she was reaching for you,” said Caina. “I think you touched her, just now. That was why the crystals gave off that…that spike of power, or whatever it was. It was like touching two lodestones together.”
“I don’t understand,” said Kylon.
“I think,” said Nasser with a sigh, “that you might.”
Caina stepped forward, gripped Nasser’s left forearm, and lifted it. He offered no resistance as she undid the leather bracer and pulled away the black glove, revealing the hand beneath it.
Kylon felt his eyes widen in astonishment.
Nasser’s left hand and forearm were made of glowing blue crystal.
Caina released his hand, and for a moment she and Nasser stared at each other.
“That crystal is…grafted to your arm?” said Kylon.
“It’s not grafted,” said Caina. “It is his arm.” She looked back at Nasser. “You’re the last Prince of Iramis, aren’t you?”
Nasser sighed, took his bracer and glove back, and started to pull them on. “Lord Kylon, take note. I have no doubt that you shall return to a position of authority, if we survive our current enterprise, and when you do, beware of surrounding yourself with clever men like Ciaran.” He closed the bracer and pulled the glove over his hand, wincing as he flexed his fingers. “They have a knack for discovering secrets that you would rather remain hidden.”
“Then these statues,” said Caina, looking at the fountain. “They…were your family?”
“Yes,” said Nasser.
“I’m sorry,” said Caina. “How are you still alive?”
“I’m not entirely sure,” said Nasser. “We knew an attack of some kind was coming. The loremasters had cast their wards over me. I was going to take command of the valikarion and the soldiers and lead them against Callatas. I had just come to the gates of the palace when Callatas used the Star against us. I reached for my wife and children as the fire consumed the city,” he looked at the statues, his calm face giving no indication of the emotions Kylon’s sorcery sensed within, “and I touched her hand just as Callatas’s fire reached us. The city burned around me, and every living man, woman, and child within was turned to crystal. Except for me.”
“Partially,” said Caina.
Nasser nodded. “The hand still functions, though I can feel nothing through it, and moving it causes considerable pain. I suspect Callatas’s curse only partially touched me, giving me the longevity and resilience of these crystalline pillars while retaining freedom of movement.” The gloved hand clenched into a fist. “Ever since then, I have sought a way to defeat Callatas. For vengeance, yes, but vengeance alone cannot keep a man going for a century and a half.” He gestured with his hand of flesh at the crystalline pillars. “I fight him to keep this fate from befalling other nations. For he shall do to Istarinmul and all the world what he did to Iramis.”
“Then you were the one,” said Caina. “You sent Annarah away with the Staff and the Seal of Iramis. The royal regalia…gods! They were your regalia all this time.”
“Callatas had demanded them,” said Nasser. “He had already stolen the Star, and he sent a message demanding that we surrender the Staff and the Seal to him. I refused. I didn’t know about his Apotheosis in those days, though his message was full of madness about perfecting mankind and remaking the world. I had hoped to find Annarah again…but she disappeared. Later I learned that Morgant the Razor had killed her, but that the regalia had vanished. I searched for Morgant, but could never find him, and eventually I assumed that he must have died. Then, a hundred and fifty years later, you strolled with him into my rooms. Now I am here to rescue Annarah and secure the lost relics before Callatas can claim them and work evil.”
“That was an eventful day,” said Kylon. “Lord Prince…”
“Do not call me that,” said Nasser. “I no longer have the right to that title. I was the Prince of Iramis, but Iramis perished long ago.”
“I am sorry for your losses,” said Kylon.
Nasser inclined his head. “Thank you. You of all men would understand. I have come to terms with the loss…but your words are kind nonetheless.” His eyes turned back to Caina. “You understand why I could not tell you? Callatas knows I yet live, and his hatred of me has not wavered. If you were taken and made to talk…”
“Say no more,” said Caina. “I understand…and I am sorry.”
A white smile flashed over Nasser’s dark face. “Why? As I said, you are clever,