Of Kings and Killers (Elder Empire Sea #3) - WIll Wight Page 0,118
at him from across the water. He had stared annihilation in the face, and it had missed him by inches. How fragile life was, even now.
He gripped himself tighter as Loreli commanded her way through both the Imperial Guards and the Luminian knights on patrol. Some of the latter glared at him as he walked in, but he was wearing his helmet, so they might not be sure who he was.
On their way to Jorin, they marched past a particular building, and he found himself moving in front of the Regent. “I know we’re short on time, but would you mind stopping here first? Someone needs your help.”
Loreli’s braids shook as she looked from him to the building and then into the sky. “General Teach of the Imperial Guard,” she said. “Wounded by Jorin’s blade.”
Though he tried to prepare himself, he shuddered as she turned her dark eyes on him and asked a question. “What happened when I left?”
“Negotiations broke down,” Calder said. “But we need everyone we can get right now.” He was glad that his armor covered the mark of Kelarac on his arm, and doubly glad that Estyr was dead. Jorin would tell Loreli what happened, and after that the remaining two Regents would be his enemies.
At least Estyr Six wouldn’t be among them.
“Hurry,” Loreli said. The Guards weren’t standing at their posts so much as they were cowering by the doors, shooting terrified glances up at the broken sky, but they could not have been more eager to open up for Loreli.
They reached Teach’s bedside in moments. Her transformation had progressed.
Her hair spilled behind her in long navy waves, her cheekbones stood out sharply, and her skin had a purple tinge. Her limbs even looked slightly longer, though that could have been an illusion caused by her sprawl across the bed.
Her breathing was labored and rough, and she tossed in her sleep. Loreli pulled off a gauntlet and pressed the back of her hand to Teach’s forehead. “Her temperature’s high, but there is no sweat.” She moved her fingers to press against the Guild Head’s throat. “Pulse is loud and strong. She has the heart of a Bonereaver?”
“She does.”
“The original purpose of the heart is to strengthen her body against Tyrfang’s intrusive Intent. When Jorin struck her with a greater amount of similar Intent but failed to kill her, the heart overreacted, transforming her to increase the compatibility between her Kameira graft and the rest of her.”
Loreli waved her hand and a soft white-gold light surrounded Teach. “I can easily remove the hostile power remaining in her body, and she will awaken in moments. However, the transformation is quite advanced. She may no longer be herself. She may even be a liability in combat.”
Teach’s eyes snapped open, flickering restlessly across the ceiling. Her icy blue irises were now spotted with flecks of silver. She leaped out of bed, scuttling on all fours into the corner and then resting on her haunches, growling at them like a dog.
Loreli had a hand lightly resting on the pommel of her sword. “Jarelys Teach. Can you hear me?”
A wave of Intent washed out from the Regent, and Calder could feel her wish for Teach to recover and see the world clearly.
Light flashed outside one of the windows, and the air crackled again. In that moment, Calder sensed some more of Loreli’s intentions. Not through his power as a Reader, but through pure intuition.
Every second she wasted meant a step closer to the end of the world. She had been willing to risk this detour for the possibility of restoring a rare warrior who could fight against a Great Elder, but her time was too valuable.
That all made Calder certain: if the Guild Head didn’t recover immediately, Loreli was going to kill her. There was no time to wait and see what happened.
When her Intent washed over Teach, there was no visible effect. The Guild Head continued to snarl, her loose patient’s robe flapping open and revealing muscles corded with tension.
Gently, the Regent’s fingers wrapped around the hilt of her sword.
Calder moved his back in front of her, keeping his eyes on Teach. He felt a chill down his spine at the thought of having Loreli’s sword behind him, but he focused entirely on the Guild Head.
“General Teach, please. I need your help.”
She snarled, slashing at him, but he ducked back. Her nails left red-and-black streaks lingering in the air for a moment, echoes of Tyrfang’s power.