Son of Khyber_ Thorn of Breland - Keith Baker [85]
Steel’s voice was cold. It’s your decision, Lantern Thorn. Just remember the oaths you’ve sworn and the reason you were sent here.
Sent by the Twelve, Thorn thought. Not by Breland. They’d already made a lapdog of King Borenal. How much further would they go?
Steel could sense her hesitation. You’re a Dark Lantern of the King’s Citadel, charged to uncover threats to Breland. The decision is yours, but you will have to live with the consequences.
“Very well,” Thorn said, speaking to Daine and Steel at once. “Where do we find this burning angel?”
Daine had asked Thorn and Drego to wait outside the cathedral while he spoke to Xu’sasar. The two of them sat on chunks of rubble, looking at the debris. Ruined as it was, somehow it seemed less desolate. Perhaps the district would be rebuilt one day. Perhaps hope would return to Fallen.
“What do you think about all of this?” Thorn asked.
Drego shrugged. “I’m always ready to drive one of these celestial interlopers from our world. As for declaring war on the Twelve? That I don’t know about.”
“Do you think he’s right? Is this his destiny?”
Drego looked at her, and his silver-gray eyes gleamed. “I’d rather discuss our destiny. If he’s right, and this comes to a true war against the houses, I’d hope that you and I could be on the same side.”
“Why do you do that?” Thorn said.
“What?”
“This schoolyard flirtation. You’re a handsome man, but by now I think you know me well enough to know that it won’t influence me. So why bother?”
Drego put a hand over his heart, staring at her with a playfully soulful expression. “Can’t a man be a fool for love?”
“So they say,” Thorn said. “But you’re not nearly the fool you seem to be, are you?”
Drego looked at her, and there was a subtle change in his expression. She was used to seeing a hint of mockery and mischief in his eyes, whoever he was dealing with. Now there was something different in his gaze. Something closer to respect. “Perhaps there’s a side of me you haven’t seen.”
“Oh, I think I’ve seen it once before. When you almost destroyed my nation.”
Thorn expected Drego to look away, but he held her gaze. “You deserve more than Breland.”
She couldn’t help but laugh. “That’s it? That’s your best line? You’re not even going to tell me how a war with the Twelve would reunite Galifar and bring us all together again?”
Drego didn’t smile. “I could. But perhaps I’m tired of this game, of hiding my true feelings behind this childish flirtation. Maybe it’s time to set aside the masks.”
“Fine,” Thorn said, mystified. “You first.”
Drego shook his head. “There’s no point. Have you ever been in love, Lantern?”
This certainly wasn’t where she had expected the conversation to go, but she followed the path. “Once, yes.”
“And what became of your beloved?”
“We served together. One mission, I came back. He didn’t.”
“And do you still think about him? Do you see him in your dreams?”
“Yes, I suppose I do.”
“Now imagine you were asked to serve with a doppelganger, someone who looked just like him but who was nothing like him. Someone with the mind of a child, filled with foolish beliefs. What would you do?”
Thorn frowned. “Aureon’s Word, what are you talking about?”
Drego laughed, and just like that, the mood was broken. The mischievous gleam was back, the sly smile. “My apologies, my lady. I thought a little pathos might make for an interesting change from the schoolyard antics.”
Thorn studied his face. She had a knack for reading people, and he seemed utterly sincere. On the other hand, he’d fooled her in Droaam. She wanted to press the point further,