you'll be forevermore scarred with the flaw of imperfection. No more glorious white light surrounding you, angel. No more air of righteous smugness that you are beyond reproach. I've changed my mind about all this.' He gestured beyond their coarse shelter. 'I want to stick around, just to see you fall.'
Kael turned and stepped between his mentor and Vhok, facing the deva. 'His words are pointless,' the half- drow said. 'Ignore his lies.' Unlike before, when he had seemed so eager to punish the cambion for his irreverence, Kael's demeanor was stoic, pointedly ignoring Vhok.
He's recognizing how Kaanyr is trying to bait them, Aliisza realized. He's starting to see how manipulative and devious Kaanyr can be. The alu had long considered that one of her lover's more endearing qualities, but at that moment, she also felt a swelling of pride course through her for her son. Perhaps he's not as naive and idealistic as I thought.
'We have other issues to consider,' Kael said, drawing Tauran's attention away from Vhok's taunts. 'It will be nightfall soon, and we'll never reach the Court in this storm. We must either find or build better shelter here.'
'No,' Tauran replied. 'We won't stay here.'
'But the storm grows worse,' the half-drow argued. 'We can't attempt to reach the Court until things improve.'
'There is a village on the far side of the valley,' Tauran answered, pointing toward the middle of the island of rock. 'We can reach it on foot. We'll go there and wait out the storm.'
Kael nodded in acceptance, and the quartet set out. Tauran led the way while the half-drow brought up the rear. Aliisza watched as Kaanyr struggled futilely against the magical bonds, but after a moment's exertion he was plodding along behind the angel. Aliisza took up a position beside him, risking his wrath in order to speak with him.
'How long do you intend to fight this?' she asked him-softly so the other two could not hear.
'What do you care?' Kaanyr snapped at her. 'You can fly away home any time it suits you. If you find my struggles unpleasant, you don't have to remain and watch them.'
'I chose to stay,' she said, 'for more than just him.' She jerked her head once back behind the two of them.
'Truly?' Kaanyr asked, his voice mocking. 'You have room in your heart for more than your precious son? I find that difficult to believe. He is, after all, so perfect, a creature of goodness and noble upbringing.'
'So is it him you hate, because he isn't yours? Or is it me? Either way, it's pathetic. If it's him, why do you care? He was nothing more than a tool to you before, when he was the means of getting me into this place. And as for me, you didn't seem to have a problem throwing me into Pharaun's or Helm Dwarf-friend's bed when it benefited you. You cannot have it both ways, Kaanyr.'
The cambion was silent, and when Aliisza risked a glance at his face, he seemed deep in thought.
'What's done is done, you always say, lover. So now I ask: Am I not still yours?' She slipped into that old familiar sultry purr and began to saunter. 'Do you not desire me still?'
'You betrayed me to his trap,' Kaanyr replied, scowling. 'You think I'd take you into my bed now?'
Aliisza's eyes narrowed coldly. 'You betrayed yourself,' she spat. 'You became so consumed with conquering that city, so preoccupied with unseating Helm Dwarf-friend, that you forgot your caution and abandoned your cleverness. You were willing to sacrifice everything'-she paused, giving him a pointed stare-'everything you had for that dubious prize. So do not scold me of betrayal.'
They trudged on in silence for a moment more, then Aliisza continued. 'Besides, Tauran took nothing from you that Zasian did not already steal. He merely forced you to do something about it on his terms rather than your own. Though I don't blame you for despising him, you ought to be thankful for the chance to work with him to undo that damnable priest. Think of it as an unexpected advantage.'
Kaanyr looked at her for several long moments, his eyes boring intensely into her own. 'Do not expect me to enjoy it,' he said at last. 'And do not think I care one whit for either of their lives. Whatever you may think of them, I do not share in it.'
Aliisza laughed. 'You think I've suddenly developed delusions of a conscience? You think I'm so different? Zasian did his work well, my love! All of that sickly sweet caring and sacrifice business was just a game. When all is said and done, I still serve one person only.' Me, she silently added.
'We shall see,' Kaanyr replied.
The group continued on in silence after that, following the path Tauran blazed through the ancient trees. Aliisza caught herself marveling at their majesty, and she was thankful for the protection they provided from the blustering wind. Beyond their tops, out of sight and muffled through their foliage, she could hear deep rumbles, as of almost continuous thunder.
Soon after, the alu realized they had begun following an actual path. It was narrow, little more than a game trail, but it led down into the center of a great valley. Occasionally, Aliisza caught a glimpse through breaks in the forest of a great open space in the middle of the depression. Though it was hard to tell with the swirling snow and sleet, she believed she caught sight of buildings, too. They were getting closer.
When they neared the edge of the clearing, Aliisza first noted it by the increase in the wind. Tauran led them out of the trees, still following the path, which did indeed take them toward a small gathering of simple cottages clustered together. The alu caught the faint whiff of smoke and thought she could hear a startled scream.
When Tauran sprinted forward, she knew it had not been her imagination. As one, the four of them rushed into the village. More screams erupted from among the cottages, and then Aliisza could see the flames of a fire spreading along a rooftop.
Tauran surged forward, but Kaanyr drew up suddenly, staring at the sky. 'Gods and devils,' he breathed.
Kael nearly ran into the cambion from behind. 'Go!' he shouted. 'There are folk in trouble!'
But Kaanyr did not move. Instead, he only pointed skyward, and both Kael and Aliisza turned to stare.
Another great island of land filled the sky and grew larger as it tumbled toward them.
CHAPTER THREE
Kaanyr stood rooted to the spot, staring at the massive rock island tumbling slowly, inexorably, toward them. His sense of depth seemed askew to him. The great edifice appeared large and dangerously close, yet the haze of swarming, wind-whipped clouds still partially obscured it, revealing how far away and vast it truly was. His mind couldn't reconcile the disparity between the two.
As Aliisza and Kael ran forward, chasing after Tauran, Kaanyr shouted, 'We have to get clear!'
Kael stopped and turned back, motioning for the cambion to follow. 'No! We must save these people!' He shouted to be heard in the whistling wind.
Kaanyr refused to budge. 'That's not part of the bargain!' he shouted back. 'I agreed to help you stop Zasian, not rescue peasants!'
Kael grimaced only slightly. 'For all we know, Zasian did this!'
And there it was. The half-drow had planted the seed. Kaanyr's whole world shifted. Moments previous, he could have freely risen aloft, taken to the air to escape the doom that threatened them. Once the concept had been tied to Zasian's machinations, though, the cambion could no more flee than he could sprout fins and swim through stone.
Bastard, Kaanyr fumed.
Even as he imagined ways to rend the half-drow, he found himself trotting forward, preparing to lend a hand.
Tauran reached the outskirts of the simple village and threaded his way through the outlying cottages and disappeared between them, heading toward the fire. Aliisza darted after him with Kael at her heels. Kaanyr shook his head in consternation and followed them. Once past the outer ring of homes, he could see that a longhouse near the center square had caught fire. The flames, fanned by the crazed winds, had become a great, swirling column, engulfing the building and threatening others nearby.
