darkened blade_ A fallen blade novel - Kelly McCullough Page 0,120
slowing?” I really didn’t want to hear any more about the Son of Heaven’s restless dead experiments and a change in current could be a serious issue if it wasn’t in the plan.
“Not your imagination,” replied Kelos. “The current should come to a stop in about a half hour, and then it will reverse for a while. At that point, the water will start to drop much faster. The mechanics aren’t worth going into, but I needed a delay to allow whoever ended up making this approach to get clear before the big drain opened up. Without that, we’d be sucked right down into the deeps and drown there—because of the god-magic reinforcing them, the effects of the wards against water-breathing extend some hundreds of feet down and out from the temple precinct.”
I don’t like the sound of that, sent Triss.
Neither do I.
The water had come down another three or four inches by now, making it much easier to carry on a conversation. The clarity of the water was kind of eerie. With Kelos’s light carried below the surface you really couldn’t see it at all, only feel it buoying you up. Any time I looked down, it felt like I ought to be falling.
“How far in do we have to get to prevent that from becoming an issue?” I asked.
“Beyond the first of the gates, at least,” said Kelos. “It shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Why is it that I don’t trust a word you say?” I grumbled.
Kelos laughed aloud—a growly sort of laugh. “Point. Though, to be fair, I am telling the truth this time.”
“Of course you are,” said Triss. “We have your word for it, right?”
“Of course.” Kelos laughed again. “You should never trust me to tell you everything, but you can always trust me to tell you everything you need to know. How to avoid drowning while you’re doing what I want you to do is definitely something you need to know.”
“That’s so very reassuring,” said Faran.
“Don’t let it get you down,” said Kelos. “You’re going to kill me when we’re done here anyway, so what does it matter?”
“That’s the plan, yes,” she agreed. “But I’m pretty sure I’m not the first person who had that on their agenda, and you’re still here. So you’ll forgive me if I wait to put a mark on my hilt for you until after I see you bleed out.”
“True, and fair enough, though you will have one decided advantage over every previous attempt.” Kelos’s tone became much more serious then, as he turned through an arch on the left—it was the third on that side and fifth overall, and I couldn’t see anything to distinguish it from the others. “Once the Son of Heaven is dead, my job is done. I’m a tired old man, and at that point I shall be quite ready for my final rest.”
Do you think that’s another play? asked Triss.
I don’t know anymore. I sent a mental shrug. We were certain he wanted me to kill him back at Ashkent’s castle, but he’s still here. Is that because we outplayed him then? Or is it because we did exactly what he wanted us to do?
Or did he simply set it up so that he won either way? He can’t be that good, can he really?
Maybe . . . or maybe he’s got us so bamboozled he doesn’t even have to play us anymore, we just do it to ourselves because we believe he’s that good. We took a right turning then, following Kelos through another arch. All I’m certain of is that he really and truly wants to bring down the current order. . . .
And how do you feel about that, Aral? You sound wary. Have you made your decision yet?
It should be so simple. The Son of Heaven destroyed us. He’s half-undead, a master of the risen, and a manipulator of kingdoms. But if I kill him, kingdoms will fall and tens of thousands will die. Maybe hundreds of thousands. If I leave him alive, he will do unmeasurable evil. . . .
But if you kill him, you will do unmeasurable evil. Or, at least, that’s how you see it. You know I don’t agree with you about that. From where I sit, the responsibility either way is his.
I know, Triss, and I know that taking it on myself isn’t entirely sane. But I can’t help it. I have always bled for the unintended victims of my actions. We