“she’s had better.”
“I don’t care about any of this,” Danar interrupts, flicking his hand toward the fighting. “Emperor Wake prayed for my help, and I obliged.”
A howl from the battlefield captures Jadon’s attention, and he whips his head back to where Gileon is now boxed in by a leolsip and a worupine.
Jadon murmurs, “Shit.”
Danar chuckles. “Don’t worry, young prince. I won’t let anyone slay him before you do.”
“Slay?You’rebetrayingyour brother?” I ask, alarmed and wide-eyed.
“No,” Jadon says. “Gileon and I…” He glares at Danar Rrivae. “Gileon and I are fighting against our father.”
“What?” Danar glares and takes a step forward.
I swallow the lump in my throat, and I slump only a little—is it because Jadon isn’t as terrible as I thought, and I’ve misunderstood everything that’s happened?
“Gileon and I will not let Emperor Wake rule all of Vallendor,” Jadon says. “He will not succeed.” Jadon takes a step toward me and whispers, “Kai—”
Jadon saying my name… He’s said it so many times, but this time, he sounds different. Gruff. Dominant. Reckless. “Let me explain,” he says with that voice of three, and taller now than he was just moments ago.
What is this? Am I imagining his transformation? Has the noise of battle harmed my ears? He was always a formidable man, but now… He isimpossible. His voice—three different registers at the same time—is impossible. For amortal.
Maybe it’s not Danar who’s granting Jadon his power. Maybe he needs nothing from Danar because he’s…something else. I look to his hand and to that tattoo he’s tried to keep covered. Like my own markings, his are indicative of something more. More than human.
My throat closes, and I taste the salt of my tears. I whisper his name and shake my head. “You’re not…? Danar used you to find me?” I look back over my shoulder. “Or didsheuse you to find me?” I close my eyes as my skin becomes clammy. “Or were they using you to find me?”
Jadon opens his mouth to speak but drops his head instead.
Then I face Elyn. “And you,Adjudicator. How dare you pass judgment when you’re working with the usurper to capture me. Does the Council of High Orders know that you’re a traitor? That you’re partnering with the Vile One to do your job?”
Elyn marches up to me until we’re nose to nose. “I’m no traitor. And I don’t consider myself his partner. Yes, we have the same goal—to kill you—but that’s where our comity ends. And once you’re dead, Kai, and this realm is without its Grand Defender, Vallendor willstillremain a realm of Supreme’s. I don’t care what Danar Rrivae believes or how strong he thinks he is. I will not allow him to take this realm.”
“Good. However…” I push her away from me. “You’re not gonna kill me.” I draw Fury, and I’m back to wielding two blades.
Elyn sighs dramatically. “Do I have to do everything around here?” She frowns at the usurper. “You’ve underestimated her. You claimed that yourweaponwould drop the Grand Defender to her knees.”
