Trull Sengar picked his way across the killing field. The rain was turning the churned ground into a swamp. The bones of the sorcery had vanished. He paused, hearing piteous cries from somewhere off to his right. A dozen paces in that direction, and he came upon a demon.
Four heavy quarrels had pierced it. The creature was lying on its side, its bestial face twisted with pain.
Trull crouched near the demon’s mud-smeared head. ‘Can you understand me?’
Small blue eyes flickered behind the lids, fixed on his own eyes. ‘Arbiter of life. Denier of mercy. I shall die here.’
The voice was thin, strangely childlike.
‘I shall call a healer-’
‘Why? To fight again? To relive terror and grief?’
‘You were not a warrior in your world?’
‘A caster of nets. Warm shoals, a yellow sky. We cast nets.’
‘All of you?’
‘What war is this? Why have I been killed? Why will I never see the river again? My mate, my children. Did we win?’
‘I shall not be long. I will return. I promise.’ Trull straightened, went on to where stood Fear and, now, a dozen others. The K’risnan was alive, surrounded by healers – none of whom seemed capable of doing anything for the figure writhing in the mud. As Trull neared, he saw more clearly the young warlock.
Twisted, deformed, his skin peeling in wet sheets, and eyes filled with awareness.
Fear stepped into Trull’s path and said, ‘It is the sword’s sorcery – the gift-giver’s own, channelled from the weapon into Rhulad, and from Rhulad to whomever he may choose. Yet…’ He hesitated. ‘The body cannot cope. Even as it destroys the enemy, so it changes the wielder. This is what the women are telling me.’
His brother’s face was pale, and nowhere in his expression could Trull see triumph or satisfaction at the victory they had won this day.
‘Will he survive?’
‘They think so. This time. But the damage cannot be reversed. Trull, Hanradi’s son is dead. We have lost a K’risnan.’
‘To this?’ Trull asked. ‘To the sword’s power?’
‘Partly. The Letherii mages mostly, I think, given how badly burned he was. They resisted longer than we expected.’
Trull faced High Fort. ‘It has surrendered?’
‘Yes, a few moments ago. A delegation. The garrison is being disarmed. I was thinking of leaving Hanradi to govern. His spirit is much damaged.’
Trull said nothing to that. He moved past Fear and strode to the women gathered round the K’risnan. ‘One of you, please,’ he said. ‘There is healing I would have you attend to.’
An Arapay woman nodded. ‘Wounded warriors. Yes, preferable. Lead me to them.’
‘Not Edur. A demon.’
She halted. ‘Don’t be a fool. There are Edur who require my skills – I have no time for a demon. Let it die. We can always acquire more.’
Something snapped in Trull, and before he was even aware of it the back of his right hand was stinging and the woman was on the ground, a stunned expression on her suddenly bloodied face. Then rage flared in her eyes.
Fear pushed Trull back a step. ‘ What are you doing ?’
‘I want a demon healed,’ Trull said. He was trembling, frightened at the absence of remorse within him even as he watched the woman pick herself up from the mud. ‘I want it healed, then unbound and sent back to its realm.’
‘Trull-’
The woman snarled, then hissed, ‘The empress shall hear of this! I will see you banished!’ Her companions gathered, all looking on Trull with raw hatred.
He realized that his gesture had snapped something within them as well. Unfortunate.
‘How badly injured is it?’ Fear asked.
‘It is dying-’
‘Then likely it has already done so. No more of this, Trull.’ He swung to the women. ‘Go among our warriors, all of you. I will see the K’risnan carried to our camp.’
‘We will speak of this to the empress,’ the first healer said, wiping at her face.
‘Of course. As you must.’
They stalked off into the rain.
‘The battle lust is still upon you, brother-’
‘No it isn’t-’
‘Listen to me. It is how you will excuse your actions. And you will ask for forgiveness and you will make reparations.’
Trull turned away. ‘I need to find a healer.’
Fear pulled him roughly round, but Trull twisted free. He headed off-He would find a healer. A Hiroth woman, one who knew his mother. Before word carried.