Of Kings and Killers (Elder Empire Sea #3) - WIll Wight Page 0,54

an entire quarter of the room, stretching from the floor to the ceiling, and liquids of multiple colors flowed through the transparent tubing.

Calder watched the liquid spiral through a hundred twists and turns, changing color along the way as it was compressed, combined, extracted, and refined. Finally, it reached a faucet over Ozriel’s hand to fall into…a teacup, which had appeared perched on Ozriel’s fingers.

The liquid was now golden, and it filled the room with an aroma that almost convinced Calder he was standing in a flower garden.

Ozriel took a sip and shuddered. “This is the most delicious tea in all existence: the Leaf-blend of Tanashai. Would you like a taste? I’m kidding, of course. You’re a tethered consciousness, whereas I have a real body.” He took another sip. “Thank you, physical human tongue. I have never been so grateful for your tangibility.”

Perhaps this man was a being beyond comprehension with the power to kill Calder with a thought, but Calder had bargained with Kelarac. He couldn’t allow Ozriel to tease him and treat him like an ignorant child, or Calder would never get what he wanted.

Calder focused his attention. “Listen to me. I don’t know if you get your thrills by flaunting your knowledge, but my life is at stake. And the existence of the entire world. Kill me or help me, but stop wasting my time.”

Ozriel took another taste of his tea. He didn’t seem offended, but nor did he seem rushed. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “I act this way for two reasons. First, it amuses me, and I like to find the little joys where I can. Second, I want to demonstrate to you that while you’re with me, you can relax. You are under my protection.”

A shiver went through Calder’s awareness as something pressed in on him from outside this room. He suddenly experienced the sense of icy cold, of depthless hunger, of a shadow that wanted nothing greater than the consumption of all that lived. It was as though the void itself had locked its eye on Calder.

The room of stained glass darkened as a shadow passed over them, and Calder’s terror peaked. He almost shot back to his body in the Emperor’s throne, but he was afraid that the darkness would catch him on the journey back.

“It’s here,” Calder whispered. “Urg’naut. He’s found me.”

Ozriel’s pleasant expression slowly peeled away like a mask melting. He set his teacup aside, where a table manifested to catch it.

Then he stood, his vivid eyes piercing through space. When he spoke, Calder was certain that he only voiced the words out loud for Calder’s benefit. “I’ve never seen trash so eager to be burned.”

And Ozriel released his Intent.

Existing as he did only as awareness of his own, Calder was especially sensitive to Intent. He had felt the force of will projected by the Emperor, Estyr Six, Kelarac, and Ach’magut.

Unlike those others, Calder wasn’t overwhelmed by this man’s Intent. It was almost gentle in the way that Calder could feel it, let it pass over him, and immerse himself in it without harm. The force of the Emperor’s presence could bowl Calder over like a raging river, but this man’s will was like the sea, and Calder merely floated in its center.

Something else was taking the brunt of his attention.

There came the feeling of a distant scream, and suddenly the shadow retreated. Urg’naut, the Creeping Shadow, drew back like a whipped dog.

When the light through the stained glass shone as brightly as before, Ozriel flopped back down on the couch and picked up his tea. “I didn’t arrange that, but I couldn’t have asked for better timing. Perfect demonstration.”

For a moment, Calder was speechless. “…is the Great Elder afraid of you?”

“If it’s wise.” He sipped the tea again. “Pay attention, because while I can do that any number of times, you have more important things to do. Your world is a prison, and I am one of the jailers.”

Calder didn’t interrupt despite his mouthful of questions.

“What you call Great Elders are what we call Class One Fiends. I like your name better, incidentally.” He shrugged. “They were named before my time. Anyway, they are the inmates in this prison. And they want to escape.”

“The crack in the sky. That’s like a…break in their prison?”

“It is, but it’s not enough.”

Ozriel held up three black-armored fingers. “There are three fates awaiting a Fiend. If there are too few humans remaining on your world, then it’s fate