The Strength of the Few (Hierarchy, #2)

by James Islington

FEAR, MY FATHER ONCE TOLD me, is simply our realisation of a lack of control.

split the world into three near-identical copies. Res—where we’re from; Obiteum, which is here; and Luceum. Don’t ask me how,” he adds with a wry smile.

“I went to all of them, Vis.” Doesn’t look back. “I wept at all of them.”

“Never let them change you, Eidhin. Never. You are more honourable, more of a friend, than any man could hope for,” I whisper fiercely in his ear. “And Callidus would tell you the same.”

Regretting past decisions. Mourning time lost that he can never get back.

We all are guilty of this.

A man who would remain untouchable so long as he alone was present in all three worlds, because it meant he had dominion over Will. Would be the only one who could control it as it had been before the Rending.” He glances at me. Assessing. “Synchronism, they called it.”

One life, in order to save millions. And you may be the only one who can take it.”

“YOU SENT ME TO DIE!” I roar the words.

Easier to despise than understand. Easier to mock than empathise.

That is the same today!

“Lanistia?” I frown at her. “What’s wrong?” She bares her teeth at me. It’s not anger. It’s confusion. Desperation. “Complete the journey, warrior,” she says sorrowfully. She has a dagger in her hand.

It is impossible to be near him for any significant amount of time and not, even reluctantly, smile.

I love people like that!

Inaction picks a side.

100%

only thing we can control is our attitude. And sometimes that can be enough.

“No, Eidhin. No. I’m not alright.” There’s a massive hand on my shoulder. I look up to see Eidhin crouching in front of me. Eyes locked to mine. “Whatever you need,” he says quietly.

He’s a good friend.

head. “I don’t deserve a friend like you.” “Truth.” Eidhin’s chair creaks as he leans back. “Now. Tell me what has to be done.”

“Had a good teacher to make sure of that.” “Ulciscor?” I hesitate. “Lanistia.”

that it is literally a gift: it can only ever be given, never taken.

“I may have beaten you,” I tell him quietly. My father’s words echoing on my lips. “Foundation is like life. You can make no mistakes at all, and still lose.”

“There’s an old saying, Vis. The young know they will die—” “But only the old believe it,”

“Another gods-damned school?” I mutter to myself.

“Not your fault.” “It’s a bit his fault,” Aequa

“It’s a bit my fault,” concedes Indol ruefully. He sighs. “Nice piece of diplomacy back there, by the way.

“A father is a man who loves you, no matter what. Not all of us can have one.”

DEATH, EIDHIN ONCE INSISTED WHILE explaining the ddram cyfraith, is our most important horizon. It matters because we need an end to what we can see.

Without it, we would never be able to focus on what is truly important: that which is in front of us.

“No. Never. Rule a man, and he will do whatever you can imagine. Befriend him, and he will do more.” Gods, I miss my father.

“The boy you tortured. Didn’t he tell you that he wasn’t Catenicus?” “No. Admitted he… was.” Oh, gods. Callidus. Gods-damned, courageous idiot.

Oh that is terrible

“I forgive you. I do. But… some mistakes can’t be undone.”

True

“You gave it a name?” Diago glances at her and gives a low rumble. “Diago it is,” Aequa mutters.

Gotta love Diago!!!!

“It’s what I called him, when I saved him as a pup. I named him after a friend back in Aquiria.” I don’t look at her. Carefully infuse my tone with heaviness and hesitation. “One who… didn’t make it out.”

“Obiteum is lost. Do not open the gate. Synchronous is death.”

A MAN WHO IS CHASED may be free. A man who chases never is. Kadmos told me that,

They will never know how grateful I am that I do not have to go through this alone.

I am glad he has Aquae and Eidhin. It is like Harry having Ron and Hermione.

Aequa and Eidhin. “You two need to help him. Keep an eye on him, wherever you can.”

“Maybe after dinner, we could go and see Diago.”

An animal sidekick just like a Disney movie.

Grief, my mother once told me, is love’s most honest expression. The last and hardest aspect of truly, truly caring for someone. She

Profound

without grief, love would be meaningless. Because it is impossible to truly love something that cannot be lost.

Wow

think of my parents and my sisters, and I wonder what they would think of where I am now. And I know the answer. There is honour here that runs deeper than anything I ever saw in the Hierarchy. They would have loved this place.

He reminded me exactly of my father.

Is his father alive in this world?

look across at Tara. “You saved your father. By coming here, you ensured a good man would continue to rule.”

It has been almost five years since I have been honest about who I am.

That’s a heavy burden

With these people. They mean something to me, something I haven’t felt since Suus. Something I cannot lose again. This evening, I’m going to have to make sure they see that.

Diago’s massive, menacing form pads a few paces behind us. He’s adapted with surprising ease to the city, over the last few months.

“I told you not to bring him.” Ulciscor’s voice is low as he embraces his wife. “He was rather insistent. And his pet made it harder to refuse.”

“So this is… one of the other worlds.”

Ostius can travel to the other worlds? What if Vis runs into Vis???

Feels like I should know where he is, be able to sense him, somehow. But there’s nothing like that.

you up a diplomat. This isn’t your world, and things are different here,” says Ostius irritably. “Some things are universal.”

Who is this woman? It has to be significant . Tara? Grianne?

“You are defeated.” “I am disarmed,”

“I had to show her how much it meant to me.” “I know. And she was stupid not to see it long before today. You are both stupid.”

“And she would be even more so not to take you with her.”