Ruein: Fires of Haraden: Action/Adventure Necromancy Series (Books of Ruein Book 2), G.O. Turner [little bear else holmelund minarik txt] 📗

released itself from the uppermost tip. In the wake of the lightning’s rise, something else shifted amidst the brass platework.

Many floors above, spanning a spire, the shadow of… What? Such varying levels of worked bronze and brass, a trick of the eye would be all too easy.

Ruein held motionless.

This was something the living simply were not capable of. Fatigue vexed even the well-rested living; it made for subtle shifts and sways. None of which hampered Ruein.

Another dead attribute incomparable to the living…was patience.

She beheld the citadel in a series of grays that fell off to darkness twenty yards beyond. Further still, were upper Apex chamber lights. Spired balconies lit from within, and even the occasional flaming pass of an azer.

Silver hairs pricked at Ruein’s nape. A pungent scent on the air cued her readiness.

Twin arcs crackled along either side of the Apex. Snaking over rods and railings, they parted and resurged to a central point, redoubling in brilliance. The flare was strong. Strong enough that a figure on high raised an arm to shield eyes. The shrouded climber was kiting her way over the plates, bone wings extended.

Good. Looks like I get a second stab.

Ruein dashed. Bypassing the goblin’s corpse, she snatched up her elven cloak, rounded it over her shoulders, and hooded up as she spoke the sylvan to reassert her illusory appearance.

Leaving the chamber door open, she raced for Ceer and Twigs.

22

There was no sense in damning Ruein. That’d been done already. But at the very least, she shouldn’t have been throwing herself off fucking roofs.

With their weapons stowed at the garrison, they’d returned to the Apex. Liv could take some satisfaction in gaining ground on whatever the hell it was they were after. But, that still wasn’t much. Her sister’s little dirt dive had assured their day was already spent. Ruein required seclusion and time for her infernal acts of recovery.

Liv’s hackles rose when Tull bragged on their goblin recovery to the garrison’s master. He was also quick to boast at his daring self-sacrifice.

Fuck it. Nothing to gain in disputing bloody feet.

Draped over Ceer’s shoulder, Ruein was dumped back in their room. Then Liv made her way to council chambers for a proper report. Simple enough formalities to keep Haraden appeased.

By the dimming afternoon, waves of a brewing storm began their ticks upon the Apex’s exterior. Those ticks eventually mingled into showers as the evening wore on.

The council adjourned and their drow hosts signaled for Liv to wait.

Evets regarded his mate. Their banter appeared as some sort of conceit. The drowess eyed the drow, gracing him with a grin. Glancing Liv’s way, she gave him a nod and departed.

Oh, great. Alone at last.

Evets played at his bracelet, clearly of fine craftsmanship with its intricate webbed linework. Adjusting in his seat, he turned at the band.

Liv leaned against a pillar, dislodging her shield. Rather than allowing its fall, she snatched at its corner and resettled it back in its slot. Liv raised a hand, spreading her fingers wide. “Vend-ui, ush-akal.”

“Eh?” Evets’ head tilted, brow furrowed. “What was that? Some Lightbringer saying?”

Liv smirked. “My first at undercommon. I probably just bludgeoned the hell out of it.”

He smiled and rose from his seat. “Heh. I see. No need to worry. Your mistress has already proved her worth on her very first day! That says much when we’ve had weeks with little to show.”

“Ho-ho, hold up right there.” Liv waved out a denial. “Ruein and I are sisters by marriage. She is not our master, nor any other fucking form of mistress, for that matter. So, just stake that thought right out of your head. We’re family…for the most part.”

Rounding the table, Evets scoffed. “Ha. Was curious about that. We of the council are second-generation Haraden. We still were educated in the ways of the deep below. I’d imagine you would be as welcomed down there as your sister is where you’re from.” He headed for the chamber exit, inviting her to join his stroll.

Liv started. “The woman my brother introduced to us was unlike any necromancer we’d ever encountered before. She wasn’t twisted like most of those other fucks. Certainly, not then. Rue had been brought up an adopted child of a mortician. Her take on death was somewhat…unique, to say the least.”

Evets peered over his shoulder. “Are you implying, she’s a goodly necromancer?”

“What? Like divine or holy?” The thought soured in her mouth. “Ah, no. Necrotic shit is flat-out repugnant in all its forms. However, over the years, Manu made us afford her certain…graces. Ones which I can honestly say worked toward a greater good. Ruein’s magics have a modest level of utility. But hells bells, sewers have utility. Doesn’t mean I want to wade into one.”

The traffic of council pages had tapered off with the settling night, apparent through open windows. Charged breezes circulated from outside. Even here, within the halls, her hairs prickled from energies scraping the outer plates.

Evets paused before a guard-stationed door. His hand fell to the knob. “So, has your team drawn conclusions that…perhaps…you may have not shared with the council?”

“Conclusions? No. Just more questions.”

“Then that is a start.” He opened the door, stepping aside.

Liv eyed the guard. Really?

Evets waited. As expectations rose, his crimson eyes rolled over to the guard. He spoke with a dismissive wave. “You’ll not be needed. I relieve you of your duties.” The guard departed. Evets entered.

Several sconces spelled up in luminance. Heatless, white-orange flames revealed a lavish private study.

Small blessings. Not a bed chamber.

Liv followed him in. The scent of cooling rain swept in from the open balcony, abating some of the sulfurous undercurrents. The furnishings were the same metal Liv had seen throughout the citadel, only these were padded, plush with exotic fabrics.

“I do wonder about the more recent deaths. There’d been no murders since your healer. Now this shrouded woman appears and kills your wanted goblin. These last two, the killings weren’t just Haraden farmers.” Something hovered over Liv’s spine, like eyes