Sentinelspire - Mark Sehestedt [15]
A smile threatened to break over Berun's face but he held it back.
"But it doesn't end there," said Sauk. "The Old Man rooted out any who had colluded with the assassins. Didn't just kill them. He tortured them. Till they begged for death. When we left the Fortress, their bodies were still on the walls. Some dead and rotting. Even the crows won't touch them. But some… some were still alive." He took a long swig from the waterskin and swallowed with a wince. "Wrapped in thorns and vines, bleeding, their skin rotting away even as they begged for someone to end their pain."
Berun shuddered. "Talieth…?"
"The Old Man suspects her. He's no fool. But she is his daughter. She's still alive-or was when we left-but she walks the razor's edge. She's all but a captive in the Fortress, and the Old Man might kill her any time the whim hits him."
"How did you get away?"
Sauk spared a glance at his men and a smile, sly and pleased, crossed his face. "Well, I said the Old Man rooted out the assassins. I should have said 'any he could find.' He found several. Too damned many. But not all."
"As far as you know," said Berun.
The grin froze on Sauk's face, faltered, then fell. "Yes, as far as we know."
"So the Old Man could just be biding his time. Playing you like a cat pawing at a mouse."
Sauk's eyes narrowed. "I'm no mouse."
"What about your men?"
The tall blond man behind Sauk bristled and scowled at this, but he held his tongue.
"You aren't half as smart as you think you are," said Sauk. "Talieth's always had a gift for magic-more than a little touch of the seer's gift."
"Don't tell me what I already know," said Berun.
"Really?" Sauk's eyebrows rose, but Berun saw the mockery in the expression. "Kheil knew Talieth well-in many senses of the word. Seems that Berun remembers. Maybe Kheil isn't so dead after all, eh?"
Berun didn't respond.
"Using her… gift, Talieth found you, whatever you choose to call yourself. She knew you were alive. But… well, it seems that leaf-loving master of yours doesn't know how to hold his tongue."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean your old master talked. Sang like a damned minstrel for his supper. Mad the Old Man may be, but he's no fool. He figured out who this 'Berun' was… is… whatever. There are still blades in the Fortress loyal to the Old Man. Had it not been for Talieth's particular gifts, they might have found you first."
"Found me?" Berun's heart hammered, and he suddenly felt as if his breathing were too loud and quick. "What does the Old Man want with me?"
"You have something he wants."
"Something he wants?" said Berun. "What-?"
"Air eye lin, or something like that."
"Erael'len?"
"As you say," said Sauk. "Never could wrap my tongue around the damned elfspeak."
"It's Aglarondan. It means-" Berun stopped, cursing himself.
"Means what?"
"Three Hearts."
"Three Hearts," said Sauk. "How sweet. Damned leaf lovers. No teeth in their jaws. When your old master talked, the Old Man became interested. Very interested. Seems he not only misses his favorite assassin, but he's hungry for this thing you carry, the Three Hearts.
"Which is why Talieth sent me after it," said Sauk. "After you. So what do you say? Kill the Old Man and help save your old master. Are you with us?"
"No." The word slipped out before Berun could stop it. But he didn't regret it.
"No?" said Sauk, his tone equal parts shock and outrage.
"I… can't," said Berun. "Things are different now."
Lewan. That's what it all came down to. The boy wasn't everything. There was the Old Man, Talieth, Sauk, and Sentinelspire itself, all facets of Kheil's old life that Berun had hoped were dead and buried forever. Going back to them… it would be too much like stepping back into Kheil's skin. There was the thought of Chereth, his beloved master, a prisoner, possibly being tortured or worse, but every thought of the old druid only reminded Berun of his oath. I swear I will not come after you, save on your word alone. By my blood upon thorn