The Name of All Things (A Chorus of Dragons #2)

by Jenn Lyons

“Where’s your Cornerstone? Just curious.” Kihrin hadn’t lowered the sword. “I don’t have one.” “And once again, I don’t believe you,” Kihrin said. Relos Var vanished. The portal wall vanished. Relos Var—the real Relos Var—stepped forward to Kihrin. “Then stab me,” he told Kihrin, “but the moment you stick me with that little piece of metal, I’ll revert to my true form—” He glanced around the tavern. “Which is considerably larger than this room. So Urthaenriel won’t protect you—or your friends—from being smeared against the bedrock. I’ll heal. But you?” He shrugged. “Thaena’s quite busy killing demons at the moment, but I assume she’d get around to Returning you at some point.” Var glanced at Janel. “And you. But probably not anyone else.” Kihrin set the edge of Urthaenriel against Relos Var’s neck. “You’re bluffing.” Relos Var smiled. “Am I?” Another gate opened. Kihrin didn’t look away from Relos Var, lest this prove a distraction. But the wizard seemed just as surprised by the gate as anyone else. Relos Var’s eyes widened. “Thurvishar?” The Lord Heir of House D’Lorus ran through the open portal, which briefly showed a watery expanse and a sky preparing for dawn. He closed the gate, turned around, and then drew up short as he took in the scene in front of him. “Is this a bad time?”