Will tried to imagine Tailtiu at a dinner party and his mind refused to attempt it. He shook his head. “The reason Selene can’t return is you. You realize that, don’t you?”
“Does my control bother you so much? It isn’t as though I would ever exercise it. The day of the wedding was a stressful and understandable occasion. Can you blame me for that?”
He stared at the man, trying to discern the sick humor behind the man’s statement, but it simply wasn’t there. He honestly believes himself. He doesn’t have a trace of real humanity, does he? “You have no moral boundaries. Whatever your motivations, I could never trust you.”
Lognion walked over to look down at Laina as she slept. His gaze traveled slowly from her head, down her neck, torso, waist, and ended finally at her ankles. Then he smiled at Will, his eyes flashing. “But I have plenty of reason to trust you, William. We still have common ground to forge an agreement over.”
Chapter 46
He couldn’t stand seeing the king’s eyes on Laina, so Will moved to interpose himself once again, prompting a new laugh from Lognion. “We saved your city for you. I think you owe us a debt already.”
“I never asked you to save it, William. In fact, I find myself in agreement with Linus Ethelgren. A complete purge is the only way to be sure of eliminating the vampiric scourge and ensuring that Terabinia is safe. I am still glad you stopped him, since I might have been killed as well, but I do see the sense in his logic. Nevertheless, I accept no debts with regards to unasked for actions on your part.”
“You’re as mad as Ethelgren then.”
Lognion’s lips compressed into a line. “I prefer to say that I am different. I am under no illusion about what humanity considers normal, but I was born this way.” His eyes looked heavenward for a moment. “I am merely as the Mother made me. Some may doubt that, but I am confident that if it weren’t for me and my peculiar differences, Terabinia would not have survived until the present.”
“You aren’t really human, are you?”
The king grinned. “Unfortunately, I am, though I have long lamented that fact. Cut me and I will bleed red, the same as you do. No, by some strange quirk of fate I was born without the same emotions that most of humanity are afflicted with. I feel very little, except in extreme moments, which is why I enjoy tormenting you, William. But I don’t let such pale pleasures control me.
“Instead, I use my gift to rule this nation with wisdom and reason. If destroying my own capital is the only way to save the people of Terabinia, I will do so, without tears or regret. In fact, I was already moving in that direction, for I feel this city is already lost,” explained the king.
Will’s eyes widened. “You can’t be serious!”
“But I am. Under the guise of trying to bring the chaos in the streets under control, I have already begun positioning the Driven along the city wall. Tomorrow, while the vampires are driven back into their holes, I will instruct my sorcerers to empower a wide-scale ritual to reduce the entire city to ash, even unto its foundations and sewers.”
Will stared at the floor, trying to think of a way to dissuade the mad king. It was obvious that an appeal to mercy wouldn’t work. Only one thing came to him. “If Cerria is destroyed, it will greatly weaken Terabinia. At the moment we have the advantage over Darrow, but they will be emboldened once more if the capital is lost.”
Lognion nodded. “Do not think I haven’t considered that. In fact, I have good cause to think that this undead disaster is the result of their desperation to turn the tables. I am almost tempted to capture a few of these monsters and return the favor.”
“You couldn’t possibly—”
“Rest easy, William. Did I not just tell you that I am not afflicted with the frailty of emotion? Even revenge fails to motivate me to abandon reason. I am quite aware that the uncontrolled spread of these bloodthirsty creatures would spell doom for every nation. That is why I am forced to the desperate measure of razing my own capital. If there were any other option, I would take it.”
“Let me do it,” said Will suddenly, his mouth moving before his brain could catch up.
“You have a solution?”
No. What the hell am I thinking? He stared at the king for several seconds as his mouth worked open and closed. Eventually he found his voice again. “Give me an extra day.”
“To do what?”
“Rituals can do more than destroy. I’ll find one that can cleanse the city without wiping out the populace or destroying their homes.”
The king’s eyes narrowed. “I can see you aren’t lying, but though you’ve performed several miraculous feats in the past I have trouble envisioning you doing something that would require that level of expertise.”
“I have help. Remember the signatory witnesses of my marriage?”
Lognion was quick as always. “Aislinn?”
Will nodded. Or Arrogan, I’d rather not bring my demented grandmother into this.
The sovereign of Terabinia rubbed his chin, lost in thought for a few seconds. “The fae do not provide help without payment,” observed Lognion.
The statement reminded Will of his own situation and he had another idea. “Neither do I.”
“Oh?”
“If you want me to do this, I’ll need something in return.”
“You imply that you will let the citizens of this city die? I hardly believe that.” He paused, then his eyes lit up. “What do you want?”
Free Selene! he wanted to scream, but he held himself back for a moment and his eyes fell on Laina. He needed more than one person released from the king’s enchantment. “Release them from the enchantment.”
“Them?”
“My family, Selene, Laina, Mark Nerrow, Agnes, and Tabitha if she’s been to Wurthaven.”
“She hasn’t,” the king informed him. “Neither has Agnes, though I find it interesting that you choose to include her.”
“Will you do it?”
Lognion laughed. “Of course not! You won’t swear to me, lad. Why would I release the only leverage I have over such a wonderful and useful tool?” Then he leaned in. “Choose one.”
“All or none.”
“I don’t need this bargain, fool. Even if I lose my city, I can still outwit those fools in Darrow. It will be a tragic setback, but I’ll accept it rather than lose so many bargaining pieces. Choose one.”
He wanted them all free, but narrowing the selection was relatively simple. Mark Nerrow was the simplest to give up, and while he was fond of Agnes, she didn’t rate as highly as Selene or Laina. It was those last two that tore at him. His first instinct was to choose Selene, but after the past few hours the choice wasn’t so simple. Either one would be a significant means for the king to control him, and he couldn’t bear to see either tortured or hurt.