The hope expanded a smidge when half of Tohon’s men followed us to the guild with the dead ufas trotting beside them, leaving only a dozen soldiers behind. From the angle of the sun, it was just past midafternoon. I also clutched the fact Kerrick knew about my dreams. Never had I been so glad to be lied to.
Tohon chatted about what he’d learned about the bond. Half-distracted with worry for Kerrick and my team, I didn’t fully listen. Noak had told me Tohon’s death would break the bond and that was all I needed.
“...will result in the immediate death of the other,” Tohon said.
That caught my attention. “Even if the other isn’t hurt?”
“Yes. So it’ll be in my best interest to keep you alive, my dear. And vice versa.”
A tightness ringed my chest. Breathing became difficult. Don’t panic, I repeated in my mind. “Except we’re not... We haven’t...completed the process.”
“Not yet. Kerrick must die or go dormant. After that, we’ll be bonded.”
“And I’ll have an excellent reason to commit suicide.”
“Now, now, my dear. Don’t be nasty. Do you remember how your body reacts to my touch?”
“Unfortunately.”
“I believe your words were scatterbrained and swooning. Well, I tried clearheaded and cooperative, and was tricked. Then I tried threatening you, scaring you, and killing your sister. Yet, you resisted every effort and almost killed me in the process.” He tsked. “Once we’re bonded, I will ensure that quick intelligence of yours is turned to goo. I will enjoy scatterbrained and swooning Avry very much.”
Even more motive to commit suicide, but I clamped my mouth shut for the remainder of the trip to the Healer’s Guild.
When we arrived, Tohon shook his head. “Such a waste. The buildings were magnificent. Perhaps I’ll have them rebuilt. Would you like that, my dear?”
Actually, I would. Very much. “Yes.”
“Don’t sound so surprised. I do care about the Fifteen Realms. So much so that I want to unite us all so we can prosper and grow.”
Again, I refrained from commenting. While his goal was admirable, his methods were not. No amount of arguing would change his mind. He’d convinced himself that his actions had been with the purest intentions. That murdering six million people wasn’t a crime when you called it biological warfare. That reanimating the dead was making the most of your limited resources and not morally repugnant.
Instead, I asked, “How did you protect your...er...friends from the first plague virus?”
“Ah. I wondered when you’d ask me that. Although, I think you’ve already figured it out.”
I had? “You had the cure and managed to give it to Ryne and the others during your school reunion before spreading the plague.”
“Correct. And you already know what the cure is.”
I mulled it over. My blood cured the new plague, so following the logic... “Your blood!”
“Correct. I discovered my life magic infused my blood with curative properties while doing my research at the Healer’s Guild. Along with the fact that about a third of the people didn’t contract that plague either by avoiding exposure or just a natural resistance—a happy side effect as a king needs subjects. Besides, it would have been incredibly stupid to release the plague without a cure.”
“Do you have a cure for the new plague? The one Wynn stole?”
“Of course. However, I developed that one to be more difficult to spread—to use more for assassination than mass exterminations. Your death magician was kinder to that traitor than I would have been. I’d planned for Wynn to experience a great deal of agony before she died.”
My thoughts spun. He’d gone to such lengths to be a king—the more I learned, the sicker I felt. At that moment, I gave up trying to figure out this horrible business of war. Spies, double crosses, ambushes, and strategic military positioning; how did anyone keep it all straight?
Then I realized it wasn’t my job to keep track. It was Ryne’s and maybe I should have just trusted him to do his job and I should have focused on my job—healing patients. Interfering with Ryne’s strategy had only landed me here with Tohon.
Tohon guided me inside his tent. The fabric hung low on its frame and water dripped from the edges. They had soaked the material to keep it from burning. Lovely.
He pushed me into a chair then ignored me as he sent for his officers. No one, except the guards at the entrance, paid me any attention. Even if I slipped past them, I doubted I’d get far.
“Any signs of Prince Kerrick’s team?” Tohon asked one of his lieutenants.
“No, sire.”
“Keep vigilant, they could strike at any time. And spread the word, all patrols are on duty. No one sleeps tonight.”
“Yes, sire!”
Tohon noticed my interest. “You don’t really think I believed all your information? I was pretty confident about you, but once you told Kerrick about our dreams, I’d be a fool to trust anything he said.”
Yet he had soaked the fabric of his tent. I listened as Tohon positioned his troops and dealt with the various problems and questions from his men. Fear simmered in my chest, but a numb sense of inevitability settled over me. Events had been set into motion; I would either get an opportunity to act or not. Ideally, I’d kill Tohon. Worst case... I shied away from that line of thought. As Ryne had once said, positive thoughts led to positive results.