Arian said nothing, just held his hands, strength and clarity in her grip. Was it her own elven magery? Or just her character? He went on, more slowly now. “When I first heard of the Verrakaien changing bodies, it did not occur to me—it should have—that he might have done the same. I didn’t ask Dorrin. I didn’t think …”
Arian glanced at the selani tiles still on the table. “Perhaps this is your thought rising again in the wake of the magery you did with Paks. Seeing those old magelords—perhaps they reminded you of Sekkady.”
Kieri took a long breath. “Perhaps. I didn’t think of that … they were from a time when he could not have been alive. Unless … could someone really live so long?”
“I doubt it,” Arian said. Her brow furrowed in thought. “Surely the mind wears out. We must ask the elves.”
“Not elves,” Kieri said. “They do not pay enough attention—or not always. They might not recognize someone in a different body.” He looked over at the tiles, each rune clear in the lamplight. “If it was my hidden thought coming forth that moved the tiles … then I should be grateful … but I cannot.”
“I can,” Arian said. “For if we know a danger is possible, we can think how to meet it. It is the unknown danger that defeats forethought.”
Kieri felt his heart lift at her confidence. “There are always unknown dangers, but you’re right.”
“Well, then. Do you think any of those old magelords you propose to wake from enchantment knew a version of Sekkady? They certainly cannot know you were his …” Her voice faltered.
“His slave,” Kieri said firmly. “No. Even if he was alive then, in an earlier body—and they knew him—I was not yet born, so they could not have known about his use of me. But if his powers are from those days, which is likely, then any of those magelords could pose a similar threat once awakened.”
“And that is good to know,” Arian said. “We will be alert to such dangers.”
“But how will we know? How do we know he’s not here now? It could be anyone.” Fear gripped him again.
“Let me try the selani tiles,” Arian said. She moved to the other side of the table, and—looking Kieri in the eye—picked up the tiles on the table, dropped them back in the box, stirred all with a finger, and then drew one out. “Ah. The one we’ve picked so many times: Awake. So we shall be, awake, alert, and … let’s see.” She drew another one. “Joy.”
Kieri shook his head. “Your skills exceed mine when it comes to finding good outcomes.”
“I have not endured what you have. That cruelty would leave darkness in anyone it touched.” Her expression hardened. “I would gladly kill him if he is not dead. Not only for your sake, though that is enough, but for the sake of all he tormented.”
Kieri shook his head. “No—it is my past and mine to solve.”
“If he threatens our children and you are not near—I will kill him. Do not say no.”
Kieri nodded. “I would never ask you to let harm come to our children—for any reason. If—if the worst comes and he overpowers me … if I stand between him and you, if I become a danger to them … kill me if you must.”
“Kieri! NO!”
“Can I be certain I will not yield to his magery? Suppose he was right and implanted something in me—or the stone really does control me—” Panic rose again; he heard it in his voice.
“It won’t. I’m certain it won’t. You were not controlled by elven magery—not even an iynisin. And you escaped him when you were but a boy.”
“With another’s help.” He had told her that before; now the details seemed important. “We must face the possibility that I am not really free of him.”
“And this is what kept you up so late?”
“I … think so. Yes. The selani tiles seemed to … to threaten me with that.” He shook his head sharply. “It is being a father again, Arian, that frightens me most. That children of mine could suffer as I suffered. Sekkady … if he lives, if he comes, that is what he would want to do. Make them suffer. Make me see it and be unable to stop it.”
“Then you will stop it,” Arian said. “Having thought now it might happen, you will think how—and you will stop it.”
“How can I know—?” That came out in a rush, and grief cut it off.
“Ahead of time? You can’t. I didn’t know I could ride in a dragon’s mouth. I didn’t imagine I would ever need to. But I did—and you will do whatever you need to protect the children—all the children—and so will I.”