“You’re certainly proud of yourself,” said Will sardonically.

  “I have only two things left to me after surviving so many millennia: pride and power. It’s been a long time since I needed things like humility. Are you ready to make a deal?”

  Will grimaced. “It’s difficult to deal when there’s no foundation for trust. Unlike the fae, I have no way of knowing if you’ll keep your part of a bargain, or even if you’re telling the truth.”

  “The same problem exists when you deal with other humans. Listen to me for a while and I believe you will see the wisdom in working with me. Despite all the problems you listed earlier, we are not truly at cross purposes.” The lich’s voice sounded smooth and reasonable.

  “Explain what you want me to do—all of it—everything you want me to do, from beginning to end, and tell me the reasons. I’m not doing anything for vague purposes, and I won’t act blindly,” said Will evenly. “Do that and then we can negotiate on the details, assuming we really do have a shared goal.”

  “This could take a while,” warned Grim Talek.

  Will scuffed the ground, scraping up the thin layer of black glass and creating a clear dirt space, then he sat, crossing his legs for comfort. “I don’t have any plans for today. Let’s talk.”

  “This might be better after I replace this body,” suggested the lich.

  Will shook his head. “I don’t trust you. If you want to convince me, do it now, while you’re nearly helpless.”

  “I’m never helpless, William, but very well. It this makes you more comfortable, so be it. The first problem concerns the trolls you brought over.”

  “Trolls?”

  The lich sighed. “This will take forever if you keep interrupting.”

  Will closed his mouth and gestured for the ancient undead monster to continue. Grim Talek spoke for half an hour, and his arguments were persuasive. When Will finally began interrupting again, it was to ask for clarifications and to make suggestions. He wasn’t happy about any of it, but he couldn’t fault the lich’s logic, assuming his primary assertions were true. He still couldn’t rule out lies, but Grim Talek had clear reasons for every part of his plan. Some of it was repugnant, and Will’s role was unpleasant in the extreme. At the end he was convinced, but he still had serious reservations. “We need to modify your scheme in a few ways,” he responded.

  “So you’ll do it?” The lich sounded mildly surprised.

  Will nodded. “Provided you meet my demands.”

  “State them.”

  “You cannot touch Selene.”

  “That’s it?”

  “I’m just getting started,” said Will impatiently. “You can’t touch her at all, and you have to keep the others safe. If anything happens to them, our deal is over.”

  “Fair enough. Define ‘others,’” said Grim Talek. Will did, reciting a long list of friends and family. He hoped he hadn’t forgotten anyone. When he finished, the lich agreed. “You have obviously spent too much time dealing with the fae, but your terms are acceptable. Anything else?”

  Will shrugged. “You were right. Assuming you weren’t lying, we both want the same thing.”

  The lich regarded him silently for a moment, then asked, “And that’s enough for you?”

  Resigned to his fate, Will answered, “If I die, I die and so does everyone else. If I don’t die…”

  The corpse smiled, pulling burnt lips away from blood-stained teeth. “When this is over, you’ll be more powerful than anyone can imagine.”

  He rolled his eyes. “I already am. I didn’t really want any of this.”

  “Then you shouldn’t have become so powerful. There’s no going back now. Your sacrifice will save the world, and in the end, I’ll finally have what I’ve desired for so long. Hold out your hand.”

  Shuddering, Will did so.

  “Closer. Put it in my mouth.”

  “That’s disgusting,” objected Will.

  “Then you shouldn’t have blown my arms off.”

  “They’re still connected,” observed Will.

  “I can’t use them,” said Grim Talek. “Hurry up, and after that cut my head off. It’ll be easier to move it without all the extra dead weight.”

  Will did as he was told and felt a dark sensation as his power touched that of the lich.

  Chapter 18

  The journey back to the capital wasn’t entirely straightforward. Will had taken the time to leave a letter at the military fort in Barrowden to let his uncle know that Erisa was safe, then he and Tiny had taken a relatively slow but safe route through several congruence points to get back to Rimberlin House. They’d given everyone there an abbreviated version of what had happened, a version that didn’t include the lich or the fact that Will’s mother was effectively a hostage.

