Her expression became complicated. “He will be tried in the Abidan Court. His actions are in violation of our laws, and have resulted in great destruction. But he is still an irreplaceable asset, which is what led to this problem in the first place.”
Lindon was silent for a long time, chewing on that information, and Suriel continued weaving the universe back together.
Unexpectedly, she went on. “Did he tell you what role he played in the cosmos?”
Lindon exchanged looks with Yerin as they remembered the vision in Eithan’s marble, and Yerin was the one who answered. “Seems to me like he put down worlds that were too sick to go on. Uh, honored…queen?”
“That is an accurate summary of his function, but it is not one he would have chosen. He left us, abandoning his mission, in an attempt to raise up people who could replace him. To cut away infected tissue before the infection spreads.”
Suriel eyed the group before her, and deliberately said, “He was looking to raise up a new Reaper.”
Lindon’s Dreadgod hand involuntarily curled into a fist.
[We need that title!] Dross cried. [Let’s ascend at once!]
He was tempted. Not only did Suriel seem to be suggesting that they could help Eithan, but Lindon had now seen the difference between him and the most powerful beings in creation. Lindon couldn’t unmake stars.
There was no pursuing power like that while stuck in Cradle.
“Can he wait a little longer?” Lindon asked. “We have unfinished business here.”
The Dreadgods were still here, and stronger than ever, with no one left in the world who could oppose them. And those who knew the truth wouldn’t do anything about it.
When Lindon advanced, he intended to drag the Monarchs with him.
Suriel searched his eyes…and then gave him a grin that reminded him of Eithan.
“Repairing a broken system is a worthy goal. But you’ll be on your own. We’ve interfered far too much already, and anything further could break Cradle beyond recovery. And you should know that you will find more enemies than allies.”
“Even so, I’d like to try.” Then honesty compelled him to add, “And I would hate to leave the world behind without getting everything I could out of it.”
“Then I will await your arrival in the world beyond,” Suriel said. She surveyed the group and added, “All of you.”
Then, in a rising tide of blue light, she vanished.
Lindon and the others remained on a flawless grassy hill, with no evidence left behind to prove that anything had happened.
Yerin stretched. “Well that shook my spine, I’ll tell you true.”
“We have stared into the abyss and lived to tell the tale,” Ziel said. “I’m going to sleep.”
Malice broke her way out of the World of Night and found that everything had been restored to the way it was before, but her memories remained.
She wondered if that was an oversight on the part of the Abidan, or if they had been unable to wipe the memories. If she had intervened in such a public and global way, she would have made sure that the native inhabitants remembered nothing.
But she remembered the figure she’d seen. The one who dominated the future with his broad smile.
“That was Eithan Arelius,” she said with certainty.
Mercy sat on the floor at her feet, trembling. “No, it can’t be. Eithan’s not…he isn’t…terrifying.”
Malice begged to differ. And it made her take a closer look at those Eithan Arelius had chosen while he was here.
That thing had been close to her daughter.
“What about Lindon and Yerin?” Mercy asked suddenly. She paled. “Are they still…they’re not hurt, are they?”
Malice swept out her spiritual perception. She had gone blind during that brief apocalypse, but now she could feel everything she usually did.
Those under her authority were easy to sense, and Lindon and Yerin had fought in her name for a long time. They were easy to find.
“They are unharmed,” Malice said, and Mercy let out a relieved breath. Malice was not so pleased. “It’s enough to make you wonder: why?”
Reigan Shen sweated so much that his mane was matted to his skin.
“That was Eithan Arelius.”
“That was Death himself,” the Sage of Calling Storms said in awe. “We have seen the divine!”
“That was Eithan Arelius.”
Reigan shuddered with his whole body. He had plotted against Eithan, had taunted him, had slain his mentor. No, he now realized, he had slain Eithan’s descendant. Or rather, descendants.