The Icon Unbound

Chapter Twenty-Two, Part A - The Icon

Hello faithful readers! Time to start getting angry as events continue to spiral! Have fun and please remember to comment and vote. There were a few fixes here that I thank my lovely readers for bringing to my attention. --Elizabeth, UPDATED 07/06/2017

Uproar seemed too gentle a word to describe what happened next.

Nadir nudged her in the back, eager to take part in the fracas. She turned to him with an arched eyebrow. "Your long life has been too placid, my friend, if you find stirring people up exciting." He nudged her again, and this time she gave in to his silent request and started patting his nose. "She should have told them. This is not the way."

When Corwin had returned and told them that Saiph was going after his brother all dark water had broken loose.

Honor had screamed and cried and demanded to go forth at once and rescue them.

As they had walked back with Corwin, the Icon spoke quietly. "You lost your chance to explain this all to them."

"I know. I thought I could pick my time, that we would have a few days in the city to discover...I was wrong."

About this and other things, the Icon wanted to say. Prudence and her own sense of justice kept her silent. As many mistakes and missed chances as Honor, the woman would never match the folly of this Icon.

So they went, the evening light making the shadows seem like fingers on the ground.

As a precaution, she had fed Nadir a great amount blood so that they could speak.

"I was with the Icon who was Sarah when Honor came to us. A young thing with more weapons about her person than supplies. She was thin, a starving wolf. She was very determined to escape something, although she claimed that there was something she was trying to prove. Perhaps it's the same thing with you humans."

"Don't sound so disparaging. I'm human."

"You are an Icon."

She leaned against him, ostensibly for support, but really so she could hug him to her side. "You have always been so...kind."

"I'm a drakys. I am not kind. I act with the selfishness of any animal."

"You have drunk enough blood, you're half human yourself."

"Perish the thought." His voice was rough, but she could feel the tickle of a purr on his skin, as if her words pleased him. "Of all the Icons I served, you will be the only one I'll think of, the only one I'll miss. Whatever happens as a result of you leaving waterwall, whatever we must do...please remember that."

"I love you too, Nadir."

That moment had kept her strong as they marched through the gate, as they passed by the guards and the dumbstruck servants. Honor knew the way, and lead them without error to this ostentatious room.

For several tense moments it had seemed like a fight would take place right there before the ridiculous dais. The Lady Ru'a, who must be the Arbiter of this place, certainly had an overblown sense of her own importance. Dislike for her, and for the woman with bloody hands that stood at heel like a dog, made it hard to keep an impassive face. Saiph's hand was on his weapon, though he knelt submissively on the ground, awaiting events.