Son of Khyber: Thorn of Breland (33 page)

Thorn pressed the blade against his neck. “You’re lying. Why should I believe anything you say?”

Drego laughed again. “I admit, my nature as a spirit of deception does rather work against me here. But ask yourself: How did this all happen? What are they using you for? How far does it go?”

Thorn said nothing. Could he be telling the truth? Was there a conspiracy within the Dark Lanterns, or did it go even higher than that?

“Come with me,” Drego said. “Keep your identity for as long as you can. I’m patient. But there are things I can show you, things you can’t begin to imagine. I do love you, flawed as you are. Let me show you a new world.”

“I’m sorry,” she said, staring into his silver-gray eyes as she shoved the dagger into his throat. She watched as the mischievous twinkle faded, then she pulled Steel out and stood. “Maybe next time.”

She wiped off the blade and sheathed it, then walked over to the eldritch machine Daine had been building. It was easy enough to disassemble. She put the pieces in the bag of holding, and after thinking about it, slid Daine’s body into the sack. Then she drew Steel again.

Do you want to discuss this?
he whispered.

“Discuss what?”

Drego’s story. This claim that you’re a dragon
.

“I’m Thorn,” she said. “And I’ve got a job to do. The Citadel needs to learn about Lord Merrix’s little side projects and to decide how to handle the Tarkanans. And I need a shot of dreamlily and a few stiff drinks. And a new pair of boots.”

After all this, you’re going to go looking for dreamlily?

“Now more than ever.” The shard in her neck was burning again, and the vision of the chamber of skulls filled her mind. She thought about Daine and the angels and the cruel voice that would be waiting in
her dreams. “I will find out what’s been done to me. And if there’s a conspiracy among the Lanterns, I’ll uncover it. But until then, I swore an oath to protect Breland, and that’s what I’m going to do. But tonight … tonight I’m going to raise a glass to the Son of Khyber. He may have gone astray at the end, but I believe that he was a good man at the start, and he deserves to be properly laid to rest. And I hope the Citadel will take his warnings seriously.”

You’re advocating war with the Twelve?

“No. But perhaps … perhaps if we watch the houses more closely, if we warn the other nations of our concerns, we can avoid the horrors he was so afraid of. Perhaps there’s a better way to achieve his destiny.”

Thorn threw the sack over her shoulder and made her way toward the tunnel. She thought about Daine, and as she did, the burning in the shard faded. In its place, she felt a sense of peace.

Perhaps my dreams won’t be so bad after all, she thought.