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“I wouldn’t kill a bunch of children,” Rezkin protested. “No challenge in it. Senseless killing, that.”
“You have to remember, besides Farson, everyone I ever met before leaving the fortress is dead. Everyone. Ever.”
“Would you kill someone to prevent a terrible injustice that has not yet occurred but that you know will happen if you do nothing? Or will you allow it to happen and then punish others for the offense? If you know it is going to occur, are you not also culpable for doing nothing to prevent it?”
“Oh, I don’t really blame you. I can’t say that I’ve done anything worth mentioning.” “I am the heir of a dukedom. You are much younger … and a woman. You are not expected to do anything.” Frisha nodded. “I know, but should I not try because it is not expected?
Rezkin dropped his belongings in his room and checked on Cat,
Wesson glanced from Frisha to Rezkin. He scratched his head and said, “What exactly am I to die for knowing?”
“A king without vassals is a king in name only, and I have no need of titles.” At this, she chuckled. “And yet you have acquired many.” Rezkin grinned in return. “The first act of defense is to put a name to that which you fear. Without a name, I am only fear itself.”
“Usually, the amount of power has no bearing on when the talent will present itself. My master did wonder, however, if mine was just too much to contain.”
“It was not difficult. The great mother was wearing it.” “The great mother?” said Wesson. Rezkin looked up at him. “Their leader.” Yserria tugged at the torque. “You stole this from the neck of the leader of the Adana’Ro?” She tugged at it again, but it would not budge. Rezkin told her, “Stop pulling at it, or you will hurt yourself. It is enchanted not to come off unless removed by the person who clasped it shut.”
“I am often accused of boldness. The claim is not unwarranted. None who have chosen to test me have been disappointed.”
“You never stop,” Serunius said. “You are always moving the pieces, plotting, manipulating—even now, in an insignificant challenge between middling houses. What could you possibly gain from this? It will have no effect on Erisial’s decision—or do you simply enjoy the blood?”
“You are a striker,” Akris said with surprise. Rezkin stood and rounded the desk. He met Farson’s gaze before turning to Akris. “Strikers have honor. I do not. Strikers are praised for their service. I am feared. Strikers belong to a brotherhood. I stand alone. Strikers answer to a master. I am the master. Do not mistake me for a striker.”
Frisha blinked at him through watery lashes. “I-I don’t know. It doesn’t make any sense. I don’t make any sense.”
The door slammed in his face a second time, and Rezkin was left wondering as to the benefits of checking on her.
I could’ve been torn apart by those lizard monsters, but instead I’ll die at the hands of men.” “They are monsters, too,” said Tam. “True, but they’re monsters with the keys,”
“Perhaps I am only pretending, to throw you off guard.” “That is absurd,” said Rezkin. “You could be infirm and on your deathbed, and I would not drop my guard.”
“You will do well in a fight, so long as you don’t kick the lion.” A bubble of laughter broke through Tam’s misery as he thought of how Rezkin might respond. He said, “I am the lion.”
“He is incapable of love.” She flushed. “No one is incapable of love.” “He is no one,”
“I just realized that we seem to be collecting princesses.”
“The face was different, but the enemy was the same. Hate. It is a senseless emotion that induces strife wherever it persists.” “How am I supposed to fight hate?” Rezkin looked back to him. “Defeat all those who wield it.” “Then, are we not the same as them?” Rezkin said, “I do not hate my enemies. I merely recognize the need for them to be silenced in whatever manner is fitting.”
“It is easy to blame the horrors and injustices of hate on demons, much harder to credit our fellow human beings. We do not like seeing such terrible defects in ourselves. The irony is that demons do not act out of hate or contempt. They are begotten of chaos, and it is that which they seek to spread in the same way that we often seek order. It is simply their nature.” “So, you are saying humans are worse than demons.” “Only in their motives,”
