Page 13 of The Night Prince 3
“That murdering us wouldn’t appear just. He has no reason to attack us,” Finley said. “And there’s no cover for him to do it even if he simply wants to.”
“I… see what you are saying. Well, except for me. He thinks I am part of a cabal to assassinate him. And if he were to attack me, Aquilan would intercede and–”
“Yes, that’s possible, but if he were really here after you then wouldn’t he have done more than simply dismissed your glamour in the forest?” Finley pressed. “When you were divining what happened to Seith and Leisha, he could have done more than he did, right?”
“Yes, that trap could have killed me,” Rhalyf forced his breathing to ease. It was true. Vex could have killed him then. But he hadn’t.
Maybe he’s just tormenting me! Taking everything from me before he kills me…
“I believe he must be here for Declan. Clearly, there’s a connection there, at least,” Finley argued.
“Oh, I definitely agree with you there!” Rhalyf thought of Sorrow’s End being likely a “tattoo” on Declan’s back right at that moment.
Sorrow’s End a Blood Weapon! Good gods, Declan is too strong. Vex has to kill him. He can’t risk having him out there!
“The point is that I highly doubt he’s here to simply kill or attack you or–or the Aravae, generally. He has no justification for doing that…” Finley suddenly stopped talking. His eyes were distant. Clearly, something had occurred to him. “But if Darcassan were to go to Illithor and take something…” Finley’s head shot up. “That would give him a reason.”
“Yes… yes, it would…” A yawning pit opened in Rhalyf’s stomach. “We have to stop Darcassan.”
“We have to. We can’t run. We must do what we came here to do: rescue Darcassan and stop him from taking anything from Illithor,” Finley nodded vigorously. “Because, even if Vex doesn’t intend to act violently towards the Aravae all along, Darcassan’s thieving might force his hand to respond that way. A lesson for others.”
“Yes.” A chill swept through him. Even if Vex didn’t want to attack the Aravae now, if an Aravae prince were to loot Illithor, to steal even one measly weapon, that would be enough for Vex to have to respond.
Just like the Nhagzad. None could survive the betrayal so that no other ally would think about it.
“And besides, even if you told Aquilan that Vex was here, do you think he would abandon his nephew? No, he would just insist that we all leave and he would go after Darcassan alone,” Finley added.
He cupped Finley’s face and kissed his forehead fiercely, which left Finley blinking and staring at him. “You are bloody brilliant! I just had to kiss that big brain of yours,” he added in explanation.
Finley lifted an eyebrow. “So what will you say to Aquilan?”
“I must tell him… I… Finley, I’ve lied to him about everything,” Rhalyf’s voice was wretched. “Everything.”
“You had your reasons,” Finley suggested.
And he had! The fact that Aquilan would never have let him open his mouth to speak before killing him was the number one reason. And it wouldn’t have been just the Sun King. A Kindreth? On the Lieran Plane? In the noble court?
“It won’t matter. He’ll never forgive me.” Suddenly, Rhalyf wished Vex was here to kill him.
All is lost.
“He’s your best friend.”
“Didn’t you hear what I said? I lied to him about everything! Finley–”
“Then that’s all the more reason that you need to tell him carefully about everything. Which you cannot do in the Pedway,” Finley pointed out.
Rhalyf clutched onto that. “I can’t. You’re right. I can’t tell him now.”
I don’t want to tell him ever.
“Tell him what you found about Seith and Leisha’s deaths and that a powerful Kindreth is here. Tell him your fears about Darcassan’s actions and how they might be taken by that Kindreth. You can even tell him…” Here Finley swallowed, “about your fears that it is Vex.”
“Y-yes, I can do that. I should do that,” he hastened to add.
“Those are the facts he needs. The rest can wait,” Finley suggested. “For when we’re not in dire danger in a dark pit surrounded by enemies.”
Rhalyf let out a soft laugh. “Yes, yes, exactly. I’ll tell Aquilan everything else later. But it’s not just my secret, Finley. There’s… there’s Declan to consider.”
