Chapter 4

"You are an unknown variable inside a royal seal. I need to know what you are before the council destroys you. If you can be controlled, I will control you. If you cannot, I will kill you before you take half the capital with you."

"You make that sound like a favor."

"It is the closest thing to one you are getting."

"I don't need favors."

"You need air."

Tess realized Varka's hand had shifted. Her thumb rested just below Tess's pulse, pressing lightly enough to count each beat.

Tess swallowed.

Varka felt it.

The pale eyes narrowed.

"Still furious?" Varka asked.

"Don't flatter yourself."

"I wasn't."

"Good."

"Your pulse says otherwise."

Tess pulled against her grip. "Maybe your hand is too tight."

Varka loosened it by a fraction.

Tess's pulse still jumped.

"That didn't help," Varka said.

"You're very annoying."

"So I've been told."

"By everyone?"

"By people who were worse at surviving than you."

A crash shook the chamber. The purge blade tore free from the wall and spun above the circle.

The robed man pointed at Tess. "Enough! The vessel has triggered a second breach. Varka, stand aside."

Varka did not move.

"You heard him," Tess said. "Apparently, I'm about to be deleted again."

"Don't sound so pleased."

"I'm not pleased. I'm trying not to panic."

"You're doing a poor job."

"You could stop criticizing and start helping."

Varka looked at the seal on Tess's wrist. "Can you trigger the skill again?"

"Maybe."

"Do it."

"You said it was unstable."

"It is."

"You said I might take out the capital."

"You might."

"And your plan is to have me press the mystery button harder?"

"My plan is to survive the next ten seconds."

The blade began to descend.

Tess looked at the glowing weapon, then at Varka.

"If this goes wrong, I'm blaming you."

"If this goes wrong, you won't be able to blame anyone."

"That is not comforting."

"I wasn't trying to comfort you."

Varka released Tess's wrist and caught her shoulder instead. She pulled Tess against her side, forcing her behind the protection of the black sword.

The contact was too close. Tess's back pressed to Varka's chest. Varka's arm locked across her waist, holding her in place while the other hand raised the sword.

Tess could feel every breath the battle-mage took. Slow in. Slow out. Nothing about the woman shook, even with the purge blade dropping toward them.

"You really don't get scared, do you?" Tess asked.

"I get scared."

"Could've fooled me."

"Fear is information. Not permission."

"That's a very creepy thing to say while holding me."

"Focus."

"I'm trying. You're in the way."

"You are the one standing in front of me."

"You dragged me here."

"And now I'm keeping you here."

Her mouth was close to Tess's ear. The words sent a hot line down Tess's neck that had nothing to do with the burning seal.

Tess stared at the falling blade.

"Tell me what to do."

"Touch the spell."

"Which part?"

"The center."

"And then?"

"Tell it to stop."

"That's your plan?"

"It's what you did before."

"I didn't tell the barrier to do anything. I said yes."

"Then say yes again."

The blade was ten feet above them.

Tess reached out.

The air around the purge weapon felt thick and hot. Blue light crawled across her fingers. The System window flashed so quickly she barely caught the message.

[INVALID COMMAND AVAILABLE]

[ACCEPT?]

"Yes," Tess said.

The blade stopped.

Not slowed. Stopped.

It hung in the air above the ritual circle, humming inches from the spell lines.

The entire chamber went silent.

Tess stared upward.

Varka's arm tightened around her waist.

"Don't move," Varka whispered.

"I wasn't planning to."

"The blade is listening to you."

"That's new."

"Make it fall."

"What?"

"Away from us."

"You want me to drop the giant murder knife?"

"I want you to aim it."

"I don't know how."

"Then learn fast."

The robed man recovered first. "Break her concentration!"

The guards rushed forward.

Tess turned her head. "They're coming."

"I see them."

"You said you were keeping me alive."

"I am."

Varka shoved Tess behind her and met the first guard with the flat of her sword. The strike knocked him across the circle.

The second guard swung at Tess.

Tess threw both hands forward.

"Fall!"

The floor betrayed him.

A crack opened under his boots. He dropped through waist-deep, yelling, while the stone snapped shut around his armor.

Tess stared at her palms.

"Did I just make a hole?"

"You issued an invalid command to the floor."

"That sentence should not exist."

"Neither should you. Keep moving."

The robed man shouted a new spell.

Varka crossed the distance and slashed through the red light. The spell exploded between them, throwing her backward.

Tess caught her by the arm.

For one sharp second, they stood locked together. Varka's weight pulled against Tess's shoulder. Her face was close, breath warm against Tess's cheek.

"You caught me," Varka said.

"Don't make it weird."

"You nearly fell."

"You nearly fell first."

"I don't fall."

"You just did."

"That was tactical."

"Sure. Very tactical."

Varka pulled free, but Tess kept hold of her glove for a moment too long.

The woman's eyes dropped to their joined hands.

Tess let go.

"The blade," Varka said.

"Right."

Tess lifted her hand toward the weapon. The silver edge swung toward her, answering the motion.

Every official screamed.

"Stop!"

"Don't touch the blade!"

"The vessel is controlling it!"

Tess grinned despite herself. "Hey, robe guy."

The robed man went pale. "Do not address the Arch-Summoner."

"Arch-Summoner? That sounds important."

"Drop the weapon."

"You first."

He raised both hands.

The red barrier surged toward Tess.

Varka grabbed Tess by the waist and yanked her sideways. The barrier slammed into the pillar, shattering stone.

Tess landed against Varka again, cheek pressed to the woman's shoulder plate.

"You keep doing that," Tess said.

"You keep standing where attacks land."

"Maybe stop putting me there."

"Then stop fighting me."

"You started it."

"You were being executed."

"Exactly. I was busy."

Varka turned Tess to face her and planted both hands on Tess's shoulders.

The move pinned Tess between Varka and the pillar. Her body blocked the officials' view for a heartbeat.

"Listen to me," Varka said.

"You have my attention."

"The weapon is tied to the seal. If you lose control, it will choose a target on its own."

"Which target?"

"The strongest hostile presence."

Tess glanced past her toward the robed man.

"So him."

"Maybe."

"You don't sound sure."