Page 169 of Esperance

She was terrified, but she didn’t sense any malice from him. She never had.

Felinus watched her, his face lined. “I do not fear you,” he whispered, still grasping her arms. “But I fear what you did last night. That power is not meant to be. The bloodstones are an abomination.”

That voice.

AWAKE.

It was wrong.Evil. Amryn had felt that.

Fear—cold and deep—bled through her. “Whatisit?”

“What I told you about the bloodstones before was true,” Felinus said. “I don’t fully understand them—I’m not sure anyone does. They were created by empaths through unspeakable means. All I know is that stone must not fall into evil hands. We must find a way to destroy it, and you must flee.”

Her pulse roared in her ears. “Why?”

“Because the high cleric knows an empath is here. Too many of us were mysteriously healed last night. He’s sent for Knights. He’ll want to keep everyone here in Esperance until they can finish their search—and they will find you.” His grip tightened. “I can help you escape, and—”

Pain.

Searing, horrible pain made her double over.

Felinus clutched her, and her name echoed as he called it.

Snap.

A life went out.

Snap.

Another.

Amryn gasped, her mind frantic and her body shaking.

The double doors to the suite pushed open.

Felinus whirled, still holding Amryn up.

Marriset strode into the suite, a bloody knife in her hand and the two guards lying dead in the hall behind her.

Surprise flickered as she saw Felinus. “I didn’t realize you had company, Amryn.”

“Marriset?” Amryn gaped, fighting to straighten in Felinus’s arms. “What are you doing?”

“I feel like I could ask you the same thing.” Marriset spun the blade in her hand as she looked them over. “Isn’t he a little old for you? And acleric?”

Amryn managed to stand, though the torture of those two deaths still rang through her. Felinus dropped his hands from her as she faced Marriset.

The woman’s emotions were honed with a cool edge. She didn’t feel hate or fear. She didn’t feel much ofanything. Yet she’d just killed two men.

Marriset nudged the doors closed with her heel, never taking her eyes off them. “It’s really too bad you’re not alone. I was just going to kill you, but I guess we can have two bodies.” The corner of her mouth lifted. “I wonder what Carver will think of finding you with a cleric. Maybe he’ll be open to my comfort. I miss playing with him.”

“Guards!” Felinus shouted. “Help!”

Marriset chuckled. “No one is close enough to hear you, old man.”

Amryn and Felinus retreated as Marriset slowly advanced.

“It was you,” Amryn said, her thoughts churning. “You killed Cora.”

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