Or he would keep Ash alive and use him against his own people.
John was in both timelines. Ash seriously didn’t know—and wasn’t sure he cared—which one would play out.
The Archmage leaned close. “Fortunately for you, I need you alive. I’m creating a weapon against the Dragons, and you are going to help me generate it. It won’t be altogether pleasant, and you may wish for death long before the end actually comes.”
Ash closed his eyes. The second one, then. He’d glimpsed what was in store for him.
“I will leave you for an hour to contemplate all your possible fates.” Rindek seemed as pleased as he ever did before he turned and walked away.
John stayed behind for a moment, staring at Ash.
Ash opened his eyes. The portly man was white as a ghost. Had he foreseen any of this? Could he follow this timeline to all possible conclusions?
Seers varied tremendously in their ability. Ones as powerful as Ash were rare. But Rindek wouldn’t have pursued and acquired a minor talent for this job.
Ash cracked his lips open. “Good luck,” he croaked.
John licked his lips. “You too.” And then he hurried after the Archmage.
Ash watched him go. Then he turned his face into the sun once more.
He’d need every bit of strength he could muster for what was to come.
* * *
Tyrez was early for his appointment, and Jacques was late.
The Satyr often was, and Tyrez cursed himself for not spending more time ensuring Razir and Dani wouldn’t kill each other. He told himself that sometimes the best thing was to leave and force the antagonists to come to their own truce.
Sounded good, anyway. Unfortunately, it did little to ease his worry.
The Satyr’s residence was within the forest only a short flight from the Emperor’s palace, but Tyrez usually met him where the trees gave way to the grasslands. Mostly due to the presence of a large, flat stone perfectly situated for sunning himself while he waited.
As a result of being early, he had two choices—try to track Jacques down in the dense forest, or take advantage of the opportunity to catch some rays. The sun was delicious, very warm against his skin. How long had it been since he’d had a good sunbake? Judging by his body’s reaction, far too long.
With a sigh, he lay back on the stone. His mind still buzzed with chaotic thoughts, most of which revolved around Dani. He took a deep breath to clear it as he retracted his scales, exposing his skin to the healing rays.
Jacques would just have to cope with the nudity. Served him right for being late.
The nearby forest hid the Satyr’s full-time residence. It also included one of the rare permanent gateways that could be rotated through many realms. Tyrez had set it up for Jacques with the local Watcher’s help as part of his informant’s network of tools.
The Watcher had arranged for it under protest, unsure how far to trust the Satyr. In the end, the Emperor had interceded. Back then, Tyrez’s father had understood the value of good intel.
Things had certainly changed. The Emperor was not the Dragon he once was.
Embers danced over Tyrez’s naked skin as Sparkle materialized above his chest. He winced and brushed them away. She chirped and landed beside him with a little burst of fallen ash. Then she began to preen.
He supposed all that soot could get annoying among her feathers.
Light footsteps pattered through the forest—Dragon shifters had excellent hearing. Tyrez didn’t look up as the Satyr appeared.
“Hello Jacques,” he greeted.
The Satyr had seen Tyrez sunbathing in the nude many times, and as usual, it threw him off balance—which was the reason Tyrez enjoyed doing it. Pushing people out of their comfort zones could be very revealing.
As his mother often pointed out, Dragons could be real bastards.
Tyrez caught Jacques’s sideways glance to below his waist and his lips twitched. His informant was simply not accustomed to competition. Satyrs were well known for certain physical characteristics often appreciated by the females of many species. It wasn’t often that Jacques found himself bested in that regard.
