Six Heirs Read Free Page A

his broadsword, and staring down each passerby he came across with an evil eye. He stopped, took a long breath, and began his walk again at a more moderate pace.
    He rarely lost his composure so easily. “By Mishra, if something must happen, then let it happen now, gods damn it!” he grumbled.
    He heard an eruption of voices behind him. Turning around, Nort’ saw a mob of Goranese men fleeing something that wasn’t yet recognizable. Then the human mass split in two, making way for two Züu killers.
    The Züu killers!
    They didn’t need to show any discretion here in Goran, where their influence and reputation were well known. Nort’ saw the scarlet tunics, the vermillion headbands encircling shaved heads, the damned daggers—long and thin as needles—gleaming in their hands. And, more than anything, their eyes. They were the eyes of fanatics, ready to do anything to achieve their end: to slaughter their prey.
    They were coming his way, but that didn’t mean anything, as Nort’ was in the middle of the street. He drew his broadsword while slowly sliding to his left. Then it hit him: they were there for him.
    The two killers had seen his every move. Nort’ remembered those looks now; they had been watching him all day, faceless until now.
    They were no more than a few steps away from him and approaching rapidly, practically running. Nort’ saw the glistening of the daggers, the murderous eyes, and the curious crowd that wouldn’t interfere for all the world. A savage hatred rose up in his chest, and he let out a roar as he leaped toward the two men; his skin would come at a dear price.
    But instead, it was given freely; a third assassin he hadn’t seen came at him from behind.
    His cry died in his throat as the poisoned needle shot through him, and he silently collapsed at his murderers’ feet.

    Some moons after their return, the surviving Sages felt the urge to reunite. The old King Arkane of Junine was the first to act on this desire by inviting all of them to the most beautiful of the LesserKingdoms. The chosen date was the Day of the Owl: as such, they would commemorate the day that they had all left in single file, following Nol the Strange.
    Even though Arkane was one-handed, aging, and more or less ostracized by his peers, he was still a powerful individual, and finding his old friends wasn’t difficult. Everyone responded to his call, even Moboq, who was the farthest away and had to travel for two dékades.
    They were warmly welcomed. The ancient king, seeing them all reunited and joyous in his personal palace, declared that there was one fortunate outcome of their adventure, at least: friendship.
    They spoke of their personal fates, of the events after that “voyage.” They all empathized with the others’ misfortunes, particularly those of Rafa, Maz Achem, and Reyan Kercyan. But no one pitied their own situation; they all simply stated the facts, without appearing to regret the mutual silence that had caused it all.
    Later, free from spying eyes, each emissary renewed their vow to keep the secret, no matter what happened beyond the suffering, dishonor, and solitude that they had already felt.
    They left each other, promising to reunite again, which they did the next year, and two years later, then regularly every two years. King Arkane was not at their fourth meeting; he was the first among them to disappear. But three new people participated: Tiramis and Yon had a daughter, and Maz Achem, although aging himself, had taken his Union with one of his previous students, who quickly gave him a son. He came with his young wife and child, and no one voiced any objection.
    Thomé of Junine, whom King Arkane had abdicated in favor of, asked to represent his father. He knew nothing of the secret, but wanted to pay homage to the thing that had been most important in his father’s eyes. Of course his request was accepted.
    The arrival of these new characters in the group changed the style of the gatherings;