“Well, I’ll prove you wrong. You’ll see.” He rose up onto one elbow and looked down at her, at where she lay in the dark. “I’ll always prioritize you over everything else.”
She cupped his cheek. “Sweet.”
“Pah.” He lay back down.
“Don’t get mad. The entire Iron Vanguard is waiting to hear from you. Xandera threatened to kill anyone who just left. And remember the Blood Ox?”
“The Iron Vanguard is waiting to hear from me?”
“Yes. Xandera didn’t want to talk to them. She said they’re our responsibility. Amity hasn’t reformed yet, but Valdun is recovered. A few Flame Vaults died at the end…” He could hear her grimace. “That’s what I was doing while you fought Bravurn. Keeping them from complicating the fight. Alain actually helped. I hate to say it but he was actually pretty useful. But Valdun wants to talk to you, and he’s commanded the others to wait.”
“Oh, damn.” Scorio sat up. “Then we need to get moving.”
“I knew it had to end.” She sighed and sat up as well. “What are you going to do with them?”
“I’m only a Pyre Lord like Valdun. I can’t just command them to do what I want.”
“I think you can. But you need to know what you want.”
“Well.” Scorio paused. “I guess for them to fight the Blood Ox and his Gold fiends with us.”
“You trust them?” Her tone grew sharp. “They swore Heart Oaths to Bravurn. They probably knew of his betrayal. They’re traitors, Scorio.”
“Then what do you suggest?”
“Execute the leadership. Valdun and the Dread Blazes. They had to have known of Bravurn’s plans. Then exile the rest.”
“Execute them?” Scorio activated his darkvision so as to find his robes, but paused to stare at Naomi. “Really?”
She quickly gathered her underclothing and set to dressing. “Yes.”
“No.” He recoiled from the idea. “I’m not going to execute anyone.”
“Shocking. You’re too soft, Scorio. If you spare them, they’ll find a way to betray and hurt you.”
“I’m not going to execute them. They swore Heart Oaths. They might not have known what Bravurn intended before it was too late. You don’t even know what their Heart Oaths entailed.” Scorio pulled on his robe. “Probably just fighting the Gurlocks, like Faridian said.”
“Your call.” She cinched her belt tight and then took a comb to her long hair.
Scorio finished dressing in silence. Her surety was disconcerting; she made it seem obvious. But to execute people in cold blood…?
“I’ll talk to them,” he said. “See what Alain thinks.” Panic hit him, and he scrutinized the entirety of the room. “Oh, thank hell, he’s not here.”
“He’s not that dumb.” Naomi finished combing her hair, head tilted to one side, and set to braiding it. “He knows for a stone-cold fact that I’d kill him if he dared.”
“True. Alright. Ready?”
She tied off her braid and straightened. Hesitated.
Scorio stepped in and kissed her.
She kissed him back, then bit her lower lip. “I’m not going to, you know. Act… well. Differently. In public.”
Scorio snorted. “You’re not? I was going to start screaming my devotion every time you walked into a room.”
“I know,” she sighed. “You’re so predictable. Try to control it.” And with a sly glance over her shoulder she left the chamber.
Scorio shook his head ruefully.
For better or worse, everything had changed.
He had to believe it was for the better.
Chapter 56
Alain awaited them in the hallway outside their cluster. He was reading a scroll, brow furrowed in thought, and it was with obvious relief that he threw it away when they emerged to scramble up to his feet.
“Wait! No! Don’t hit me.” He raised both palms. “I never once stepped inside. I heard the most alarming sounds, and almost thought you were both dying. But then I caught myself and stayed out here waiting. So, huge improvement, right?” He grinned. “I’m like a new man.”
Naomi glowered at him. “You just sat here the whole time, listening?”
“I couldn’t hear almost anything! Promise. Anyway, I wanted to catch you when you were done.” He glanced at Scorio. “Which, by the way, well done. You lasted far longer than I thought possible. Also, were you a dragon in the fight up there?” He pointed up and then grinned at Naomi. “Because he sure is a dragon down there, eh?”
“You’re a dead man,” said Naomi, tone flat.
Alain danced back, laughing. “It’s called humor! I’ve heard people like it. But seriously. Can we be serious for a second?”
“You’re the one doing all the talking,” said Scorio.
“We’ve got an entire Iron Vanguard waiting to hear you out,” said Alain. “And Xandera has locked herself away in the royal suite. I mean, literally filled in the door with lava. I can’t reach her, but also because the remaining Titan has placed himself on guard. And he’s not talking. And the Blood Ox has to be close. Which means hundreds of really dangerous fiends, right? So I’m glad you’re done playing hide the monkey because -”
Naomi lunged at him, and Alain took off down the hall, yelling, “Not in the face! Fyrona would kill you!”
Naomi sighed deeply. “I can’t take this any longer. Can we just kill him now?”
Scorio shook his head wearily. “Necessary evil.” Then he couldn’t repress a grin. “But I might actually not be done playing hide the monkey. Shall we pop back inside for another hour?”
Naomi elbowed his with a feigned look of disgust, and they caught up with where Alain was waiting.
“What’s your read on the situation?” asked Scorio. “You know these people, right?”
“My read?” Alain raked his fingers energetically through his mess of spiky black hair. “Most of them just wanted to trade a season of fighting Gurlocks in exchange for mana. But Valdun? Sharess? Faridian? It’s hard to say what they knew. Valdun’s the one leading the group right now. He’s insisting everybody stay put till he speaks with you. He looks and sounds exhausted. My hunch? He came to really resent working for Bravurn, but was trapped by his Heart Oath. So maybe you’re both kind of like saviors right now. Either way, the Blood Ox is coming, and as far as I can tell, it’s us three and Xandera and a score of Titans against an army that almost kicked a Charnel Duke’s rear end. So maybe we need them?”
“Even if the Iron Vanguard joins us,” said Naomi, “how are we going to draw the Blood Ox out? He only emerged last time because enough of his fiends were destroyed.”
“And the Imperators have to hang back,” agreed Alain. “Or their presence will tip him off. So… I don’t know. We could just deny them access to the spires, which would leave them even more starved.”
“Where’s the Gold mana?” Scorio glanced from one to the next. “Bravurn’s horde? Where did he keep it all?”
“Secret,” said Alain. “He used Jarex to teleport him to it. I’ve never seen any sign of his stash.”
“Great.” Scorio palmed his eye. “Well, maybe Valdun knows.”
The Pyre Lord and two Dread Blazes awaited them in what proved to be Moira’s old rooms. The rest of the Iron Vanguard were waiting in their private quarters, scattered across various levels.
It was quiet as Scorio entered the common room. Valdun sat in the sunken rotunda, arms crossed and staring morosely out at nothing. Sharess sat on a rug on the floor, one leg stretched out before her, hands grasping her toes as she bent her head toward her knee. Faridian was pacing, hands linked behind his back, and all three looked up sharply as Scorio led his two friends into the room.
“Scorio.” Valdun rose to his feet and stepped up out of the rotunda. “At last.”
“Valdun. Sharess. Faridian. No sign of Amity or Jarex yet?”
They all shook their heads.
“It’ll take Amity another day to reform,” said Valdun. His expression was grave, his hair freshly washed and bound into a ponytail. “As for Jarex… with his power, it’s always been difficult to keep track of him. He’ll no doubt stay away till he senses it’s safe to return.”