Laerek’s skin was already pale, but it somehow turned paler. Thren pulled away his sword, put the bloody tip against his throat.
“You claimed I killed Leon?” he asked. “I’d have gladly done so, but I wasn’t given the privilege. The Watcher here took that from me. So why? What has my guild done to you?”
“Alyssa, as well,” Zusa said, leaping to the ground with daggers drawn. “You tried to have her killed. I can’t forgive you, not for that.”
Laerek’s eyes bounced between all three of them, and he saw no comfort in any, no signs he might live. Closing them, he began praying again, until Thren shoved his shortsword between his lips. The priest’s clattering teeth rattled against the steel. Thren leaned close, and Haern saw how easily his gaze broke the man, so much easier than it had been against Percy.
“Why?” Thren asked. “We’re all here, now tell us why.”
“I only follow orders,” Laerek said when Thren withdrew the blade. Tears ran down his face. “I’m a messenger, just a messenger.”
“Messenger for whom?” asked Haern.
Laerek looked at them all. For a brief moment he paused, as if afraid to say, but his will was weak.
“He’s a powerful priest,” Laerek said. “His name is Luther. He sends me his orders by letter from the Stronghold, and I carry them out. That’s all I know.”
“Luther?” Thren asked, and he looked to the other two. Both shook their heads, not recognizing the name.
“I swear it’s true!” Laerek insisted, seeing their doubt.
“One more question,” Zusa said, moving closer. Thren stepped away, and bowed as if he were a gentlemen making way for a lady. Zusa knelt before Laerek, and glanced down at her daggers.
“You blinded my beloved,” she said, looking up at him. “I hope you burn for an eternity.”
Her dagger thrust into his throat, twisted, and then tore out, taking flesh and blood with it. Laerek flailed at her with shaking hands, but she held him as she watched him die. When at last he went still, Zusa stood and spat on his corpse.
“I thought you had a question,” Haern said.
Zusa looked to him and shrugged.
“I lied.”
Haern didn’t know what to say, but meanwhile Thren laughed and laughed.
Epilogue
No one had slept the rest of the night in the Connington mansion. Guards rushed about, suddenly without anyone in charge, and each one nervous about what the death of Stephen meant to them. Lord Gandrem assumed control with ease, settling into a role he’d known his entire life. Zusa respected him, yet feared him, as well, for every time she looked she saw Melody there at his side, his hand in hers.
Zusa walked down the hallway, glaring at any guard who looked twice at her. Morning had come, yet the tension remained. It’d been a long couple years establishing Leon’s heir. With no remaining sons, illegitimate or otherwise, it’d be a terrible squabble among the scattered remnants of the Connington family. She felt anger in the guards directed at her, guards who had been treated and paid well, all potentially ending by her single thrust of a dagger through their master’s eye.
Alyssa lay on her bed, Nathaniel at her side, when Zusa stepped into the bedroom.
“Is all well?” she asked. Nathaniel glanced up at her, and she saw the exhaustion in his eyes, which were bloodshot and wet with tears. Zusa smiled at him, wishing she could lend him strength…not that she had much left to lend.
“I’ve known better days,” Alyssa said. A cloth was over her face, hiding the empty sockets. “The priests say they can do nothing. I’ve sent Terrance to find the finest glass smith in the land. I may not be able to see, but I’ll have eyes, damn it, beautiful green eyes…”
She was crying, and no squeezing of her hands by her son seemed able to stop it. Zusa felt a burden growing in her chest. She wished she could say something, do something, to make it all better. But she could perform no miracles with her daggers and cloak.
“Nathan, I need a moment with your mother,” she said. Nathaniel instinctively held his mother tighter, and Zusa smiled to show nothing was wrong. “It is no worrisome matter,” she insisted. “I just wish a few words in private.”
“You can wait outside the door,” Alyssa told him.
Nathaniel nodded, then blushed upon realizing she couldn’t see it.
“Yes, mother,” he said.
Zusa shut the door behind him, then turned back to Alyssa.
“He’s so frightened,” Alyssa said, putting a hand on her forehead. “I can’t blame him. Even with Stephen dead, he thinks the guards will turn on us at any second.”
“A wise boy to fear it,” Zusa said, sliding up beside the bed. “We should return to our own mansion whenever you are well. I would entrust your life to them no longer.”
Alyssa nodded.
“I’ll tell Terrance to make the preparations.”
Zusa sat down, and she struggled to find the proper words.
“I killed him,” she said. “Not just Stephen, but the man who ordered him. I tried to make it painful, but I didn’t have time. I had to get back to you.”
Alyssa reached out her hand, and Zusa took it, pressed it against her cheek.
“I’m sorry,” Zusa whispered. “I should have been here. I should have been faster, shouldn’t have gotten caught…”
“It’s not your fault,” Alyssa said. “I shouldn’t have been so…blind.”
She laughed, laughed even though she could hardly breathe, even though she still sniffled from her tears, which soaked into the cloth. Zusa squeezed her hand tighter, then kissed her fingertips.
“Not again,” she said. “I won’t let you ever be in danger again. I failed you before, but I swear to fix this. I swear I’ll find a way.”
“Forget me,” Alyssa said. “Nathaniel is all that matters. His role in our dealings needs increased tremendously. Every vulture will be circling. If Nathaniel is to be my heir, he needs to take it now, and show Dezrel his strength.”
“But he’s so young…”
“And he’s endured more than most have in their lifetimes. Gods help me, I’m blind, and he’s lost an arm. The vultures won’t just be circling, they’ll be pecking at our corpses.”
Another bitter laugh. Zusa hated to see her so, but she also couldn’t deny her argument. Everyone would be searching for weakness now. Potential replacements for Nathaniel would come out of the woodwork.
“I’ll kill them all,” Zusa whispered. “Any challenger, any threat. I won’t lose you, Alyssa. I don’t think I could endure it.”
Alyssa reached out, and Zusa leaned close so she could wrap her arms about her. As they embraced, Alyssa kissed her neck, then pressed her forehead against her breast.
“You can’t kill the world,” Alyssa told her. “And they must come to fear Nathaniel, not you. Just promise that if something should happen to me, you’ll raise him as your own.”
“Alyssa…”
“Promise me!”
Zusa swallowed, and it felt like nails caught in her throat.
“I promise,” she said.
Alyssa leaned back in the bed, and it looked like she relaxed for the first time since her encounter with Stephen.
“I need some rest,” she said. “Send Nathaniel in if he’s still upset.”
