The Shattered Land

CHAPTER 52

Daine’s blades were out in an instant. As he charged, a chain snaked around his ankle and brought him tumbling to the ground. Pierce’s flail

“This fight cannot be won with a sword, captain,” Pierce said quietly. “Others need you. Do not throw away your life.”

The massive figure rustled, shards of metal rattling against metal, and Daine saw blood falling to the floor. He wondered about Shen’kar and Xu’sasar-this creature had to have come through the chamber of gates.

The vibration in the floor grew stronger.

If you think you can win my trust so easily, you are sadly mistaken, little brother, Harmattan said.

“Indeed.” A dark figure slid into the room, stepping out from the shadows of Harmattan’s steel cloak. Adamantine blades slide from Indigo’s arms. “You made your choice, Pierce. You chose your masters. Now you may die with them.”

“Surely you did not come this far to threaten me,” Pierce said, helping Daine stand.

You are irrelevant. Despite Indigo’s wishes, I think I shall let you live … Our family is small enough as it is, but you have already served your purpose, whether you meant to or not. You passage gave us entry, and as for why we are here … It seems I was mistaken, after all. Destiny is a strange thing.

“What do you want?” Daine growled. He was studying the strange figure, searching for any signs of weakness.

The rumbling in the floor ceased, and all was quiet.

I came here in search of one thing and one thing alone. I knew that it was waiting for me in this ancient place, so I assumed it to be a relic of the distant past. Harmattan rustled again. But the one I serve works in mysterious ways and leads me down paths I never considered. I want the vial.

“What are you talking about?” said Pierce.

He knows, Harmattan responded, and Daine felt a sudden chill. A vial filled with blue liquid, glowing slightly, with a familiar seal stamped on the top. His cloak spread further out around him, ready to lash forward in a swath of razored steel. I have no desire to damage it, and I would rather let my brother live; you will all die if we do battle. Give me the vial, little fleshling, and I may even spare you and sister Lei.

“Daine?” Pierce said, uncertain.

Daine reached into his pouch and produced the crystal vial. “Is this it?”

“Yes.”

“You came all the way to Xen’drik-you cut off Lei’s finger-for this?”

Yes. You are prepared to surrender it?

Daine looked at the unstoppable warforged, dripping with the blood of his allies. He remembered Jode’s voice in the darkness of the obsidian city. He thought of Lei, lying on the altar behind him.

And he thought of a temple in the depths of Sharn, of a winged lion with the head of a woman.

“No,” he said.

Harmattan hissed and Indigo leapt forward, but even as they moved Daine wrenched the seal from the top of the vial. As Pierce dove between him and the attacking warforged, Daine brought the bottle to his lips, and the liquid flowed down his throat. It was like light, brilliant and burning, overwhelming every sense.

Wake up.