Page 54 of The Night Prince 3
“You’ve come all this way, Rahven. I know that you have questions for me, but you ask none,” Vex pointed out. “Why are you punishing yourself?”
“I am not,” Rahven answered with a shake of his head. “But there are other things that are more important.”
Vex lifted an eyebrow. “More important than who you are?”
“I know who I am.”
“But you don’t–”
“I know who I am,” Rahven repeated stubbornly or maybe it was with bone deep confidence. “My companions are in danger and you wish me to forget that. I will not. You think to tempt me to forget that and stay with you in exchange for knowledge or power. I will not. I cannot.”
Ardreth disappeared from Rahven’s hand and he turned his back on Vex. He was heading towards Illithor, certain that his friends were there or that was the right place to begin to look.
“I told you that you will not find them without me–”
“You do not lie well,” Rahven answered without turning around. “At least, not to me.”
Vex’s eyes narrowed. “How well do you lie, Rahven?”
Rahven’s steps slowed then stopped. “I have not lied to you.”
“Not yet,” Vex answered as he rested Ruehnar against his shoulder. “But I have not asked you anything of import. Anything that would shake your worldview.”
“Even when you asked me to call you father?” Rahven asked.
Vex was startled by how his own heart leaped when Rahven said that title. And it made him feel warm that Rahven had found simply calling him that important or world shaking.
“Yes, well, I suppose that’s true. But this is different. I guided Finley to Death. I guided Rhalyf to his sister… Well, he thinks it's her. I guided Aquilan to his worst fear. I guided Helgrom and the others to a tempting past. And you, Rahven, I brought here.” Vex tapped the ire with the tip of Ruehnar. “Because like the others, you need to be here.”
Rahven slowly turned around to face him. His gaze swung around the space, but Vex likely knew that all he saw was the magma waterfall and river. Nothing was clearly jogging his memory. The thing he wanted–no, needed–Rahven to see was on the opposite bank.
“Come see what I have to show you, answer my questions, and I will bring you to your friends,” Vex offered. “It will take but a moment. And it will be quicker than hiking to Illithor on your own.”
Rahven considered this. He answered with actions not words. He raced forward and leaped upon the nearest ire island to the shore. Vex smiled and nodded in satisfaction. But he wondered if that would be the last smile he sent Rahven’s way. He turned and leaped himself to the next island and the next until he was at the far shore. Rahven kept up with him, landing lightly beside him after a moment.
“What do you need me to see…” Rahven’s voice suddenly cut short as he saw what Vex wanted him to see.
They were standing on the edge of a massive crater. It was a blackened thing so deep that seeing the bottom was difficult. Seeing the opposite side was nearly impossible.
“Did you do this, Rahven?” Vex asked.
“W-what?” Rahven stammered for the first time. He had been staring at the crater in shock, but there was no recognition there. Not yet at least.
Vex hardened himself as he felt a fleeting feeling that Ashryn would not want him to do this. But he had to know. “Did you kill her, Rahven?”
“What?!” This word exploded from Rahven’s mouth. “Who?”
Vex swore he felt Ashryn’s spirit tugging at him, urging him to not say a word, to let this go. But like most things that people begged him not to do, he did it anyway.
“Your mother,” Vex answered. “Did you kill your mother?”
The Night Prince
Declan stared at the Kindreth–his father, allegedly–as he was accused of the unthinkable. But was it unthinkable? He pictured his adopted mother, bleeding out, holding the kitchen knife slick with her own blood, staring at him with love and fear.
“They’re here for you, Declan. They’re here for you.” she’d whispered, gasped, blood flecking her lips and spattering her already drenched shirt.
For you…
