Page 52 of The Night Prince 3
His son paused for a fraction of a second. Violence or talking? Abandon him and all the answers he might have or find Finley on his own?
“Why?” Rahven finally asked.
“Because Finley has made a choice and you must honor it,” Vex said firmly.
“What choice?”
He could see how Rahven struggled to keep the words flowing even as his body simply wanted to act. Force Vex to tell him where Finley was. Run off to find Finley. But precious information could be lost. All of this went through Rahven’s mind in an instant.
Impressive that he has such a tight hold on himself especially for one so young. But if that is so then how can this all be an accident? Well, magic is a potent thing. A thing sometimes with a mind of its own. We shall see.
“His heart’s desire,” Vex answered.
There was a long beat and then Rahven said rather than asked, “Magic.”
He nodded. The blade moved. “Magic.”
“But humans can’t use magic.” Though Rahven made that a statement, too, it was clear he was really asking if that was true.
“Of course, they can. Just not like us. So I sent him to someone who could teach him,” Vex answered.
Rahven’s brow furrowed. “Where?”
“Not far as I told you earlier. In the city. But enough about Finley’s story. We’re here to talk about yours,” Vex answered.
“No.” Rahven’s single word response had Vex lifting his eyebrows.
“No?”
“Finley will need my help–”
“No,” Vex delighted in answering back in the same manner.
“I must–”
“No, Rahven, you must do nothing. Finley would not thank you for interrupting this. And you cannot help him. He rises or falls on his own. As all of us do in the end,” Vex’s voice had dropped to a much lower register. He was serious about this. Finley’s destiny could potentially be a great one. One that could potentially assist him in time. No one could be allowed to affect that adversely. “Nor can you help the others. Not right now in any case.”
“Are they in danger?” Rahven was single minded.
“Yes.” He grinned. He was enjoying these one word answers!
Rahven tensed. “Then take me to them.”
“No. Don’t you like how I can simply tell you ‘no’ like you tell so many others?” He chuckled as Rahven bared his teeth.
“This is not a game,” Rahven growled at him. “These are people’s lives. The Sun King’s life!”
“Ah, yes, but surely you understand that the Sun King, above all, is safest here, don’t you?” Vex lifted an eyebrow. “He has a Sunstone. Very naughty to bring it here. I’m afraid he might kill my lichen if he uses it. Hopefully, he’ll be more imaginative in how he deals with danger.”
“Why have you done this?” Rahven asked.
“You all came of your own free will, Rahven. I am merely helping everyone get what they want and need. Very generously, I might add,” Vex told him as he tossed his long hair over his shoulder.
Rahven stared at it. He was looking very closely at Vex. The Night King realized now that his son had been studying him minutely behind those very clever glasses. What did he see when he looked at Vex? That they had the same chin? The same high cheekbones? That they both were very still until they chose not to be?
“I do not think they will thank you,” Rahven said suddenly.
Vex’s lips parted. Now that was very astute. They likely wouldn’t. Because each one of them had mountains to climb and they would not be the same people when they reached those high and lofty peaks. They would think it was his fault that this was the case when it truly wasn’t. They had to climb after all. He had just pointed the way. And really wasn’t that good of him? No one had pointed the way for him! He’d had to stumble about. But they had him to make their paths–however difficult–straighter.
