Page 78

“Fewer would be seen alive with one,” he smiled. “But it turned out to be rather entertaining. Goodnight, little sister.”

She left the party.

Thirty Four

As was customary, a guard accompanied her back to the Potential quarters. She was never quite sure if the constant presence of an escort was to keep the candidates safe or stop them snooping round the palace.

A bit of both, probably. Though in her case it was also because they didn’t trust humans.

She tried to engage the guard in conversation but he remained stoically silent. As they turned into the wing housing the Potentials’ rooms, a Vraxian was waiting in the shadows.

Vahn, she thought.

He stepped into the light and Kara’s heart plummeted.

“Oh. It’s you.”

Baelon smiled. He motioned to the guard.

“I’ll accompany her the rest of the way, soldier. You may leave.”

The soldier bowed and went on his way. Baelon turned his oily smile towards Kara.

“I thought we could talk while Layahn keeps the Zhaal occupied. He seems quite taken with her.”

“I’m quite tired Lord Vantrax. I was on my way to bed.”

She made to walk past and Baelon whipped out a serpetrus and wrapped it round her upper arm.

“You will remain here until I tell you otherwise.” The appendage round her arm tightened painfully.

“What do you want?” Kara said through gritted teeth.

“I want to know what spell you’ve put on Talvahnax to make him think peace with humans is wise.”

“There’s no spell. Just good old common sense. No-one wants war any more.”

“That is true. But not everyone wants peace.”

“If you don’t want war and you don’t want peace, then what do you want?”

“Victory.” His eyes glittered. “Total victory.”

“Well, tough. Vahn’s in charge and he’s calling the shots.”

She tried to pull away from his grip but he wrapped his second serpetrus around her other arm and held her steady.

“You’re cutting off my blood flow,” she said pointedly. “Is there a reason you’re acting like a douche?”

“You will show me respect, human,” Baelon snarled. “Talvahnax may be in charge for now. But that could change in a heartbeat. For instance, if he was shown to be unbalanced.”

“No-one’s going to buy that baloney.”

“No? Rutting with a human is at the very least treasonous, if not insane.”

Kara swallowed.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”