Page 94 of Queen Demon
Then Arnsterath’s voice shouted, “Highsun! I bring you one of your enemies. The stone Witch.”
Kai ran another ten paces, then flung himself at the side of the Well, finding a handhold and climbing. The stone was rough and pockmarked, its icy chill stealing his breath.
“That child isn’t my enemy,” Highsun said, impatient and annoyed.
Now he says that, after shooting a death weapon at us,Kai thought grimly. He slung himself atop the platform. It was all in deep shadow except for the light around Highsun. Breaking the empty expanse of the platform was a human-sized block of white stone, knee-height to Highsun, beside a round opening about ten paces across. Highsun had set out his light and some metallic tools next to it.Tenes is right, he needs to destroy the dome so the Well can be used,Kai thought.And protect the platform? Or destroy it too?They didn’t know why Highsun wanted to be a Hierarch, but he might not want anyone else becoming one after him, either.
Arnsterath appeared across the platform, hauling an apparently mostly limp Tenes by the arm. She stopped at the very edge ofthe light. “Isn’t she your enemy?” Arnsterath asked pointedly. “You brought down half this hill to kill her and Kaiisteron and the others.”
Kai eased up to a crouch and started toward Highsun. He wished Arnsterath hadn’t mentioned him, reminding Highsun that Kai must still be around here somewhere. The platform was broad, nearly half the size of the great chamber. He had to get close enough to cast the intention.
“Where is Kaiisteron?” Highsun said. He glanced down at his tools again, as if distracted and anxious to get back to his task.
“I killed him,” Arnsterath said. “I want to join you, help you.” She moved closer and pulled Tenes with her. “They’ve been lying to me, saying I could find shelter with the Rising World. I need a powerful patron.”
“Stop there.” Highsun jerked his head.
Arnsterath stopped and let go of Tenes, who dropped to the ground as if unable to support herself. They seemed to have Highsun’s full attention and Kai crept closer. He had relied on intentions because of the constructs but now he wondered if he should be preparing a cantrip instead, something to trap Highsun until he could get closer. But intentions were quicker and Kai had three already prepared, this was no time to second-guess himself.
Still preoccupied with his tools, Highsun said. “I will not kill mortals or Witches, or anyone who doesn’t try to stop me. What is it you want?”
“Then who are you going to kill?” Arnsterath sounded honestly curious. Kai had to admit he was too.
“I will bring the reckoning to the Immortal Blessed that they have so long deserved.” Highsun finally looked up and took a step toward Arnsterath. “You didn’t answer my question.”
Kai,Ziede’s voice in his head whispered.Tahren’s coming around. Where are you?
Arnsterath persisted, “I just want to work for the winning side—”
Kai was almost close enough. He let Ziede see through his pearl, then darted forward to cast the intention.
Highsun turned with the speed of an Immortal Marshall, as if he had known Kai was there the whole time. The intention missed him and landed a few steps past, a wavering point of light askew on the stone. Highsun caught up the Thosaren weapon and fired.
Kai had already flung himself sideways but caught the edge of the weapon’s effect. His legs went numb and he crashed face-first into the stone of the platform. A mortal or a Witch would have been killed instantly. Kai snarled in rage and struggled to roll over. Highsun stood over him.
Highsun watched him solemnly, with no sign of triumph or regret. “If I left you like this, you would die slowly and the Well would absorb your pain. But you fought these creatures for so many years, I cannot let that happen.” He lifted the Thosaren weapon and pointed it at Kai’s head. “A quick death—” He choked, coughed, his expression startled. Then he lifted a hand to his mouth and spat out a yellow springflower.
Kai’s laugh was mostly hiss. It was Tenes’ best cantrip.
Highsun staggered, coughing. Arnsterath paced closer to circle him. Tenes stood a little way behind her, her expression hard with concentration.
Then through the freezing stone, Kai felt power gather and rise. He shouted, “Run, the Well—”
The Voice rose from the Well. Kai saw the light of it take physical form, saw it hang in the air like an intention’s design. Instinct made him roll over and cover his head. He waited to die, that instant of sight carved into his eyelids, a column too bright to look at that was somehow the absence of all light at the same time.
The smothering power died away. Silence rang in his ears. Until Arnsterath made a startled noise. Kai tried to struggle upright. His legs prickled with the return of feeling as his body repairedthe damage the Well weapon had done, but it wasn’t fast enough. He managed to shove himself into a sitting position.
Highsun still stood, holding the Well weapon. He stared toward Arnsterath, who sprawled on the platform. Tenes stood as well, but she wasn’t moving. Her gaze was fixed, her pale skin turning blue even as Kai watched. In silence, she crumpled to the stone of the platform like an empty set of clothing.
Highsun wiped his mouth. “I had no idea it could do that. A short, controlled burst.” He nodded to himself. “It explains how the original Hierarchs retained so much control over their subjects. In close proximity, if they could use it as self-protection.” He raised the weapon at Arnsterath. “A good test, but I must—”
Arnsterath launched herself at Highsun. She was under his guard before he could fire, clamped herself to his chest, one hand gripping his face. Kai’s yell was wordless, urging her on. He crawled toward them, dragging his almost useless legs, close enough to see into the Well’s living liquid darkness. He wanted to help, he wanted a taste of Highsun’s life before Arnsterath took it all, he wanted to tear the man apart with his hands and teeth.
The Well weapon fell to the stone of the platform. Something crystal in the shaft broke into ice-like fragments. Highsun dragged Arnsterath off his chest and shook her like a doll. He flung her down so hard that Kai heard the crack of bone. Highsun backed away. Blood streaked his face from her nails, the gouges already healing. She rolled to a crouch, one knee at an odd angle, her fingers wrenched out of their sockets from the effort to hold on. She snarled, “I can’t drain him.”
“How?” Kai rasped. He thought he was stronger than Arnsterath. If he could try, or they could try together. He crawled closer.
Highsun just stepped away from him. “Another side effect of the immediate contact with the Well, I presume.” He looked down at the broken weapon, and his mouth twisted in dismay. Then he held out his hands. “We’ll see if my aim with the Well is any better with practice.”
