Fall of Light (The Kharkanas Trilogy 2)

Draconus barked a bitter laugh. ‘That choice was never given us—’

‘You should have done it nonetheless. They would have swallowed it down, eventually. Had you done so, there would be no civil war. Even the birth of the Liosan—’

‘No,’ Draconus cut in. ‘Not that.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Father Light was a title born the moment she took hers. The Azathanai T’riss, who came from the Vitr, did not create it. She but sanctified it. More to the point,’ he added, ‘the Liosan are necessary, and not just them.’

‘Then this civil war belongs to Mother Dark?’

His face hardened. ‘Oh, you mort—’ he halted, and then in a calmer voice said, ‘No. It belongs to all of you. To every face in the battle line, every soul with a command upon his or her lips. It belongs to the ones who turned away when they shouldn’t have, who chose expediency over decency, who make their reality a cold winter, too hard and too harsh for sentimental fools. It belongs to the ones without imagination, without courage—’

‘Courage? You who hide

in this – this nothing – you dare challenge our bravery?’

‘Do you claim to be a brave man, Silchas Ruin?’

‘I know what I am!’

‘Then … lay down your sword.’

‘Surrender?’

‘You call it that?’

‘They will take the city! They will raise a second throne! And you, Consort, will be cast out!’

‘These,’ said Draconus wearily, ‘are not revelations.’

Silchas Ruin shook his head. ‘None will sympathize with your plight, Draconus. Not after this. Not after so much blood has already been spilled.’

‘Ah, you lay that at my feet as well?’

‘They will hunt you down—’

‘And in so doing,’ cut in Kellaras, his voice pushing between the two men, ‘break Mother Dark’s heart.’

The words silenced both Draconus and Silchas Ruin, the latter of whom turned helplessly to Kellaras.

‘So,’ said Draconus to Silchas after a long moment, ‘what would you have me do?’

‘Does she listen now, Lord Draconus?’

He shook his head. ‘This is our world here, old friend.’ Then he added, with a slight tilt of his head as he regarded Silchas, ‘I see the hand still upon your sword. None, then, shall surrender.’

‘We cannot,’ snapped Silchas Ruin. ‘We lose too much. We lose it all.’

Draconus slowly nodded, looking thoughtful and then, with narrowing eyes, curious. He waited.

Silchas Ruin hesitated.

Tears filled Kellaras’s eyes, but he could not look away. No, Silchas, don’t do this.

‘The honourable thing, Lord Draconus, is to step aside.’

‘I already have, Silchas, or do you imagine I volunteered this role of Consort?’