Page 70 of Alora: The Portal (Alora 2)

“Yes, but you didn’t kill us, did you. Why is that?”

“Because you fought against me. I was outnumbered.”

“Truly? Is that the only reason? There was no slight hesitation on your part? Enough time to give us an advantage?”

“Perhaps there were moments of hesitation, but not enough to compensate for my gifting. Had it not been for Wesley’s weapon, you would be dead now. Alora would be dead as well.” His jaw flexed as he swallowed.

“It seems to me you could be learning to fight Vindrake’s compulsion.”

“Yes, I fight. Always I fight him.” A single tear tracked down Daegreth’s face. “But every time, I lose. There’s no hope, Kaevin. Do you not see? The bloodbond could return at any time. Please kill me now and send me to the hell to which I’m already destined.”

“That would be wrong. We should leave it in God’s hands. If He wishes you to die, let Him take you as a consequence of your wound. If you live, He has some other purpose for you to fulfill.”

“What purpose could there possibly be for a man such as me? I’ve already told your Father everything I know about Water Clan. About the oath of fealty. When and how the bloodbond is taken. About the warrior training and trials. About Vindrake’s shamans and his council.”

“We’ve been discussing this since we began planning our journey to close the portal. You may yet have a purpose… a very important one.”

The slightest glimmer of hope shone in Daegreth’s eyes, but he didn’t respond.

“If we’re captured when we go through the portal…”

“You mustn’t let that happen,” Daegreth interrupted. “I wouldn’t be able to render aid while under the control of Vindrake’s bloodbond. Perhaps you should abandon the mission.”

“Do you not have intimate knowledge of the layout of Portshire? Enough to draw a map? If the worst happened and we were captured or killed, I know Father will mount an attack. You could help him make his plans.”

Did Daegreth’s chin lift a bit? “I do know Vindrake’s lair well, including the arrangement of his private quarters and the dungeons where prisoners are kept.

“There. You see. You may be of help yet.” Relieved that Daegreth wouldn’t insist he fulfill his fatal promise, Kaevin risked a quip to lighten the mood. “I must say you were lucky Wesley ended the fight as he did. I was about to flip you over and impale you with your own knife.”

Daegreth’s mouth dropped open, and he gave an emphatic shake to his head. “Do you not remember? I had your throat bared. You’d never have bested me.”

Kaevin grinned, nodding his admission.

“Ah. So now you jest about this thing. I’m afraid I don’t see the humor. My blade was a hand-width from your neck.”

“Yet here I stand, alive in your presence, with a headache that causes more pain than the ribs you cracked. We must learn to laugh at the unexpected turns of life. Not long ago I would gladly have taken your life. Only yesterday you would’ve sworn you had no family.”

“Surely those who’ve taken me into their family will now see their error.”

“Let me ask a question, Daegreth? Why did your weapon not kill Brian?”

“A simple answer. Had the instrument penetrated a finger-width lower or to the right it would have ended his life.”

“So you deliberately saved his life when you stabbed him?”

Daegreth inclined his head. “True, but I doubt Brian will see it that way.”

“Answer this… If you’d actually desired to end Alora’s life? Or mine? Would we still be alive?”

Daegreth squeezed his eyes shut. “No. You would be dead. Still, it almost happened despite my wish to save you.”

“I see you will not be cheered.” Kaevin moaned a great dramatic sigh, eliciting at last, the smallest upward twitch in the corner of Daegreth’s lips.

*****

“Wait, Beth! Don’t just barge in there. Kaevin and Daegreth are having a private discussion.” Alora grabbed the back of Beth’s shirt, holding at bay.

Beth tried to twist away. “I’m not waiting any longer. Daegreth’s been here a month and I haven’t even met him. The only time I saw him, he was unconscious and bleeding to death.”