  Tiny had missed most of the conversation, but Will kept his orders strict. His mother was safe, and that’s all anyone needed to know. He’d give certain people more information when and if he decided they needed to know. Sir Tiny was mildly offended at Will’s tone when he gave the orders, but he was oathbound to obey.

  Three full days had passed between the time he left and when he returned to the capital. Will had some concerns about what might have happened in that time, but he also had faith that Selene could manage. Tiny had certain specific concerns, however.

  “We should disguise ourselves until we know the lay of the land,” suggested the knight.

  Will raised one brow. “Whatever for?”

  “You nearly killed Lord Lane when you were leaving. If things went poorly, Selene might not have control, and the High Council might have issued an arrest warrant for you.”

  He laughed. “All the more reason not to hide. If she was so incompetent, then it would take a stern show of force to guide the stubborn back to the proper course. Also, from now on address her as ‘Her Majesty.’ Calling my wife ‘Selene’ is too familiar and could cause a lot of confusion if anyone heard you.”

  Tiny frowned. “You’ve always said that in private I sh—”

  “She’s the queen, Tiny. The coronation may not have happened yet, but the sooner we impress that into people’s minds, the better. You need to get into the habit now to avoid trouble in the future.”

  His friend gave him a sour look, then responded with a sarcastic, “Yes, milord.”

  Will gifted him with a bland smile. “That’s the spirit.”

  They road through Cerria’s east gate in silence, and just as Tiny had feared, whispers began to race through the crowd when people took notice and some of them recognized Will’s features. To make matters worse, Will dismissed the travel disk and they went on foot while the crowd opened up in front of them. The name ‘Stormking’ came to their ears several times as people gossiped on all sides. Will merely smiled faintly.

  “We’re too exposed,” said Tiny softly, trying to simultaneously watch in every direction. “Why did you dismiss the travel spell?”

  “Never underestimate the power of a good entrance, my musclebound friend. Lacking a proper escort, it’s important to show no fear. If anyone meets your gaze, stare them into the ground.”

  “What?”

  “Intimidate them. It should be second nature for a man of your stature.”

  Tiny gave him an odd look, but didn’t argue. Ten minutes later, his fears became all too real. The people were still parting in front of them, but a small group of five men remained in the middle of the road. They didn’t appear to be soldiers, noblemen, or members of the watch, but they were armed with a motley collection of swords, knives, and maces. Given their attire and general lack of refinement, it was clear that they were street thugs.

  Will had already earned a reputation among the street gangs of Cerria, such that none of them would have dared to confront him ordinarily. That these had chosen to do so indicated that a certain amount of gold had probably changed hands. Tiny gave him a quick warning. “Watch the sides—this is probably a distraction.”

  He nodded. “There are several crossbowmen. Two in that side alley, and probably more on the roofs of some of these buildings.” Glancing at Tiny, he added, “Your mail should be sufficient, but you should put your helm on. No sense taking chances.”

  “Worry about yourself,” hissed Tiny. “You don’t even have your brigandine on.”

  “I’m in no danger,” said Will mildly. They were almost to the men blocking the road. “When they start to talk, draw your sword and kill them.”

  “Without hearing them out?”

  “Doesn’t matter what they’re planning to say. Just kill them, but don’t chase the ones who are wise enough to run. Stay close.”

  “That’s illegal unless they do something first.”

  “We are the law now. Make it quick and brutal. I want this to stick in the minds of those watching.”

  Tiny seemed perturbed, but before he could object, they were forced to stop. The men in the road were less than ten feet away now, and one of them stepped forward. He was the largest of the bunch, carrying a heavy mace and sporting a patchy beard that did little to make him more intimidating. Next to Tiny, all of them looked small. The leader grinned, showing yellow teeth, then announced, “That’s as far as you two go.”

