The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
Page 10

Nahadoth did not answer, did not even seem to see Sieh. Siehs toys, I noticed with the fragment of my mind that wasnt frozen, went wild when they came near him. Their slow, graceful orbits changed: some drifted in a different direction, some froze in place, some sped up. One split in half and fell broken to the floor as I watched. He took a step forward, sending more of the colored balls spinning out of control.
That one step was enough to jar me out of my paralysis. I stumbled back and would have fled screaming if Id known how to make the walls open.
Dont run! Siehs voice snapped at me like a whip. I froze.
Nahadoth stepped forward again, close enough that I could see a minute shiver pass through him. His hands flexed. He opened his mouth; struggled a moment; spoke. P-predictable, Sieh. His voice was deep, but shockingly human. I had expected a bestial growl.
Sieh hunched, a sulky little boy again. Didnt think youd catch up that fast. He cocked his head, studying Nahadoths face, and spoke slowly, as if to a simpleton. You are here, arent you?
I can see it, whispered the Nightlord. His eyes were fixed on my face.
To my surprise, Sieh nodded as if he knew what such ravings meant. I wasnt expecting that, either, he said softly. But perhaps you remember nowwe need this one. Do you remember? Sieh stepped forward, reaching for his hand.
I did not see that hand move. I was watching Nahadoths face. All I saw was the flash of blind, murderous rage that crossed his features, and then one of his hands was round Siehs throat. Sieh had no chance to cry out before he was lifted off the ground, gagging and kicking.
For a breath I was too shocked to react.
Then I got angry.
I burned with angerand madness, too, which is the only possible explanation for what I did then. I drew my knife and cried, Leave him alone!
As well a rabbit threaten a wolf. But to my utter shock, the Nightlord looked at me. He did not lower Sieh, but he blinked. Just that quickly, the madness left him, replaced by a look of astonishment and dawning wonder. It was the look of a man who has just discovered treasure beneath a pile of offal. But he was still choking the life out of Sieh.
Let him go! I crouched, shifting my stance the way my Darren grandmother had taught me. My hands shooknot with fear, but with that mad, wild, righteous fury. Sieh was a child. Stop it!
Nahadoth smiled.
I lunged. The knife went into his chest, going deep before lodging in bone with such a sudden impact that my hand was jarred free of the hilt. There was an instant in which I braced myself against his chest, trying to push away. I marveled that he was solid, warm, flesh and blood despite the power writhing about him. I marveled even more when his free hand wrapped around my wrist like a vise. So fast, despite the knife in his heart.
With the strength in that hand, he could have crushed my wrist. Instead he held me in place. His blood coated my hand, hotter than my rage. I looked up; his eyes were warm, gentle, desperate. Human.
I have waited so long for you, the god breathed. Then he kissed me.
Then he fell.
4
Magician
WHEN THE NIGHTLORD SAGGED to the ground, dropping Sieh in the process, I nearly fell with them. I had no idea why I was still alive. The tales of the Arameris weapons are full of them slaughtering whole armies. There are no stories of crazed barbarian girls fighting back.
Sieh, to my great relief, immediately pushed himself up on his elbows. He seemed fine, though his eyes went very round at the sight of Nahadoths motionless form. Look what you did!
I I was shaking, almost too hard to talk. I didnt mean He was killing you. I couldntI swallowed hardlet him.
Nahadoth would not have killed Sieh, said a new voice behind me. My nerves did not like this. I jumped and grabbed for the knife that was no longer tucked into my back-sheath. A woman resolved out of the silent drift of Siehs toys. The first thing I noticed was that she was huge, like the great sea ships of the Ken. She was built like one of those ships, too, broad and powerful and astonishingly graceful; none of it was fat. I could not guess her race, because no woman of any race I knew was that damned big.
She knelt to help Sieh up. Sieh was shaking, too, though with excitement. Did you see what she did? he asked the newcomer. He pointed at Nahadoth; he was grinning.
Yes, I saw. Setting Sieh on his feet, the woman turned to regard me for a moment. Kneeling, she was taller than Sieh standing. Her clothing was simplegray tunic and pants, a gray kerchief covering her hair. Maybe it was her grayness after the unrelenting black of the Nightlord, but there was something about her that seemed fundamentally gentle to me.
There is no greater warrior than a mother protecting her child, the woman said. But Sieh is far less fragile than you, Lady Yeine.