Sentinelspire - Mark Sehestedt [134]
"Ah," said Chereth, looking past Berun's shoulder. "Look who is back."
Berun craned his neck around to see Sauk climbing over the ledge of the tower. He no longer held his blade.
"I thought you might be too stubborn to fall," said Chereth. "Hail and well met, Sauk,"
"I…" Sauk dropped to the ground and sat, his chest heaving. "I have no quarrel with you, Old Man. I'm here for… for him." Sauk pointed at Berun.
"Taaki truly meant that much to you?" said Chereth.
"Why ask what you already know?"
"Your devotion is commendable, Sauk," said Chereth. "It is one of the many things I admired about you. Had you taken a different path in your early years, you might have been a disciple to make me proud."
Sauk snorted. "Damned leaf lover."
Chereth smiled, though a dangerous glint filled his eye. "This leaf lover just beat you like a cur."
"I seem to remember your leaves beating me," said Sauk. "You haven't faced me yet, Old Man."
"Old I am, yes. But it seems I'll outlive you. Look."
Chereth pointed to the east. The clouds of last night's storm still hung heavy in the sky, but they did not reach quite to the horizon, where the bright glow of dawn was already peeking over the edge of the world.
"The time approaches," said Chereth. "The stars, the Tears of Selune, the Dawn Heralds, the Five Wanderers… all are in perfect alignment, pulling the molten blood of Faerыn into the beating heart of Sentinelspire. Soon, the new world begins."
Chereth walked to the very center of the roof. The vines holding Berun pulled him behind. The druid looked at Lewan, who had almost finished removing the last vines from around Ulaan's legs.
"You could have been a prince in paradise, boy, with your choice of women," said Chereth. "You chose poorly." He looked at Berun. "A third time now, I offer my forgiveness, for the affection I still bear for you and the loyalty you once gave me. I will not offer again. Join me in a new paradise. Teach our ways to a new world. Or die here. Now."
Berun tried to move his arms. He could feel his weapons in his hands, but the vines held him tight. He sighed and said, "What you offer isn't paradise. It's just a greener hell. You can rot there on your own."
Chereth's jaw stiffened and his lip twisted into a sneer. "So be it."
He turned to face the entrance to the stairs and said, "Come!"
Two killoren emerged, moving with their unsettling, almost-human grace. Behind them walked Talieth, her clothes torn, her hair a tangled mess, skin scratched and bloody. Still, she walked like a queen. She took in the scene around her, glancing at Sauk, Lewan, and Ulaan. Her eyes widened when she saw Berun.
"Kheil, I-"
"I'm sorry, Talieth," said Chereth. "It seems that your former love will not be joining us after all. He would rather die here than live with you in paradise."
Talieth stopped, glanced again at Berun, then fixed her gaze on the druid. "I will not leave without him."
Chereth returned her gaze for a moment, then sighed and said, "You have ruled here too long, it seems. You misunderstand me. You no longer command anyone or anything. I am not bargaining with you. I am offering you the chance to live, and serve me in a new world. Or you can die here." He shrugged. "Understand-I don't need you. I only need what you carry. And I can have it."
Chereth raised his staff and pointed it at Talieth. The killoren leaped away as vines rustled forward, wrapping around her and pinning her arms. She struggled, frantically at first but then giving up entirely. One of the killoren grabbed a leather cord from round her neck and pulled, yanking Erael'len from Talieth's bodice. Before the killoren could get a look at Erael'len, a long tendril of ivy darted out, grabbed the