“The majesty of soul oaths,” Eithan said wistfully. “It’s the spirit of the promise, not the letter.”
Yerin continued looking around. “Can we race ahead to the part where you all figured out a way to tell me what’s going on?”
Eithan gave a loud, exaggerated cough.
Lindon felt his cheeks go warm. “Apologies. I did try.” There was a sound recording construct in Lindon’s pocket, but his spirit was restricting him from sending it to Yerin. He had even intended to spill it out of his pocket onto the floor—surely then he wouldn’t be giving it to her—but the promise was more effective than he had imagined. Now, even if Yerin searched his clothes, he would feel the need to crush the construct.
[You will know in due time,] Dross said mysteriously.
Yerin did not look happy with that answer.
Lindon was the first to notice the person missing. “Where’s Mercy?”
Mercy knew as soon as she was drawn into the all-black world that this wasn’t going to be one of the fun meetings with her mother.
Malice looked down on her daughter with…Mercy wouldn’t call it a glare, but that wouldn’t be far off.
Mercy inclined her head respectfully. “Mother. You’re looking lovely today?” That came out as more of a question than a statement, but the compliment should help.
“You are lucky that your friends are more resourceful than you are,” Malice said coldly. “If events had not worked out in my favor, I would have been forced to punish you.”
“But they did!”
“Don’t be a child.” The temperature in the shadow world lowered, and purple eyes glittered. “You knew I would want to keep them out of the labyrinth. You meddled with forces beyond you, and you can only thank Fate that you didn’t all die.”
Mercy shifted her weight. “It wasn’t quite so—”
“You were supposed to do as I bid you. That is your role in serving the family.”
“I don’t think—”
“You lied to me.”
Mercy’s fear slowly shifted to anger. That wasn’t a healthy attitude before a Monarch, but she couldn’t help it. “How am I supposed to stop Lindon and Yerin and Eithan from doing anything? And why would I want to? You didn’t even tell me why!”
“You think weakness excuses you? You’ve had advantages they never imagined, and still they have surpassed you. You couldn’t even reach Overlord on your own.”
“But I got there! I thought you didn’t care how!”
“When you defy my orders, you had better have something to show for it,” Malice snapped. The darkness behind her boiled, and Mercy’s anger shook, but she held onto it.
“What more were we supposed to do? We made it to the bottom and back out, just like you did! We’re not Monarchs! We can’t come out with a new Dreadgod!”
“Oh, but one of you did,” the Monarch said softly.
Mercy paused. “What?”
“You haven’t seen your friend Lindon yet. He emerged with the power of the Slumbering Wraith under control. He ejected Reigan Shen’s forces from the valley. In effect, he owns the labyrinth now.”
Mercy’s anger was replaced by uncertainty. “Wait, but…how is that…”
“I am disappointed in you for many reasons. You disobeyed me, your loyalty to the family is questionable, and you depend on others as a crutch. But most of all, you lack ability.” Malice’s finger jabbed Mercy in the collar. “You are the daughter of the Monarch who owns these lands. You were born with enough authority to claim the labyrinth, if you had been present when Subject One died. If I were you, I would have been there. And if I could not claim it for myself, I would claim the one who did.”
Mercy’s face heated up. “That’s not your—”
“You think I mean affection?” Malice snapped. “I mean control.” The entire dark world focused to a point, as though a spotlight had illuminated Malice. Her eyes shone. “I can tell you one thing with absolute certainty: your friends have grown too powerful to remain free. I will shower them in glory and power…
“…but they will be mine.”
Lindon sat on the hill next to Yerin, comparing notes as the sun set. They had all asked him for the story of fighting Reigan Shen, and he had gone over every blow in detail. With Dross’ help.
Now he had made it to the part where he’d claimed the throne of the labyrinth. “There was still a deeper layer,” he said. “An older one. I thought I was done then, until I pulled out…”