Page 40 of Children of Fallen Gods

“This is a mistake, Zeryth.”

He whirled to me, anger finally sparking. “Do not question me. These are your orders. And I invoke your Pact, Tisaanah.”

A rough gasp escaped my lips. The words snapped something around my throat, like a leash yanked suddenly taut. I could feel Zeryth’s magic, too, reaching for me — reaching for my mind, and squeezing, squeezing.

“Give me a victory, Tisaanah. Give me a victory that leaves Varnille and all of her noble-blooded friends quaking in fear at my name. Make me someone to fear. And do whatever it takes. Those are your orders.”

Those are your orders.

Those are your orders.

Every word was a link in a chain, one that bit into my skin, sawed at my thoughts. Everything was suddenly foggy.

Zeryth was gone fast, leaving me swaying as he strode away. Just as quickly, Eslyn was beside me.

“Looks like we have our commands,” she muttered.

“Wait,” I said. My head was pounding. “Wait, I—”

I can’t do this.

I couldn’t speak the words aloud — they got caught somewhere between my mind and my lips, like flies stuck in honey.

{Yes we can. We can do all he asked, and more.}

That was what I feared.

{Humans. Always so afraid of what you are capable of.}

The soldiers were spilling through the pass, faster and faster. Eslyn gave me a look that veered on pity.

“What did you think you signed up for?”

Nura yanked me aside, pulling me close.

“I know it’s hard,” she said. “Believe me, I do. But what he is asking for is a decisive victory. The more force we show today, the sooner the war will be over. And the sooner you can go fight your war in Threll, Tisaanah. Just think of that.”

Gods, the way she rationalized it. As if it were a simple equation, a scale to be tipped, a game to be played only in numbers.

And yet…

I thought of the people who were waiting for me, and the promises I had made.Was this it? Would I have to clear their path by burying this one in bloody rubble?

{Do you think any of those people would have cared about you or your people?}

I didn’t have time to question.

Eslyn grabbed me, and the two of us disappeared into the air.

* * *

These are your orders.

The words were a collar, a heartbeat, a promise, and a curse.

I didn’t think. Il’Sahaj was out, my muscles barely my own. The violence hit Reshaye like a drug, its rage-soaked satisfaction flooding me.

These are your orders.

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