“We will stay within sight. He and I need to have a discussion.”
“Then stay here and use a sound ward.”
Rezkin gave the striker a pointed look. “And risk someone reading our lips?”
Wesson watched the exchange with fascination. The dynamic between Rezkin and his former trainer, who apparently wanted to kill him, was intriguing; but, he wondered if the enmity was sincere. At times, it seemed as if Rezkin trusted the striker more than any other, and Farson rarely declined the chance to assist or offer advice. Still, Wesson felt a thread of mortal danger lay just beneath the surface of every exchange.
“I am going with you,” said Farson.
For the slightest moment, Wesson thought Rezkin looked his age, a younger man, one in need of support. It lasted no more than a breath, and then he wondered if he had seen it at all.
“Very well,” said Rezkin. “The strikers will need to know anyway.”
Wesson watched Farson’s reaction as carefully as he had Rezkin’s. Whenever Rezkin included Farson with the other strikers, a glimmer of pride shimmered in his eyes. Wesson wondered if it was because Farson had missed being a striker or because Rezkin recognized him as such.
Once they were a few dozen paces ahead of the rest of the cavalcade, Wesson erected the sound ward around them. Rezkin glanced at him as if reconsidering then said, “I had hoped this matter could be resolved swiftly and without effort beyond what I already had planned. Circumstances have changed, and it has become evident that the enemy is several steps ahead of us.”
“You mean Caydean?” said Wesson, hearing echoes of Reader Kessa’s final words.
“Perhaps,” said Rezkin. “Caydean is certainly part of it, but I do not know if he is the source.” Turning to look at him, Rezkin said, “I knew about the demon threat before the first attack.”
Wesson was not surprised. Rezkin always knew more than he shared. He said, “Why did you not warn us?”
Rezkin furrowed his brow, and Wesson wondered if it was a natural expression or an affectation. “I did not know if the threat was real at first. My source was not particularly reliable.” He glanced at Wesson. “It was one of the fae.”
“You have met one of the fae?” Wesson did not know why he was so surprised, considering Rezkin’s connection to the elementals.
Rezkin nodded. “I made a deal with one.”
“You did what?” blurted Farson. “Perhaps you are not so immune to power after all. I cannot see you doing something so inane otherwise.”
Wesson agreed with the sentiment. He said, “If you have the poor luck to encounter one of the fae, you are never, ever supposed to make a deal. They are tricksters and manipulators. It is one of the first rules you learn as an apprentice.”
“I know that,” said Rezkin, “but circumstances were dire.”
Farson said, “Do you know how many Rules you broke? What could possibly be important enough to risk making a deal that could mean your life—or your freedom for eternity?”
Rezkin met the striker’s challenging gaze. “The safety and welfare of my friends, of a shipload of refugees, of an entire kingdom of refugees. I was observing Rule 1, which supersedes all others.” He glanced at Wesson. “Truth be told, I am not certain he would have allowed me to leave the forest if I had not accepted.”
“Then his powers affect you?” said Wesson.
“Yes, and while he has implied that I may have the power to fight him, I do not know how. I am at his mercy every time he shows himself. He is always near, yet I cannot find him.”
Wesson’s eyes widened. “The cat.”
Rezkin shook his head. “The cat is just a cat. The fae is called a katerghen, more commonly known as a forest nymph, and he is a shapeshifter. Sometimes he takes the form of the cat so as not to draw suspicion. You should know that he can also mimic people. Somehow, he takes on their auras and draws from their memories. The first time I met him, he was you, Journeyman.”
“He was able to fool you?” said Farson.
“I recognized something was wrong quickly, but I had not considered fae involvement. What is more important is that he told me demons were coming, that they were a threat to all life, and that they were coming from Ashai.”
Farson said, “So, you made a deal for information?”
“No, the information was given freely in order to convince me to accept the deal. He promised a kingdom of safety for my people.”
“Cael,” said Wesson.
“Yes, that is how I knew to go there.”
“And what must you give in return?” said Farson.
“An army.”
“For what?”
“To fight the demons. It seemed a reasonable deal, considering I already intended to build an army to fight Caydean, who is most likely the source of the demons.”
“And if he is not?” said Farson.
“Then we would need to fight the demons anyway. You see? The deal only works in my favor.”
“Except that you did not need to involve yourself in this at all,” said Farson. “You could have left Ashai. Without a master, without the oaths, you could go off to do anything you want.”
“This is my purpose, Farson. It is what I want.”
After an uncomfortable lull in the conversation, Wesson said, “You have not explained the Sword of Eyre.”
Rezkin gave Farson a warning look and then said, “It turns out the katerghen with whom I made the deal was one of the ancients.”
“An ancient? A real ancient, one of the five? The first and oldest of its kind?”
“Yes, but there are actually six ancients. There are two for fire—unless it is one being that is split in two. The katerghen is the ancient of life.”
“You have met them all?”
“Briefly,” said Rezkin. “I did not know it, but when I made the deal with the katerghen, he was speaking on behalf of the ancients, on behalf of all fae in this world.”
Farson said, “That means if they had reneged on their deal, you would be the master of the fae.”
“Yes. If I fail, I will serve them for the rest of my life, however long that may be.”
“They have already delivered,” said Farson.
“Not exactly,” said Rezkin. “They promised safety. All of our people must remain safe until Cael is ours. If even one of them dies, the ancients will have failed.”
“But we have already lost people,” said Wesson.
“I believe the deal only applies to the people who were aboard the ship when I made the deal. All the people who have died joined us later.”
Wesson checked off his mental list, and he realized Rezkin was right. “That is the reason you are so determined to keep Cael, and that is why the elementals came when you called.”
“Precisely,” said Rezkin. “And, I have already amassed the armies and navies of two kingdoms, plus my forces in Ashai. The problem is, I do not think it will be enough. The demons already infest these lands. As I said before, it is no coincidence that we have encountered so many. If I deploy the armies of Lon Lerésh and Ferélle to Ashai, those kingdoms will be left defenseless.”
Farson said, “While you have been taking over criminal underworlds and kingdoms, you have also been engaged in this whole other war between fae and demons without our knowledge. Is there anything else?”
Rezkin tilted his head. “A demon opened the pathways to other realms. They are closed now, as far as I know, but other magical creatures may have entered this world.”
Farson stared at Rezkin with resignation. “Is that all?”
Rezkin shook his head and said, “Not that concerns you at this time.”
Farson said, “You felt that a war with demons and fae did not concern us until just now!”
“I never said it did not concern you, Farson. I kept it from you because I do not trust you. Let us not forget that you intend to kill me.”
“And me?” said Wesson.
Rezkin turned to him with cold eyes. “I hardly know anything about you—far less than anyone else I keep in close company. The fact that I permit you your privacy and do not require your fealty demonstrates my level of respect for you.”
Farson looked at Wesson in surprise. “You have not sworn fealty to him?”