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himself from the pain.
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"You took a terrible chance, my brother, Nevin said to Isranon, his words
sibilant as his breath passed over the permanently split upper lip.
Isranon sighed, a faraway note in his whispered words. There was no other way
to reach him. I had to take that chance. I saw in his eyes that he wavered."
Nevin shook his shaggy head. You have too much courage."
"It was not courage. I had to get through to him. My life is nothing if I
cannot reach these children and others. My life is my example. I refuse to
live in the world that was given to me, but in the world I am attempting to
create."
"Like with Gaeatyra when you risked her stabbing you if she found you not
clean enough."
"Yes, like Gaeatyra. Only then I was weary of spirit. Anksha tried to make me
promise never to do it again, but I couldn't and I told her so. It appears
that I have now won him over as I did Gaeatyra and the Taladrim."
"Be careful, my brother."
"I will. Judging from the way he wavers, someone besides myself has gained his
confidence. Someone who does not wish me to teach him. Someone who would use
him as a weapon against me."
Nevin pulled at his scarred upper lip. I have noticed the way he seems torn."
"Then it wasn't just me?"
"No. It is either one of the other children or one of the blood-slaves or
both."
"Jingen?"
"If it's Jingen, then it's Disharyl."
"Disharyl primes her son and her son primes Stygean. It makes sense. Jingen
never argues with anyone. Stygean argues with everyone."
"All the more reason not to trust Jingen."
Isranon considered that. I cannot keep holding Jingen back from his earned
rewards. Not in light of what happened."
"Keep your enemies closer than your friends, Nevin growled softly. Let me
train Jingen with Stygean and judge them by each other."
"Then I will make the same offer to Jingen, but I will give it to Stygean
first. I have refused consistently to meet with Disharyl privately. She throws
herself at me."
Nevin raised a woolly eyebrow. Even if my taste ran to females, I would not
wish to find that one in my bed."
Isranon chuckled softly. The Sanguine Rose was calling him into sleep and he
could not hold much longer against it. Tomorrow then. More talk tomorrow. His
father is dead. And that is enough punishing of him."
"He caused it himself."
"He knows.... I am certain he knows. Then Isranon drifted into sleep.
* * * *
"Stygean?"
The boy glanced from his father's body when he heard his name called and saw
Nainee. Go away. I want to be alone with him."
"We need to prepare his body for burning. The camp must move on."
Stygean's face screwed up in an effort to stop his tears and he pressed the
heels of his palms into his eyes. The kindness in her voice made him wince.
How can you stand to look at me? I was passion-dancing you like the
vampires!"
"To be nibari is to understand the masters and their needs. And no you
weren't. There was no vampiric obsession in what you were doing. You singled
me out because you were angry. The rebuke was gently given, but she would not
grant him a way out in this conversation.
"I assume there are others outside? Stygean lowered his hands from his eyes
and straightened from laying across his father's body.
Nainee nodded. I would not have come alone after what you did to me and
Dawnreturning."
Fresh tears rushed into Stygean's eyes. I'm sorry."
"You should be. Especially since your father would still be alive had you not
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injured Dawnreturning. He was keeping Liuthan alive, which was more than you
deserved."
Stygean winced. Does everyone know?"
Nainee shook head her. Only the commanders and their aides. However, everyone
saw Dawnreturning carried from your tent and he has not been moving about the
camp, so I assume that would lead people to suspect. After all, Randilyn's
scream carried a long way."
Stygean began to cry and Nainee wrapped her arms around him. Come on, I
didn't come here to argue with you. Dawnreturning wishes to see you."
Haig, Olin, and Daree were waiting outside. More than enough to have subdued a
grown sa'necari, much less one sa'necari stripling. Stygean felt their eyes
upon him and pressed himself against Nainee, inexplicably comforted by the
nibari's presence. He could almost taste their condemnation and only the fact
that he had lost his father as a result of his actions mitigated their desire
for vengeance. By their own laws they would have been within their rights to
kill him for stabbing their liege-lord. Yet as he considered it, he wondered
what really held them back. He imagined being drained to death by Haig or
having his heart torn from his living body by the lycans.
"Are they going to kill me? Stygean asked in a small voice as they crossed
the camp to the center where Isranon's tent and wagons lay.
"It was discussed, Nainee replied. It was also suggested that if you're old
enough to prey upon others, then you're old enough to become a blood-slave."
The specter of being taken by Anksha sent a shiver up his spine. What are
they going to do with me?"
"Nothing."
That startled Stygean. What do you mean nothing?"
"Lord Dawnreturning refuses to allow it."
"Why?"
"You will have to ask him."
Anksha was in the wagon when Nainee and Stygean climbed in. She bared her
fangs at the boy, which made his stomach tighten. The mage lay on the bed,
looking pale and worn. Anksha straightened the coverlet, drawing it up to
Isranon's chin with a pat that made him smile which suggested he did not
intend to leave it there long. Stygean could not entirely grasp how he could
have hurt him that badly.
"Leave us alone please, Isranon said.
Nainee left and Anksha followed reluctantly. She growled at Stygean, Don't
touch him. Don't touch him. Hurt him again and you'll end like your father."
Stygean paled.
"Anksha! Isranon said sharply and she left. Come here, Stygean. I'm sorry
about your father."
Stygean sat on the folding stool by the bed and nodded. It's my fault. Blind
vengeance is not the way."
"Nor is blind pacifism."
Stygean swallowed and nodded. His eyes leaked around the edges. Isranon
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