Chapter 31

Autumn

"Hello Emric," Autumn said, picking her way between the woven branches of a crude shelter the males had constructed for the prisoner. Despite his lack of hands, the priest was secured to a tree trunk with a chain the industrious males had found somewhere. Another chain formed a slip collar around his neck, the kind that tightened if he pulled too hard.

"Mage." The priest glared, his bloodshot eyes filled with hatred.

She wrinkled her nose. The human—if Emric could be called that with the stolen magic corrupting his body—stank. Unfortunately for him, none of the stench originated from his wounds. The stumps appeared healthy and well bandaged. No easy death coming for him.

"Why are you back?" Emric demanded. "I thought the scale-cunt and princeling flew off already."

Autumn settled onto an overturned log she'd been using as a bench these past days, and brushed her finger over the bright orange mushrooms that were growing along it. "Oh, they did."

"Then why are you here?"

"You are as pleasant as always I see." Autumn plucked one of the mushrooms and twisted it in her fingers. Chicken of the woods. Delicious when fried correctly. And a reminder of new things that grow from decay. "It confounds me why you aren't more glad to have a visitor. This place must get utterly boring."

"A follower of Orion is never alone," said Emric.

"Well, there is that." Autumn shrugged. "In answer to your question though, I am a scholar. And we've been so very busy dealing with practical matters these past days, that I never got to ask the questions truly holding me captive." She smiled. "Forgive the pun."

Emric jerked involuntarily at the word question and looked around.

"It's just us today," Autumn said lightly. "If you are smart—and I think both of us know you are—that alone should make you nervous."

Emric snorted. "You think I fear a female who barely reaches my shoulder?"

Autumn extended her hand, letting a single strand of magic extend to the first of the constellation tattoos on the side of Emric's head. The one she was almost certain she understood. She knew she was right the moment her magic touched the priest's rune, and a surge of power thundered back along the connection. Autumn gasped.

Emric screamed.

"Now that we've resolved the problem of my reach, can we continue on?" Autumn asked.

"What do you want to know now?" he snarled. "There is nothing else of use to your precious dragons that can be harnessed without decades of study and dedication."

"I'm not here for them," said Autumn. "I've been thinking about your story. And about the whole set up of the priest acolytes, coming and going from the citadel. And you know what doesn't add up at all?"

"Hmm?"

"Distance." Autumn crossed her legs. "This travel you did to find your sacred lands and plants, it would have taken a great deal longer than your tale accounts for. Princess Roshana's keep was nowhere near the citadel lands. Did the controlling, jealous dragon give you leave to go wandering the land as you wished in pursuit of your studies? And speaking of logistics, how has no one noticed your acolytes dragging dragon dames back to your lair at the citadel? Frankly, how did your priests even survive the passage between the mortal realm and Massa'eve, not once but over and over again? They are pesky little details, but I cannot get them out of my mind."

Emric's nostrils flared before he could regain self control. "Relocation is a theory. An academic discussion."

"And yet," Autumn spread her palms.

"If I could move myself between two points by means of magic, don't you think I'd have stepped away from here by now?"

"I think you are missing your hands."

"It takes more than hands," Emric snapped. "Runes are but a part of the discipline. Which is why you will never harness the full power of Orion, no matter how many books you study or followers you torment. Channeling great power requires generating it first. And you are too weak to do what's necessary."

"Try me."

Emric smiled, nothing but sneering malice in the curve of his lips. "I can show you. But you will need an egg. Are you willing to sacrifice that?"

"No." Autumn pulled out a wrapped piece of chocolate and stuffed it into her mouth. "I'm not. But I've worked out what all those constellation runes you wear are. And I'm willing to sacrifice you."

Emric snapped his mouth shut. A muscle ticked along his jaw. "What are you?" he asked quietly.

Autumn leaned forward. "If you cooperate, Emric… then I am your salvation."