Page 279 of The Ascended
He stumbled to the left, more from surprise than actual damage. But the bonds holding me flickered.
"Impressive," he said, brushing off his robes as if I'd merely spilled wine on them. "But ultimately pointless."
He returned to Thatcher's side, and a curved blade materialized in his hand. The metal gleamed with an oily sheen that made my stomach turn.
"Your brother won't die," Moros murmured. "Not permanently."
Thatcher!I screamed down the bond.
I needed to distract him. The window of opportunity—whatever that was—seemed important. If I could keep him talking long enough for it to pass...
"What do you plan to do with him?"
Moros rolled his head, stretching the muscles in his shoulders, then his arms.
"Take his body as my new vessel. After I absorb my brother's power, of course." Moros smiled, the expression grotesque on Olinthar's features. "This shell has served its purpose, but your brother offers something I've long wished for. Long waited for."
"You couldn't corrupt Vivros," I said, pieces of Xül's history lessons falling into place. "So, this is your second chance? Tie him down, make him unconscious, because you're too weak otherwise? Like you were before?"
Olinthar's jaw clenched. His hand trembled slightly as he set the dagger back on the table.
Good. I'd hit a nerve.
He cocked his head, studying me with those wrong silver eyes. "You think you know so much. The young always do. Just because most of my power was stripped away doesn't mean I cannot bring endings to civilizations. Especially once I reunite with the realm that waits for their master's return."
"Big talk for someone hiding their true identity," I pressed. "Very intimidating, indeed."
That terrible smile returned. "I knew you were going to be a thorn in my side from the moment I saw you begging for his life at the Proving." His head tilted further, an unnatural angle that made my skin crawl. "Even more so when you somehow evaded all of my attempts on your life."
Realization crashed over me. Kavik's vacant eyes during the second trial. My overly drugged drink in the third. I'd thought it was Olinthar's doing, and I hadn't been completely wrong.
"Feeble attempts, really," I said, forcing bravado I didn't feel.
"A complication I could end right now," he mused, studying me with those wrong silver eyes. "But where's the poetry in that? You’ve managed to make it this far." He smiled, and it was terrible onOlinthar's face. "For that, I think you deserve something special. Something... fitting."
My skin crawled. "What are you talking about?"
"When I take your brother's body as my vessel, when his hands become mine..." He let the words hang in the air like a promise. "What could be more poetic than having him be the one to end you? The last thing you'll see is his face, knowing I'm wearing it."
"You're sick."
"The most interesting beings are. But I won't fail today." He picked up the blade again. "And when I'm done, it will make for the most heartbreaking story."
"Well, don't stop now. I’m on the edge of my seat."
"I drew inspiration from your plan, actually," Moros said, his voice taking on an echoing quality that seemed to come from everywhere at once. "Two children of disgrace, born to a mortal mother—an embarrassment to the throne of Voldaris. When mighty Olinthar discovered his shame walking these halls, he moved to eliminate it. But the children fought back with power beyond comprehension. Alas, only young Thatcher survived the battle. And in his righteous fury, he struck down his father to avenge his sister's death, claiming the throne as his birthright."
Gods.
"How could you possibly know about our plan?"
I nudged the bond again.Thatcher! Wake up, wake up, wake up!
"Confused?" Moros seemed delighted by my shock. "I didn't know your intentions until yesterday. Absorbing Vorinar proved most enlightening. The gift of seeing all possible futures is remarkably useful."
Ice flooded my veins. Vorinar. The trial ending abruptly. His domain destabilizing. The memory of those glassy, vacant eyes made my stomach turn. "You corrupted him."
"Very good, dear." His approval made my skin crawl. "It was the perfect opportunity. Imagine my delight when I discovered his plans to kill your brother during the final trial.Couldn't have that, of course. But what I didn't anticipate was gaining such intimate knowledge of the rebellion brewing across my domains."
