Ian glanced at the servants, then snapped his fingers. They hustled out, the room mostly furnished. The two nearby cells had also been emptied and cleaned, the prisoners moved deeper into the dungeon, behind one of the many doors that helped separate the various blocks.
“Your girl gets it,” Ian said once the servants were gone. He leaned against the bars and crossed his arms. “Have you thought about what will happen if angels do come demanding you, and we refuse?”
“They’ll either leave, or you’ll kill them,” Qurrah said, as if it were obvious.
“True,” Ian said. “But think long term for a moment. Just try.”
“It’ll be war,” Tessanna said quietly. “Terrible, brutal war.”
“A war I don’t see us winning,” Ian said. “At least, not as we are. Perhaps if you two lived up to your various legends we might stand a chance. But we’d be going up against the might of the angels, plus Mordeina’s far larger army. You were at the Bloodbrick. You saw their show of might.”
“Might currently spent fighting orcs,” Qurrah argued.
“Aye,” Ian said. “And just imagine how quickly they’d turn back around if they heard rumors of war. You two coming here puts us all in danger. I’m not one to complain. My life is on the line pretty much every day I put on this armor. But if you’re going to stay here, if you’re going to let my men die to protect you from some winged maniacs, all I’m asking for is a little appreciation.”
Qurrah bowed his head.
“My apologies,” he said. “I should better control my tongue. I am thankful for all you do, and pray that our time here in this dungeon will be long and uneventful.”
Ian nodded his head, then pushed off from the bars.
“Much better.” He tossed them an iron ring. “Here’s the keys to the cell, just in case you need to lock yourselves in. Angels might be strong, but I doubt they’ll be breaking open bars with their bare hands. Try to stay in here as much as you can, but you’re free to walk around the city at your leisure. Servants will come to see if you need anything-food, drink, whatever. Other than that, enjoy your stay. I’ve got some patrols to schedule.”
He left, the heavy door to the dungeon slamming shut with a bang. Qurrah stood in the center of their cell, feeling as if his feet were bolted in place.
“War,” he said softly as Tessanna flung herself onto the bed. “Is that really what we create by coming here?”
“Don’t blame yourself,” Tessanna said, stretching out on her back. “If it wasn’t us, it’d be someone else. You heard Bram. He won’t let a single man or woman be judged, and over the past years I’m sure many who were spared the angels’ wrath have crossed the Corinth into Ker’s lands.”
“Pale comfort,” Qurrah muttered.
“But comfort nonetheless.”
He joined her on the bed, and Tessanna curled her body into his, her face pressed against his chest and her eyes closed. Slowly he brushed her long hair, his mind far away.
“Tess,” he whispered. “Can you sense the angels?”
After a long pause, she nodded.
“They’re not like men,” she said. “They burn in my mind if I let it wander.”
Qurrah knew he should ask, but he was frightened to. Taking a deep breath, he let it out, then asked anyway.
“Do you sense angels coming toward us?”
Another long pause.
“Yes.”
“How many?”
She curled tighter against him, kissed his neck.
“Enough,” she whispered.
21
Tessanna watched her lover sleep and wished she could do the same. He lay half dressed, the result of their lovemaking. Despite all that had happened, he looked peaceful. For that, she was jealous.
In her mind, the voices whispered.
Tessanna balled her fists, clenching her jaw so tightly it bared her teeth.
“You’re a dead god,” she whispered. “Your priests are scattered, your paladins in hiding. All faith in you is broken.”
She never expected an answer, but it seemed Karak’s dim voice heard. She felt unseen eyes turn to her, felt her presence finally acknowledged. It sent a chill down her spine, she who had long existed under the watchful eyes of the goddess.
The presence vanished, the oppressive weight on her chest lifting, only to be replaced by another presence that burned in her mind like fireflies.
The angels had arrived.
The sound of shouting awoke Qurrah from his slumber. His eyes snapped open, his mind immediately alert. Grabbing his clothes, he began to dress. When he saw Tessanna sitting at the foot of the bed, already awake, he was hardly surprised. No doubt she’d sensed the angels’ presence long before they actually arrived.
“Have they landed yet?” he asked her.
“I don’t know.”
Her voice was calm, emotionless, but there were tears running down her face. Feeling strangely guilty for them, he kissed both her cheeks, then held her close.
“Together we can withstand anything,” he told her. “Anything.”
She smiled up at him, and he pulled her to her feet.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
Qurrah shook his head.
“I won’t cower in here while others die for me. If there’s to be a fight, then I will be a part of it.”
He wrapped his whip around his arm, its tightening weight a comfort to him. Done, he stepped out from the cell and climbed the stairs leading to the dungeon’s exit. To his surprise, he found it locked from the outside. He beat his fist against it, calling out to the guards on the other side.
“Let us out!”
“Forgive me,” a man shouted. “I have orders not to.”
Qurrah groaned.
“That stupid bastard.”
“It seems he knows you better than you thought,” Tessanna said, and a smile flickered briefly on her face.
Before Qurrah could ponder ways of smashing the door open, a voice rang out. Despite the thick walls of the dungeon he heard it clear as day, leaving him certain that it was some sort of clerical or divine magic.
“Qurrah Tun!” cried an instantly familiar voice. “Our council has convened. We have capitulated to man’s law, recognizing mankind’s authority to rule themselves as Ashhur has granted. Come forth, and accept your fate with dignity and grace.”
“Dignity,” Qurrah snorted. “What a damn fool.”
His bluster was fake, and it was obvious Tess knew it as well. That voice, that powerful, intimidating voice,
