“I swear on my soul that I will never reveal, without permission, that the Dreadgods only remain alive because the Monarchs will not ascend.”
Malice ran a hand over his head before he stood. “Good boy. And don’t think I’ve forgotten about you.” Dross was pushed out of Lindon’s spirit by the force of her attention.
The one-eyed spirit undulated through the air, his motions serpentine and disturbing to watch. [I have seen ancient secrets, and the truth of them has changed me, muta—]
Dross suddenly plummeted out of the air and slammed to the ground, flattened like a leaf beneath Malice’s casual spiritual pressure.
Though Lindon could sense the lack of violence in the Monarch’s will, he still involuntarily took a step forward to save Dross before he stopped himself.
“You can speak like a Monarch when you live inside one,” Malice said softly. “Until then, swear.”
[I…swear,] Dross choked out.
He swore, and Malice released him.
All along, Eithan had stood smiling at the entire scene. Malice looked at him with an expression of playfully exaggerated suspicion.
“If I didn’t know better, I would suspect you were up to something, Arelius.”
“I’m just enjoying the wonderful weather,” Eithan said, looking up into the endless black sky.
“I am a busy woman.” Malice’s voice resonated. “Swear to me now that you are already bound by Tiberian’s oath and therefore cannot speak the truth of the Dreadgods.”
“I do swear, have sworn, and will not speak,” Eithan said easily.
The air trembled and Malice finally clapped her hands together. “Well now! I will call on you soon. If the Dreadgods have been affected as I suspect…well, dark days are ahead for those not under the protection of a Monarch. But when we do battle against Dreadgods, all who can affect them will be mobilized. Prepare yourselves.”
The black sky retreated, and Malice was gone. Lindon stood under a blue sky, on the grassy green side of the mountain called the Greatfather…and Eithan, Ziel, Yerin, Orthos, and Little Blue were standing next to him.
Everyone looked around as though startled to be there. He could feel shock radiating from Orthos and Little Blue.
Yerin stared blankly at Lindon. “Let me give you what just happened, from my perch: Mercy’s mother dragged me into a shadow, patted me on the head, then tossed me back out with the rest of you. Am I about to be a Remnant?”
[Our secrets have been bound inside us by a greater will!] Dross said. [Be grateful that you do not share the burden of glorious knowledge, as we do, lest you attract the attention of Monarchs.]
Yerin’s gaze turned to Lindon.
“Apologies. We are sworn not to say anything about…whatever it is she wished to speak to us about.”
“So something happened with Reigan Shen.”
“No, not him specifically.” Eithan clutched at his chest. “Alas! I feel the oath tightening around me, preventing me from speaking!”
Yerin looked around at all of them.
“What is this?” Orthos demanded. “Do not keep secrets from us!”
Little Blue gave an offended clang.
When Yerin looked at him, Ziel shrugged. “No clue. But if a Monarch made them swear to keep their mouths shut, they’re not going to say anything.”
Lindon sighed. “It was actually a more ironclad oath than I expected. I had expected to be able to write you a letter, or give you a dream tablet, but it seems that I can’t willingly bring up the subject.”
“The majesty of soul oaths,” Eithan said wistfully. “It’s the spirit of the promise, not the letter.”
Yerin continued looking around. “Can we race ahead to the part where you all figured out a way to tell me what’s going on?”
Eithan gave a loud, exaggerated cough.
Lindon felt his cheeks go warm. “Apologies. I did try.” There was a sound recording construct in Lindon’s pocket, but his spirit was restricting him from sending it to Yerin. He had even intended to spill it out of his pocket onto the floor—surely then he wouldn’t be giving it to her—but the promise was more effective than he had imagined. Now, even if Yerin searched his clothes, he would feel the need to crush the construct.
[You will know in due time,] Dross said mysteriously.
Yerin did not look happy with that answer.
Lindon was the first to notice the person missing. “Where’s Mercy?”
Mercy knew as soon as she was drawn into the all-black world that this wasn’t going to be one of the fun meetings with her mother.
Malice looked down on her daughter with…Mercy wouldn’t call it a glare, but that wouldn’t be far off.
Mercy inclined her head respectfully. “Mother. You’re looking lovely today?” That came out as more of a question than a statement, but the compliment should help.
“You are lucky that your friends are more resourceful than you are,” Malice said coldly. “If events had not worked out in my favor, I would have been forced to punish you.”
“But they did!”
“Don’t be a child.” The temperature in the shadow world lowered, and purple eyes glittered. “You knew I would want to keep them out of the labyrinth. You meddled with forces beyond you, and you can only thank Fate that you didn’t all die.”
Mercy shifted her weight. “It wasn’t quite so—”
“You were supposed to do as I bid you. That is your role in serving the family.”
“I don’t think—”
“You lied to me.”
Mercy’s fear slowly shifted to anger. That wasn’t a healthy attitude before a Monarch, but she couldn’t help it. “How am I supposed to stop Lindon and Yerin and Eithan from doing anything? And why would I want to? You didn’t even tell me why!”
“You think weakness excuses you? You’ve had advantages they never imagined, and still they have surpassed you. You couldn’t even reach Overlord on your own.”
“But I got there! I thought you didn’t care how!”
“When you defy my orders, you had better have something to show for it,” Malice snapped. The darkness behind her boiled, and Mercy’s anger shook, but she held onto it.
“What more were we supposed to do? We made it to the bottom and back out, just like you did! We’re not Monarchs! We can’t come out with a new Dreadgod!”
“Oh, but one of you did,” the Monarch said softly.
Mercy paused. “What?”
“You haven’t seen your friend Lindon yet. He emerged with the power of the Slumbering Wraith under control. He ejected Reigan Shen’s forces from the valley. In effect, he owns the labyrinth now.”
Mercy’s anger was replaced by uncertainty. “Wait, but…how is that…”
“I am disappointed in you for many reasons. You disobeyed me, your loyalty to the family is questionable, and you depend on others as a crutch. But most of all, you lack ability.” Malice’s finger jabbed Mercy in the collar. “You are the daughter of the Monarch who owns these lands. You were born with enough authority to claim the labyrinth, if you had been present when Subject One died. If I were you, I would have been there. And if I could not claim it for myself, I would claim the one who did.”