Nyphron looked at her curiously. “Who were you expecting?”
“Her.” Arion pointed toward the mystic, who lingered partway up the slope. “Mawyndulë didn’t tell his father about Suri. I wonder why. If Lothian has decided to slaughter the Rhunes, it’s only because he considers them nothing more than animals. Knowing they can wield the Art could change that perception. Discovering our similarities would make it impossible to annihilate a whole race. It would end the conflict, save lives on both sides. Suri proves Rhunes and Fhrey are more similar than anyone previously knew.”
Nyphron shook his head. “No, you have it wrong. Rhunes with the Art would be seen as an even greater threat. The last thing people in power want is to share. Lothian won’t welcome them as equals. It’d harden his resolve against them.”
“I don’t agree, and I know Lothian better than you.”
“Well, you have your opinion and I have mine. Guess we’ll never know for sure, especially now that the fane knows about your part in Gryndal’s death.”
“He doesn’t know the circumstances. He’s only heard one side of the story.”
“Oh, so you think he’ll believe you over his own son? And exactly how are you going to get an audience with him? You have as much chance getting into the Talwara as I do. Welcome to—”
“Hey,” Rapnagar interrupted. “Haven’t you forgotten something? Let me out.”
“Seriously?” Nyphron smirked. “You think your life is worth three names? You’ll have to do better than that.”
“What else do you want to know?”
“Well, you can start with who hired you.”
“His name was Vertumus, but he spoke on behalf of a fella named Petragar.”
“Vertumus went to Hentlyn?”
“Came right to the Yarhold. Actually knocked on the door. He was very cute.”
“He didn’t go alone.”
“No. Sikar was babysitting.”
“Did Sikar look pleased with his orders?”
“Sikar looked as if he hoped we would step on Vertumus. Only reason we didn’t was because Furgenrok thought it was a trap.”
“Strange,” Nyphron said.
“Yeah, that’s why we let them leave. Figured it was a trick.”
“No.” Nyphron leaned over to clean his blade on Rapnagar’s hair. “I meant it’s strange that Furgenrok is capable of thinking.”
Arion took another step forward, coming so close that she could touch the giant’s ear if she wanted. “What did this Vertumus say? What did he ask of you exactly?”
“Said there were herds of Rhunes in the south for us to eat if we killed Arion, Nyphron, and Raithe. He also said Petragar was the new lord of the Rhist now that Zephyron was dead and his son Nyphron had turned traitor. We were also told that the Instarya wouldn’t enforce the ban anymore, and we’d be allowed to feast on any Rhunes we came across.”
“Were any Miralyith with you?” Arion asked.
“Nope. Not even Vertumus showed up for the fight. But they said we’d have help. They were sending a storm to soften things up and show us where to go. The lightning would indicate where you were. Most hit the Rhune fort, but I noticed the bolts up here and came to check.”
“From how far away can a Miralyith create a storm?” Nyphron asked Arion.
“Depends. If they used the Valentryne Layartren…”
“The what now?”
“It’s a room in Avempartha, the tower that sits on top of a waterfall just west of—”
“I’ve seen it.”
“Ah, well, the tower gathers the power of rushing water and channels it to a chamber. It significantly improves the ability of anyone utilizing it. The tower is excellent for finding things. Working together, teaming up, I suspect a group of Miralyith could attack us all the way up here. Lothian would just need to issue waivers from the Law of Ferrol.”
“Oh, I’m sure he’s done that.” Nyphron frowned as he rubbed his chin, a hard look in his eyes. “My guess is he’s granted universal immunity to everyone. Probably placed a bounty on our heads as well.”
Arion looked concerned. She stared at the ground near her feet, wet her lips, and then said in an ominous tone, “They can kill us, but we can’t kill them.”
Nyphron smiled at that. “Well, not exactly. We just can’t use our own hands. So long as it isn’t our arms that swing the sword, Ferrol will look the other way.”
“When did you become an Umalyn priest?”
“It’s true, isn’t it? If I convince you to kill another Fhrey, the Law of Ferrol descends on you, not me. The act, not the instigator, is punished.”
“Strikes me as manipulative and self-serving, even cowardly.”
He shrugged. “I didn’t make the rules. Ferrol did. Personally, I prefer to see it as allies coming together in a common cause against a common enemy. Sounds so much better that way, don’t you think?”
Arion sighed.
“Now, if you don’t have any other questions, I’ll be putting Mr. Rapnagar out of the misery he’s called his life.”
“What?” Arion gasped. “No!”
“No, what?” Nyphron asked. “No, you don’t have anything else to ask?”
“No, she doesn’t want you to kill me,” Rapnagar shouted.
“Stay out of this,” Nyphron snapped. “This has nothing to do with you.”
“This has everything to do with me. You said if I talked, you’d let me live. And I did. You need to hold up your side of the bargain.”
“The giant is right,” Arion said. “You aren’t going to kill him. You made the deal. Now honor your word.”
“See, that’s the difference between you and me. While I tend to be pragmatic, you let idealism cloud your judgment. I can’t kill you…well, I could, but not without severe repercussions for breaking Ferrol’s Law…but I most certainly can kill Rapnagar. And believe me, he deserves it.”
“I don’t, and you made a vow!” the giant shouted.
“He’s right, you did,” Arion said.
Nyphron rolled his eyes. “No, I didn’t. I only promised. A vow is different. I promised my father I’d accept Lothian as my fane if he failed in the challenge; I also promised Tekchin he could have the last chunk of bread last night, and I promised myself I wouldn’t drink to excess anymore. I’m lousy at keeping promises.”
“Well…well…then I vowed on your behalf,” Arion said.
Nyphron shook his head. “No, you didn’t.”
“Someone did!” Rapnagar yelled.
“There wasn’t any vow,” Nyphron said. “Neither one of us swore to anything. We just engaged in a weak agreement, which I am willing to break.”
“I’m not,” Arion declared.
“Fine.” Nyphron pointed. “You stand over there. Look away if you like.”
“Absolutely not! I assured this Grenmorian he would be set free, and he will. Now put your sword away before I melt that little toy.”
Nyphron hesitated. Arion’s hands came up.