  “Move,” warned Sir Tiny.

  Will elbowed him. “What did I tell you?”

  “I’m not killing people without provocation!” snapped Tiny. A split-second later, everything went to hell. Men who had been lying atop the closest buildings popped up and fired crossbows, while the ones blocking the road took a few steps back to make certain they weren’t caught in the crossfire. Tiny saw the motion but had little time to react. Turning his back to one side of the street, he faced Will and leaned close to block as many of the incoming crossbow bolts as possible. His body shuddered as the iron heads slammed into him with all the force that a heavy crossbow could pack.

  Will erected a partial force-hemisphere on the opposite side then dismissed it a second after the volley ended. His features were full of annoyance as he glared at Tiny. “Next time follow your orders, fool!” He lifted his arms, and brilliant darts of light began streaking away from his hands to repay the enemies who were just beginning to drop flat and seek cover. “Get the ones that blocked our way,” he barked at Tiny.

  Several more stood, firing their crossbows at staggered intervals. It was obvious that someone had planned carefully. Will was expecting them. He neatly blocked each attack with a point-defense shield while simultaneously firing more light-darts, burning painful and often lethal holes into the thugs firing at them. Men screamed and died. Unable to see those who were lying flat and still reloading, Will cast a travel-disk spell and lifted himself fifteen feet into the air. From that vantage, he killed the remainder with ruthless efficiency.

  Dropping back down, he saw that Tiny had finished dealing with the others. One was in full retreat, fifty feet away and running as fast as possible. Another was dead and one badly wounded; it was clear the man would die soon without quick assistance. The last two had dropped their weapons and surrendered. One of those was the leader who had spoken to them initially.

  Will sent five light-darts after the runner, burning a neat pattern of holes through the man’s back. He smirked as the dying man stumbled and fell, then turned his eyes to those who had surrendered. “I told you to kill them,” he said coldly.

  “I’m a knight, not a hired killer!” spat Tiny angrily.

  Will never took his eyes off the men who had surrendered. “Then let this be a lesson for you. If I tell you to kill someone, do it. Otherwise, their deaths will be much more painful.” He focused on one of those who had surrendered, and the man began to scream, his skin moving as his flesh crawled and bones cracked underneath the surface. The thug died relatively quickly, but he still suffered incredible pain for ten seconds or more. Tiny’s face went pale. Will repeated the gruesome process with the wounded man.

  Only the leader remained. “Who hired you?”

  The patchy-bearded man had already soiled himself, and he answered with a voice full of panic, “I was paid by Burman, but he didn’t tell me who the employer was! Please, please, let me go. I’ll take you to him.”

  Will gave him a friendly smile that in other circumstances would have seemed completely genuine. “I’m a little busy right now. Find him and carry a message for me. Tell him I’d like to see him tonight. I should be at the Nerrow home this evening. Find me there. If I’m out leave a message.”

  The thug began crying. “Thank you, thank you. You won’t regret this, milord!”

  The man began to scramble back, but Will stopped him. “I’m not done with you yet.” The criminal flinched as he reached into his belt pouch, but the man’s expression changed when he saw the glint of gold in Will’s fingers. “Take some coin as a sign of my interest. I have a job for Burman. I’m sure he’s going to think I plan to kill him or take revenge, but this should help convince him of my sincerity.” He handed the man twenty gold crowns. “There’s much more where this came from. “What’s your name?”

  “Levi, milord,” said the man, licking his lips nervously.

  “Just to be certain you don’t betray my goodwill, I’m going to mark you.” Will’s index finger began to glow with a brilliant red spark, and he brought it down to touch Levi’s chest just above his sternum. Levi hissed as his skin burned and smoke rose from the point of contact. A second later, Will stepped back, admiring his handiwork. “There. I can find you no matter where you go. Bring Burman to meet with me. If he refuses, come and tell me. He won’t like the consequences if I have to come to him. Now go. Your stench is making me nauseous.”

