Page 5

“No,” Damon says from the doorway. “He is not dead. He is no more dead than I am. The empire will not succeed in killing him just as it could not kill me.”

Elric looks at Damon, his drunken merriment seems to melt away, leaving a sour expression. He blames Damon for Lukas being imprisoned. “Just because you did not die in your exile does not mean they will not take off Lukas’s head,” he slurs out.

Damon stares back at Elric, but says nothing. Lyr, who stands behind him, touches his wrist.

“I have been considering,” says Perl, the first word he has said since he sat down. His voice is a little odd. It reminds Tobi of chiming bells, although it is perfectly clear, “if Damon’s idea could be true. I followed my father’s direction to ensure you were all sired. Directives from some powers beyond. In the Fae Realm we would consider them the Aeons, perhaps in the mortal world, they go by the names of some of your ancient Gods: Alios and Gaari or perhaps the Triple God of the forest. Who can say who truly charged my father with his mission, but perhaps those powers also protect all five of you.”

“I survived my exile because of Lyr,” Damon says, seating himself and taking his own bowl of the porridge. “It was Doroth Zain who sent him to me. Was that the work of these powers?”

Doroth Zain walks into the room when his name is mentioned as if he has been announced. His face is drawn and stern. Karo follows him, staying slightly behind, silent and pale as a ghost. Neither of them speak.

“And before that,” Perl says, flashing a quick glance to Doroth Zain as if checking for his ascent, “there was your time in the Azurian army. And Lukas’s part in the assassination attempt on Selim. Chancellor Vindar, we know, has tried to end all of you and failed.”

“You think some power protects us?” says Damon. “That is why Lyr came to save me on Sanvicta?” He sounds quite disbelieving.

Tobi walks back to his chair beside Harok and interprets some of the conversation. Then says, “In the Amber Forest, I was close to death once. Harok saved me. But there was a great deal of good fortune involved. He followed me and the fight to free me turned our way as if we were blessed.”

The whole room seems to turn to Kerik, as if waiting for his assertions of protection. He does not appear to be listening. He has dragged Perl onto his lap, his thumb on the faerie’s bottom lip. Perl is gazing at Kerik in a way that makes Tobi squirm on his chair.

Perl seems to have forgotten his own part in the conversation utterly.

“Kerik,” Damon snaps.

Kerik drags his gaze from Perl. “Yes?”

Damon rolls his eyes, as if trying to lead this alliance of his brothers and their lovers is already trying him. “Have you ever found yourself escaping death as if protected by a greater power?”

Kerik shrugs. “I was locked in a prison of ice once. I survived by using my magic. But it was great luck that I managed to create magic in that moment.”

“Perhaps not luck,” Perl murmurs.

“It could be considered,” Doroth Zain says, “that because of what you are fated to do, that fate acts like a kind of ward of protection.”

“So Lukas is safe?” Elric says.

“No. Not safe,” Doroth Zain replies, “I do not doubt Atticul will torture him.”

Elric blinks hard, pulls his shoulders back and says, “So, show me your mimicry of him.”

This surprises Tobi. “Of Lukas?”

“Yes.”

“I suppose I…” Tobi stands again. He walks back to the space before the fire. He takes a breath then rubs his hands together and does the voice he does to play Lukas as an evil, conniving, cowardly traitor. He doesn’t do it for more than a moment. Then shrugs. “It was like that.”

“Nothing like him,” says Elric.

“I know,” Tobi says. “I told you.”

Damon leans across the table and touches Elric’s arm. “We will get him back, I swear it to you. We will travel to Attar as soon as the storm passes.”

Elric snatches his arm away. “You only want to go back to Attar because you know Lyr’s marks are the Books of Alios and you need to take him to the Hare.”

“Partly,” Damon nods diplomatically, “partly it is because now we have the text that tells how the first Five Princes defeated Ur-Durik, but mostly because Lukas is my brother and your lover.” Damon gives a small smile. “And because he’s Lukas.”

Elric makes a snorting noise and turns away from Damon to face Tobi. “Do someone else,” he says.

Tobi says, “I did Prince Rafus too. Father. It was not very respectful, but I did sound a lot like him.”