Fortune Favors the Cruel - Kel Carpenter Page 0,68
in acknowledgement. “I came to speak with you about the spring.”
“I assumed as much.” Thorne turned towards his seat. In another room, under another man, the throne might have appeared ostentatious, but Thorne made it work. It suited him well, not the other way around.
“I will need the Servalis stone before I take Quinn up there. I was hoping to leave this afternoon.”
Thorne frowned and looked over Lazarus, noting the dark circles under his eyes. “Shouldn’t you rest a bit first?” he asked. “You’ve been on the road for quite a while, my friend. Another night’s sleep won’t hurt either of you. The ceremony will be difficult on her body if her power is as strong as I expect it to be.”
Lazarus shook his head, turning his chin as he moved closer to Throne’s seated position. “We don’t have the time. I doubt those following us have inexperienced riders. It is also unlikely that they would take the same breaks as we have.”
Thorne considered that for a moment, his brows drawing down low over his eyes as he scanned Lazarus’ face. Finally, he closed his eyes with a sigh and gestured for Lazarus to follow him as he rose from his throne. “The process will begin as soon as she enters the water,” Thorne began as he led him out on a deck overlooking the whole of Cisea.
Lazarus looked down, watching its people as they milled about. In the hundreds of years since these people had entered and conquered the mountains, their technology hadn’t grown, but their knowledge had. The Cisean people knew more about Maji and their abilities more than anyone else in the vast lands of the continent—except perhaps the N’skari.
“When you enter the cavern, you must do so when the sun falls over the horizon. Leviathan will preside only when Leviticus has descended into sleep.”
“Under the God of the Moon and Shadows.” Lazarus nodded. “I can do that.”
Thorne’s hands wrapped around the railing of the deck, his eyes far away as he continued. “There will be light, of course. Have her strip down. No clothes are to enter the water, as they are impure.”
“That will not be a problem.” Lazarus forced the thought of a naked Quinn from his mind. The time for it to drive him into insanity was not now. Not when the whispers liked that idea so very much.
“Hand her the Servalis stone and have her enter the waters alone. She will need to climb to the highest point of the pool where Leviathan’s eye may see her.”
“Where the moon can see her?” Lazarus moved closer to the other man, turning and resting his lower back against the railing that appeared weak at a moment’s glance, but seemed to handle Thorne’s grip quite well.
Thorne nodded. “There is an opening at the top of the cavern’s ceiling for him to observe. Once she is in the spring, the water will activate the stone’s magic. It will drain her of her own magic completely and then return it to her. This is how it measures all that she is and what she will be.” Lazarus nodded. “But be warned, she will be weak when she leaves. Try to get her back here as quickly as possible. She will need to sleep for a while to recover.”
Lazarus darted a glance at the man before shifting his eyes away. “How long is a while?”
Thorne’s lips quirked and he released a dry chuckle. “A day or so. It all depends. Why? Nervous, are we?” Lazarus grunted a nonresponse. He wasn’t keen to waste time getting there, particularly if Quinn was going to need rest after. Some things were unavoidable.
Thorne shook his head and his expression sobered once again. “How will I be able to determine the strength of her abilities?” Lazarus asked. “She hasn’t yet hit her ascension. I expect it will be soon. She shows signs of overcharge and manifesting more rapidly.”
Thorne’s frown deepened. “It should have happened by now, Lazarus.” Dark hair slid against a tan cheek as Lazarus turned his face towards the giant of a man. Their gazes connected and locked. “What aren’t you telling me, my friend?”
Lazarus’ lips pressed together before he took a breath, parting them as he imparted a sliver of Quinn’s past she would not be happy he was sharing, though he knew she’d refuse to feel embarrassed about it. No, that was not like her. She was far too honest, too abrupt—and so very unapologetic for it.