Page 11 of The Stygian Crown

Salizar’s eyes lit up. “Are you positive, my lady? I’m sure the king would be happy to have you execute some prisoners for him. Our executioner isn’t even Namirahn—a waste, truly. Alternatively, the men at court are accustomed to being asked to service the keening of the court ladies.”

Kara raised her eyebrows. He made it all sound so transactional. “I’d like to keep my options open. And I’m no killer.” It wasn’tentirelya lie. She’d much rather earn a kill in battle than be made to play executioner.

Salizar laughed like he didn’t believe her. “Very well.” He walked over to a row of frothing glass cylinders and plucked one full of bubbling black slime out, then poured it into a small vial. The substance sludged between containers, black tendrils gripping at the surface of the glass as if it were reluctant to leave. He stoppered the vial and handed it to her.

Of course it’d be the black, noxious liquid instead of the one that looked like strawberry cream.

“I’ve started calling it demon’s drip.’’

Kara uncorked the vial and sniffed, wrinkling her nose at the sulfuric stench. She narrowed her eyes at Salizar. “What in the goddess’s name is in this?”

“It requires blood from a variety of live specimens. Carefully extracted and boiled with a proper catalyst. Perhaps the most dangerous element is the highly vitriolic—”

Kara held up her hand before he could finish. “Stop. I changed my mind, I don’t want to know. I don’t have to drink this stuff, do I?” The potion had an inky black consistency that clouded the bottle and seemed to writhe about of its own volition.

Salizar shook his head and passed her a leather pouch with several glass syringes inside. “Youcanswallow it, or you may inject it into a vein—I’ll leave it up to you. I’m told the taste is abominable. I must warn you, in its current state, the antidote is meant as a last resort, not a permanent solution. Some have an unpleasant reaction at first.”

“Such as?”

“Your body will need time to adjust. You may vomit or suffer abdominal pain. You’re not pregnant, right?”

“I’m not. How much is it?” Such things didn’t come free. If he perfected it, he’d be a very rich mage. Maybe she could add it to her court expenses.

“While it’s still undergoing testing, I’m not charging. I do ask a small favor of my customers though, to aid research and development.”

Ah, the catch.

“I’d like a sample of your blood—before and after you take the potion—to study and compare. It’s my hope that these samples will help me in refining the formula.”

“How much blood?”

“A small vial full.”

Kara hesitated. Namirahn blood held power. What would Salizar be able to do with hers, as a practitioner of blood magic? Could he use it to discover her true identity? And if he did, could she trust him to keep it a secret? He was one of Calim’s court mages, but Kara wouldn’t be here if everyone was loyal to the crown.

“I’ll make you a deal.”

“I’m listening,” Salizar said as he adjusted dials on his equipment, making the flame licking at one of his flasks shrink and expand in size.

“I’ll give you my blood in exchange for a potion each month if you agree to teach me blood magic. All of Namirah’s Chosen are capable of it, are they not?” Kara couldn’t wait for Logan to teach her. There was danger afoot in the palace, and she needed every edge she could get.

Salizar’s throat bobbed. “Yes, in theory there’s enough latent power in your blood that it can fuel spells. But it’s a dangerous art. What does an aristocratic girl like you need to know blood magic for?”

He was testing her, probing. “I’m so used to the curse controlling me… For once I’d like to control it. Use it for my own gain. I’m tired of living in fear.”

“Fair enough. I’ll do what I can, but blood magic takes years to master.” He pulled a large black tome off a shelf full of books and shoved it at her. “Your homework.”

Kara opened the book and flipped through it. Each page depicted a rune, with notes on its uses below. There were hundreds of them. The runes called to her, beckoning her to touch them. She snapped the book closed and tucked it under her arm.

“Pick out some runes you’re interested in. Memorize them. Practice drawing them—not in blood,unless you want to lose a finger. We’ll start from there.”

Salizar held out an empty vial and a small knife. “Now, my sample. Are you comfortable doing it, or should I?”

Kara took the knife and vial. It might be more in character for Lady Grey to ask for help, but she didn’t want Salizar carving on her with a knife. She made a small cut through the middle of her mark, suppressing a shudder as a wave of sensation wracked her. She slid the vial against her skin, collecting the blood, then capped it.

Salizar’s eyes were greedy as he took the vial from her and tucked it into the pocket of his robes.

“When should I return? For my lessons.”

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