“Sire! Wait, Sire! You need him! You need him to find the portal and open it for you.”
Vindrake dropped his hand, observing dispassionately as Ferrister gasped aloud, gulping in precious air. Vindrake flipped his hand, brushing both of them out of his abode. “Call me when he’s located the portal.”
Malphas dragged Ferrister to his feet, and they scurried out the door like rats.
Weak people. He was surrounded by weak people. All were paralyzed with fear. So few had ever shown more than paltry resistance when directly threatened by his power. So few. He could count them on one hand. Wendelle. Kaevin. Alora. The Stone Clan girl with the wild blond hair. And of course… his brother.
*****
Dark circles underscored Alleraen’s eyes. He slumped against a wall, his features eerie in the dim light filtering through the high slotted window. “Drakeon, I no longer wish to call you my brother.”
“Alleraen, I told you, Father’s death wasn’t my fault. Barristae fought with him and killed him with Father’s own blade. I only avenged his death when I killed Barristae.”
“And why would I believe you? Anyone who opposes you is chained in this dungeon, only to be released upon swearing fealty to you in some strange blood ritual. I assure you, I’ll never do it, so you may as well kill me now. When you do, I promise my spirit will remain behind and haunt your every waking moment. And your dreams as well.”
Vindrake felt a shiver ripple down his spine. “There’s no such thing as haunting spirits. You don’t believe such a thing. We both know our spirits go either to eternal salvation or damnation when we die.”
“No, Drakeon. You’ve lost your conscience. So God has told me my spirit will never leave your side. I’ll always be there to remind you of His condemnation.”
“Be silent! I don’t wish to hear your lies!” But Vindrake’s new gift of judging told him his brother’s words held no deception. Could it be true? Had God truly abandoned him to such a fate?
Perhaps Alleraen was deluded. Yes, that must be it. He was distraught over their father’s death, and he’d imagined this conversation with God.
“You know I speak the truth. I’m not afraid of you, Drakeon. I should be angry but, right now, all I feel toward you is pity. You’ve turned your back on everything Father taught us. Unless you stop this madness, you’ll die a lonely, friendless man.”
“Ha! I won’t be lonely or friendless, for certain. Already, I have more than fifty who’ve sworn to be faithful to me. You are alone here in this dungeon since the others have chosen to follow me. More join the ranks each day. Unite with me, Alleraen. Together, we can lead Water Clan to be the greatest clan in history.”
“Together? You would share your power with me? You would give up the place you claimed as leader of Water Clan?”
Vindrake choked. “I can’t give up my place as leader. It is my destiny. And with my new-found gifts and the knowledge contained in the Maladorn scroll—”
“That scroll! This all started because of that scroll! It’s changed you, Drakeon. Can you not see? It’s evil, and it’s making you evil as well.”
“The scroll is nothing but recorded knowledge. Knowledge is knowledge… it cannot be evil or good. As long as I use the knowledge of the scroll with good intent, it isn’t evil. That’s precisely what I’m doing. I’m using the scroll and my new gifts to better serve Water Clan.”
“No, Drakeon. You’re blind to the truth. You aren’t using the scroll. The scroll is using you.”
Vindrake felt blood pounding in his ears. “Speak no more!” He turned his back to Alleraen, intent on escaping his accusing words.
“Wait, Vindrake! It’s not too late. Come away with me. Let’s venture across the sea… as we dreamed when we were children. Leave Water Clan. Father is gone, and I have no heart to stay here.”
Vindrake’s feet froze to the ground as a lump formed in his throat. He turned slowly, blinking his watery eyes. The idea was enticing. He could forget everything that had happened. “Just you and I?”
“Yes, you and I. We’ll go far away and start anew.” Alleraen dragged himself to his feet, his expression earnest.
“Do you really believe we could do that?”
“I do.”
His words were truth. Vindrake’s resolve wavered.
“We should throw the scroll in the ocean.” Alleraen paced, his chains rattling on the stone floor. “Or burn it. Thus we’ll be certain it doesn’t fall into another’s hands.”
“No!” Vindrake screamed the word, panic welling in his chest. “The scroll is mine. I won’t destroy it. I’ll protect it with my life.”
With a cry of despair, Alleraen leaned against the wall, his legs crumpling until he reached the floor. He sat still, unseeing as a wooden statue.
“Alleraen, don’t you understand?”