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bonded. Never. I wield more power and strength than all the
Matrons together. I offer a new age for all Eaglekins, an
escape from meaningless isolation to live among mankind.
With our abilities, strengthened tenfold from what we once
were, mankind's kings and queens will know our value, seek
it out, and reward us with positions of power and wealth."
Hydeia couldn't believe what she was hearing. She wet her
lips around her dry mouth. "As assassins?"
"As Eaglekins! Superior to mankind in every facet. More so
with added reyn." Lannis's eyes glittered, jewel-bright.
Madness danced on the edge of her dark pupils. She had held
her bond with her eagle longer than any female Eaglekin had
ever been able to. Perhaps her mind had already started
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slipping into Sheeannar's essence and the Mystic's tampering
had thrown her over the edge. Lannis's voice turned oily.
"You have a modicum of strength, due more to stubbornness
than natural ability, I think. I can offer you so much more. No
Eaglekin, not the fool Matrons combined, will surpass the
force of the reyn that you can possess. Join me. Help the
Mystic learn more. Imagine never having to give up your
eagle. Never letting your essence feel the effects of beton
trella. You'll be doing all Eaglekins a service. And for your
efforts, you'll command dozens of eagles, perhaps hundreds."
Santil's limp expression and unfocused gaze filled Hydeia's
vision. "At what cost?"
"Knowledge and power exact a price."
"This coin is too heavy," Hydeia whispered mournfully.
"What of the Eaglekins you've taken the reyn from? What of
their lives? How can you say you do this for all our people
when some must suffer for it?"
A hissing sound whistled low in Lannis's throat.
It was dark below. No one seemed to be moving about.
Lannis was one of the strong, an Eaglekin she'd long
admired and aspired to be like. It broke Hydeia's heart that
Lannis had become a person who placed power-lust above the
value in another Eaglekin's life and choices. She wanted to
believe it was only an effect of holding so much reyn, a kind
of induced madness. Perhaps it wasn't too late for Lannis. She
could be brought back to herself. If Hydeia could get her out
of here.
"We'll take the steps slowly." Hydeia moved the short
sword from the Eaglekin's neck to the small of her back.
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Resting the tip up between Lannis's shoulder blades, Hydeia
lowered her foot down to the first step, then the second,
tugging Lannis by the hair to follow her. She watched Earon
taking slow steps to follow at a distance. Hatred blazed in his
cruel damaged features.
At the third step, Hydeia turned to look down and gauge
the distance to the bottom.
A cloud of shimmering orange dust exploded in her face,
blown across a long slender palm in front of rounded lips and
ruddy cheeks.
That's all Hydeia glimpsed as the dust filled her eyes and
clogged her throat. Immediately a chilled tingle swept over
her, and her arms flopped to her sides. She heard the short
sword clatter on each step while it fell. A rapid numbness shot
over her and she lost control of her legs. Strong arms curled
around her waist as she folded over and was dragged back up
into the tower room and thrown onto the soggy rushes.
* * * *
She couldn't move, could not so much as close an eyelid
and squeeze the grainy dust from her eyes. They'd rendered
her as helpless as a newly hatched eyas. At least her heart
retained the ability to pump, her lungs the capacity to fill and
release. She swallowed, worked moisture into her mouth,
willed her tongue to move, her eyes to blink or roll to the
side anything!
"Your arrival was timely, Sir Mystic," Lannis's smooth voice
floated above Hydeia, commanding and firm. "This one has a
reckless spirit."
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Upon Eagle's Light
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Hydeia's sight began to clear, hazy and grainy, yet she
could make out the rushes on the floor by her cheek. The
curve of the wall began to settle behind a watery orange
view.
The Mystic bent low, his weary hollow-boned face studied
Hydeia like he was picking which fruits to barter for. She
could only stare straight ahead at his blurry countenance. He
grabbed her chin between bony finger and thumb. "I gather
that your little mummers farce failed to bring in the eagle."
"No." Lannis's pitch was sharp. "It didn't. The girl's far too
distrustful. Gedard, make yourself useful and fetch my gown."
The rushes rustled as Gedard walked through them. His
boots slapped noisily in loud echoes when he ran down the
steps.
Finished with his scrutiny, the Mystic shoved Hydeia over
onto her back. His hands were icy cold. Her head rolled
awkwardly and Lannis came in to view, frowning down at her.
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