Page 100 of Bloodwitch

“Ah,” she agreed, rubbing at her eyes. It only smeared more blood across her face.

“This is not the first massacre I’ve seen.” Aeduan described the dead tribes he had found, and the dead monk who had blamed the Purists. For the first time since the fight had ended, anger flashed across Lizl’s face.

No more numb shock, no more panting recovery. Her lips snarled. “Why would Natan order this?” She turned slowly, head shaking as she took in the full battle. “They said it was to stop the Raider King, but… but that sounds likeshitto me.”

It sounded like shit to Aeduan too. The Monastery had never interfered in war before. “I thought it was the tier ten that had drawn the monk to the Nomatsis. But now…”

“Now, that doesn’t make sense.” Lizl bent to the headless monk, and on a patch of clean cloak, she swiped her sword. Roughly. Almost violent in her movements. “It’s true that all Natan cares about is coin, but how much coin can justify this? Whatcoincan pay for the lives of children? I will kill him.” She glanced up, pupils shrunk to pinpricks. “I willkillhim.”

Abruptly, she straightened, barking a bitter laugh. “I guess Monk Evrane was right all along. She told me that men like Natan should never lead. That he would mark the end of everything we stood for. She wantedmeto put in a bid for the position.” Lizl hammered her chest. “Fool that I was, I didn’t want to be trapped at the Monastery when there was so much world to see. So much… so muchgloryto be had.”

“This is not your fault.”

“No. It isn’t. It’s Natan’s, and he will face our justice.” With a clank of steel, she sheathed her sword and turned away. “We will go to the Monastery and tell the others what he has done.”

“Others already know,” Aeduan said. “And others clearly approve.”

“Not everyone. He said there were insurgents. They must be fighting this.”

“Then why have we not heard of it?”

“I don’t know.” She shook her head. “Maybe it only just began. Does it matter? This must end. We swore a vow toprotect.”

“To protect the Cahr Awen, yes.”

“Is that how you justify this?” Lizl reared back. “You’re not hurting the Cahr Awen, so it’s acceptable?”

“I am not hurting anyone.”

“You’ve spent your whole life hurting others! How many people have you killed or maimed, Bloodwitch? How many people have youtakenfrom simply because an assignment told you to?” Lizl’s voice hit louder with each word. “You said you have honor, but I have seen you use your magic to kill. You said you have honor,yet you fight for the Raider King.”

There it was again. That spark of rage to tense in Aeduan’s wrists and fists. Except now, he had a Painstone. Now, he had his magic.

He could run. He need not even control Lizl’s blood to do it. He could fuel his muscles to a speed she couldn’t follow.

But there would be no outrunning the Fury.

“You,” Aeduan said, his own voice carefully controlled, “do not know me at all.” Then he groped for the Painstone and eased it from his neck. Instantly, his body gave way. Fire filled his chest, his belly, his brain. He doubled over, eyes screwing shut. The stone dropped to the bloodied earth.

He hit the ground mere moments later, landing on all fours, chest heaving. The headless monk was near enough for him to smell without magic.

“What are you doing?” Lizl moved closer.

“I… want you to trust me,” he ground out. “I did not kill these people. My father did not kill these people. Natan and the monks did that.Theyare your enemy, not me.”

Lizl said nothing, so Aeduan continued: “I found the Cahr Awen. They… healed the Well in Nubrevna. Did Monk Evrane tell you?”

“I heard, but I did not believe.” A hard exhale. Then came a swish of fabric, a clink of metal, and Lizl dropped to a crouch beside Aeduan.

And it occurred to him that he could not smell her blood. So close, but the daisy chains and mother’s kisses were gone.

“It’s true.” Blood dribbled from his mouth. “And… I found halfof the Cahr Awen a second time. The shadow-ender. I failed to protect her, though. I sent her to the Monastery. I sent her to the Abbot.”

Lizl inhaled sharply.

“I told her the monks would help her. I told her she would be safe there.” Aeduan tried to shake his head; he failed, and suddenly he was coughing.

Blood splattered Lizl’s cloak, fresh and hot. Rather than recoil, she simply sat there, waiting. And waiting some more, even as Aeduan’s cough sprayed wider.