the slaves? You are a slave, Malik Rolukhan, and your prison is an invisible one.”
He sneered at her. “And just what is this prison?”
“The one the nagataaru has built around you,” said Annarah.
“Fool,” said Rolukhan. “You think that the nagataaru controls me? I am in command of myself. Our alliance is a partnership. Together we are greater than either one of us could be separately.”
“Are you?” said Annarah. “You kill, and the nagataaru feeds. It grows stronger, twisting your thoughts so subtly that you do not even realize it is happening. How many unnecessary murders have you committed? Deaths that gained you nothing, save for the pleasure of feeding your nagataaru?”
“Ridiculous,” said Rolukhan, his shadow stirring behind him. “I command the nagataaru. I command!”
“Then why,” said Annarah, pointing her free hand at Kylon, “did you murder his wife and unborn child?”
Rolukhan scoffed. “Because he was a threat to our plans.”
Kylon said nothing, his eyes hard and deadly as he stared at Rolukhan.
“He was,” said Annarah. “His wife was not. His unborn child was not. They were no threats to you. Why not simply kill Lord Kylon and leave his wife and child alone? That is the practical, pragmatic approach. Instead you slew his wife and child. Why? What did it gain you?”
“You overlook the obvious, foolish child,” said Rolukhan. “It gained…it gained…”
For the first time Caina saw a flicker of doubt upon Rolukhan’s face, and his shadow stirred behind him like an awakening serpent.
“Nothing,” said Annarah. “It gained you nothing, save to feed your nagataaru’s lust for cruelty.” She gestured at Malcolm and Nerina. “Why did you enslave this man and leave his wife alive to die of wraithblood poisoning?”
“Because I required his skills at the forge!” snapped Rolukhan, growing angry. “You speak of matters you do not understand!”
“Then why?” said Annarah. “Why be as cruel as you can? Do not tell me it is necessary. If not for your wasteful cruelty, you would not face so many enemies.”
Rolukhan opened his mouth to say something, and then closed it, the confusion clear on his face.
“Do you not see?” said Annarah. “Your nagataaru has corrupted your mind. It has addicted you to death and cruelty, to murder and torment. It has made you its slave, and dulled your senses and your reason by feeding you empty power and petty pleasures. Please, let me help you. Let me free you of its domination. Otherwise it shall use you up and cast you aside as the nagataaru have done with so many over the millennia.”
The confusion grew sharper on Rolukhan’s face, and for a moment Caina thought he might actually accept. His shadow rippled and snapped around him, the purple fire blazing brighter against his hands, and he tilted his head to the side as if listening to a voice that only he could hear. The confusion drained from his face, replaced by the usual arrogant confidence.
“Foolish, foolish child,” said Rolukhan. “You understand nothing.”
“No,” said Annarah, pleading. “I beg of you, do not give in to it. Do not yield to it.”
“Yield to it?” said Rolukhan. “I embrace it!” His shadow stirred, faster and faster. “You are a deluded fool, clinging to the title of an extinct order. Mankind is as sheep.” He waved a hand over the Hall of Flames. “But a new humanity is arising, a stronger humanity. Grand Master Callatas and the Apotheosis shall make it so, and I am among the first of the new mankind.” He laughed. “And you, Annarah of the loremasters, shall be among the first of the old humanity to perish. Slowly, and in great pain. I shall enjoy your suffering for weeks.”
“I see,” said Annarah, closing her eyes with a sigh. She opened them again. “I see that you are too far gone to repent.”
Rolukhan laughed again. “I have nothing of which to repent. I wish I had seen Kylon’s wife and child suffer their final agonies. I wish his wife and child were here to listen to him scream. I suppose I shall settle for your screams instead…”
Every hint of sorrow and regret fell away from Annarah, and she drew herself up, the pyrikon staff shining in her right hand. She seemed stern and terrible, her eyes like disks of jade, and the air around her crackled with power.
“Then hearken, Malik Rolukhan!” said Annarah. “Hearken and hear the Words of Lore!”
That was not much of a battle cry.
Caina changed her mind exactly two seconds later when Annarah leveled her staff at Rolukhan. A