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He had failed.
Failed to escape and failed those who depended upon him.
Just as he’d feared. Never clenched his jaw. Too many times, far too many times. The old way was the best – if he hadn’t been so arrogant, he might have remembered that. For any who neared him would be dragged into his curse. And maybe they wouldn’t die by his blood but it would still be by his hand that they met their fate.
More the fool that he thought he could keep them safe.
Never roared into the empty store.
Only silence answered with its dust and its indifference.
He closed his eyes.
How long now since he’d lost Zia? Years, yet it struck as hard as ever. The deep indigo of the night, interspersed by the glow of lanterns, wind sweeping across the tower, eating all sound, water flying as he splashe
