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."Your brother—and King Staden—now realize that they are not safe from our reach.""Not enough.""There is more," Arontala remarked, almost off-handedly."I understand, through a very reliable source, that the Blood Council convened in Principality for the purpose of determining whether vayash moru would be granted permission to fight against you.The majority of the Council gave their assent." Arontala held up a hand, staving off Jared's irate response."This is in our favor.""How?" Jared roared.Nearby partygoers shuddered, though none dared to look toward the angry king."Because, my king, it legitimizes what we have told the people about the vayash moru.When the people see vayash morn attacking mortals, we will not need to urge them to take their revenge.Yes,"Arontala said with an unsettling smile."This is a very good thing.""The only good thing will be when my brother dangles from that noose." Jared pointed at the gibbet."Patience, my king.We're closer than ever to the Hawthorn Moon.Whatever grandiose dreams your brother may have, there is no time for him to move against us.In just a few months the Hawthorn Moon will be upon us, and we'll seize power that will last for generations to come.""Unless you fail—again," Jared sneered."One of my platoons disappeared, near the Principality border.They brought the lone survivor to me, a raving madman who swore that vengeful ghosts had ripped his comrades to shreds before his very eyes."Jared leaned toward Arontala.The brandy made it possible to ignore the smell of stale blood."Such a thing could be done by a Summoner." Jared made the word a curse."But of course, my mage has assured me that my brother could never gain such power so quickly.""When the Obsidian King is freed, you will have your own Summoner, my king.The greatest Suinmoner who ever lived, hosted in my body and combined with my power as a Fire Clan mage.Your brother stands no chance against that power." Arontala smiled, his sharp teeth prominent."When I took the Orb from its hiding place in the foundation of Dark Haven, it did more than damage the great house and kill the lord.Bava K'aa meant to use the power of the Flow, one of the great rivers of energy, to contain the Obsidian King.But in wresting the Orb from its mooring, I altered the balance of the Flow.The imbalance in the Flow changed the timbre of magic in the Winter Kingdoms.It makes me stronger, and it makes the Light mages weaker." He licked his lips."That power is increased by blood magic.And once the Obsidian King is free to combine his spirit magic with my fire magic, the altered energies of the Flow will give us even more power.""Power? Your blood magic couldn't even produce useful fighters from the wretches they captured for you.They turned on our own troops so often that the captains don't want them.And the troops that did use them had to kill them when they were done because they wouldn't go back in their damn wagon!""The troops lack patience," Arontala replied dis-missively."Powerful magic takes time.""Spare me your talk of magic," Jared said."I want results!""You'll have your revenge," Arontala promised."When I'm a Summoner, I can help you question your brother.I can bind his soul to his body, so that you can enjoy his questioning for as long as you want.Think of it.I can keep him from dying.How many times do you want to kill him? How far past mortal endurance do you want to push him? Force the Isencroft bitch to watch, so that she appreciates your power.Is that sweet enough for you?""It's only sweet if it happens," Jared said, his eyes narrowing."You've made a lot of promises.I'm expecting to see them come to pass.""Very soon, my king, very soon.You'll have everything you desire, and more, at the Hawthorn Moon."CHAPTER TWENTY"What's on your mind, Ban?" Mikhail V V asked as they rode.The early spring weather was unseasonably cold, and the steady rain pelted their cloaks and soaked their horses.The rain made the night seem even darker.The roads were deep in mud that splattered with each step their mounts took.Soterius wanted nothing so much as a warm fire and a dry bed.Soterius shrugged."I just can't shake the feeling that we should be further along, I guess."Mikhail chuckled."Impatience does get easier with immorality," he said."Let's see
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