Reaper (Cradle, #10)

by Will Wight

He wished for any distraction, and then he heard a knock at the door. Ziel revised his wish. Any distraction except a visitor, he thought.

“One more thing, if you don’t mind. You say you’re not part of our team. I say you’re the only one who thinks that.” “You’re not even really a team,” Ziel said dismissively. “You’re not a sect, and two of you are only part of the Arelius clan in name. Mercy’s going to go back to her mother the second she calls, and if you think Eithan cares more about you than about what he can get of you…well. You’re not that naïve.” That might have been going a little too far, Ziel reflected, but it was best that Lindon hear it early. Somehow, though, the chill Ziel felt from the depths of Lindon’s black eyes had deepened. “Anyone who fights a Dreadgod by my side is on my team,” Lindon said quietly. Ziel didn’t have much to say to that. “You can call us what you want,” Lindon went on. “But whether or not you consider yourself my ally, I am yours. You have only to call on me.”

“Let him kick you,” Yerin suggested. Everyone looked to her—Naru Huan’s face had grown substantially brighter—but she didn’t back down. “You want to show you’re sorry? Let him kick you.” Eithan’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “I’m a little disturbed at how quickly you came to that suggestion.” “I dream about it every night.” Naru Huan controlled himself, but Lindon could see that he was holding back excitement. “I would like that very much.” “Well, if I’m not going to defend myself, I would prefer if you took it easy—” He didn’t.

Now she panted in exhaustion, covered in sweat from a hard day’s training. He pulled his spear back, grounding it against the deck. For him, this level of sparring counted as a break.

Cassias was happy for him, he really was, but he still kicked Eithan off the tower. It felt just as good as the Emperor had promised.

Mercy paced anxiously, tapping her staff on the floor with every other step. “I don’t want to go up against an unknown enemy and the Dreadgods and whatever’s in the labyrinth and probably my mother.” “That sounds like an adventure!” Eithan said. Mercy’s voice was grim. “There’s no way this ends well. No way. Even if we get what we’re after and make it out, the Monarchs will punish us. Do we all know that?” “You’ll have to walk me through how that’s different than now,” Yerin said.

“Good thing it hasn’t attacked us yet!” Eithan shouted. It immediately attacked.

Reigan Shen surveyed the rest of them with disdain. “Well? If you’re going to attack, let’s see it.” Lindon wasn’t so rude as to turn down an invitation like that.