  The man leapt to his feet and ran. Will turned to Tiny. “Let’s go.”

  “I don’t think so,” said the knight. “There’s something wrong with you, Will.”

  Will raised his brows in surprise. “Are you having a moral crisis?”

  “My morals have never been in question. Yours seem to be absent. I won’t serve if this is how you conduct yourself.”

  Will looked pensive, then rubbed his chin. After a moment, he asked, “Do you think Janice will feel the same? She also has a lucrative future ahead, assuming she remains in my employ. There’s also the question of your child. You have a family to think of.”

  Tiny’s eyes bulged, and his cheeks flushed red. “Are you threatening them?”

  Will waved a hand dismissively. “Don’t be ridiculous, of course not! I’m just trying to get you to stop and think things through. People know that I protect and reward those who serve me faithfully, and you and Janice both occupy special places in my heart. Abandoning me, and by extension the new queen, would put you and your new family in a precarious position in Terabinian society. Think things through before you issue ultimatums. We’ve been friends a long time, after all.”

  “I’m not an assassin,” said Tiny. “I won’t kill just because you order it, oath or no oath.”

  “That’s fine,” said Will with a sigh. “Although you’re just putting more of the burden on my shoulders. I’ll do the dirty work then. You can decide when your morals are more important than your honor. Now, can we go? People are watching, and an extended conversation here will undermine the value of the show we just gave them.”

  Tiny nodded, and they began walking in silence. After several blocks, Will spoke without warning. “Do remember what I said, though. Whatever your moral dilemma is, if I have to kill someone instead of you, I’ll probably make it more interesting—time permitting.”

  The knight’s jaw tightened but he held his tongue. A few minutes later, they arrived at the Nerrow house and found the street gate locked and guarded by two armored men. Will stopped in front of them and waited, saying nothing.

  The two guards looked at him, then at one another and finally at Tiny. The large knight was the first to speak. “Open up. I’m sure you recognize us.”

  “Lady Nerrow has given orders not to—”

  Will interrupted, “Is my wife here?”

  The guard stumbled over his words and then continued, “—has given orders not to allow you entry.”

  Will frowned, and the guard screamed before falling to the ground, writhing in pain. It happened so suddenly that the other guard jumped back several steps and Tiny stumbled and stepped back as well. The guard stopped screaming a second later, unconscious but still breathing. “I asked is my wife here,” Will reiterated. “If she is, you will let us in. If not, kindly point me in the correct direction.”

  The other guard’s face was pale, and he stuttered as he answered, “H—Her Highness is inside, in the s—sunroom I think.” His hands were fumbling for the key to open the gate, but the lock clicked and it swung open before he could find it. Will gave him a polite nod as he proceeded along the front path to the front door, which opened similarly. Before entering, he turned back. “Your companion should be fine, but he may need a day or two to recuperate.”

  Four more guards stood in the entry hall, weapons drawn, but before they could challenge him, a woman’s voice called out from a side door. “Put your weapons away!”

  One turned, protesting, “Lady Tabitha, your mother explicitly said—”

  “Faran, he’s my brother. Do you seriously intend to threaten my father’s only son?” Tabitha was now visible as she entered the hall, and after a brief pause, she continued, “I didn’t think so. Move so I can greet him!” Shouldering her way through the guards, she broke free and threw her arms around Will. “What took you so long? Is everyone all right?”

  Will visibly stiffened when she hugged him, but he relaxed a second later and returned the embrace. He let it continue for a second longer before pushing Tabitha away. “Everyone is fine. It appears I was worried for nothing.”

  Tiny broke in, “That’s not completely true. The house—”

  Will cut him off. “Go ahead and make sure Selene knows I’m here. After that, feel free to refresh yourself. I don’t think I’ll be leaving for a while.”

  Tabitha’s eyes tracked back and forth between the two men, concern on her features. Tiny left and she asked, “What was that about? Did something happen?”