In Which Severin's Peace Is Disturbed

January 2, 1171

"Severin, don't hold him like that," Nora scolded as Severin gently bounced the wide-eyed infant in his hands. "You're scaring him."

"I am not." He raised the boy to his face and nudged that tiny snub of a nose with his own. "He likes it--don't you, Roddie?"

Nora's full lip swelled into a delicious pout; it never ceased to amaze him how she could be walking around in an old nightgown, with bags under her eyes and her hair uncombed, and still look so kissable. "Do you think he even has a concept of fun yet? He's pretty young."

"He's precocious." Severin laughed as Roddie made an inquisitive swipe toward his chin. "What do you think? Are you precocious? Yes, you are! Yes, you are!"

"If he's so precocious, then he knows a madman when he sees one." She outstretched her arms and smiled sternly. "Give him to me."

Shrugging, he handed the baby over, squeezing the child's tiny fist as Roddie settled into his new position. "Don't believe anything she says about me, kiddo."

Nora rolled her eyes and lifted Roddie to her shoulder. "Don't grow up to be crazy like your father."

"Oh, don't get your hopes up, my dear; I trust everyone in Naroni knows well by now the inescapable curses of all this tainted Dovian blood."

A rush of icy fluid shot through Severin's spine, freezing it upright, alert, immobile. Of all the voices he had not been expecting to hear--of all the voices he had hoped to never hear again...

And yet, there was no mistaking that chilling, taunting lilt. Somehow, he was here--here in the room where Severin's son slept. "How in the hell did you get in here?" Between himself and Nora, one of them would have had to have noticed; this was not the sort of thing one missed.

And yet, somehow, they both had. "Nora." Surged with mingled fear and fury, he glanced toward his wife--her quivering lip, her wide eyes, her knuckles white as her clutch tightened around the baby. She knew firsthand the horror of which this beast was capable. "Nora, take the baby and get yourself to another room."

Frozen, she remained. "I don't want to leave you."

Severin opened his mouth to reassure her, but the intruder beat him to it. "Oh, there's no need to worry, darling," he promised in his teasing manner, each word with a hint of a cackle waiting to be released. "I shan't lay a finger on him--not yet, at least. You might want to take that baby out of my sight, though; I'll admit that I'm feeling a tad peckish."

Sending Severin one last frightened look, Nora pressed her son to her breast and hurried from the nursery, the door slamming forcefully behind her. The trespasser gave a shrug of his silvery shoulder, a cruel mockery of a smile bringing to sharp light the loathsomeness of his mouth. "Pretty little thing, is she not? Nothing on your first wife, of course, but I wouldn't kick her out of bed."

Severin crossed his arms and scowled. "What are you doing here? Delivering a neighborly warning before you start slaughtering innocents again?"

Amused, Deian sighed in false resignation. "Oh, Severin, Severin, Severin--must you always assume the worst? In fact, I've some news that should make you and your people very happy indeed."

"Out with it, then." He did not want this creature in his castle for a moment longer than necessary. The fact that Deian was even standing here was enough to make him feel violated; if this being had something to say, he would be best served to say it quickly.

But such was not the way of Deian. "Of course, it isn't as if I can give you all of the details right here and now. Frankly, Severin, you're a bit of a loose cannon--not that there's anything wrong with that, I suppose, but I'd feel a lot more comfortable if your friend Octavius was around to restrain you. And that boy Lornian as well, perhaps... oh, and that pompous idiot with the crown as well, but mainly just because I'm curious as to whether or not I can make him wet himself. All of you can meet me in the clearing on the evening of the fourteenth--does that day work for you?"

Severin felt his grip on his bicep tighten. "Why should you be worried about me being a loose cannon if it's news that will make me happy?"

"Oh, it won't make you happy right away--that will come later. If I know you, you'll be downright miserable at first. But seriously, can you be there on the fourteenth? I have a very busy schedule this month, and I don't know when else I'll be able to squeeze you in."

"Fine, the fourteenth!" Severin snarled, desperate to reach the end of this conversation. "Now, tell me what this is about and get out of my castle!"

"If you insist."

That vile grin returning to his lips, Deian's ethereal eyes clouded over. "I believe I may have found a way to achieve my ends without slaughtering all of your people."

Severin raised an eyebrow. "And you thought that would initially cause me misery?"

"You seem to have missed the keyword." His mouth widened, his blood-red tongue running along the edges of his yellowing teeth. "All."

And with that, he had vanished--not even a flash of light to signal his exit.

A quiet tap echoed from the door. "Severin? Can we come back in?"

Severin clenched his fist, his fingernail digging sharply into the flesh of his palm. "If you like."

He heard Nora as she shuffled back into the room, though he found himself unable to shift his gaze from where Deian had stood only a moment before. Nora lowered Roddie into his crib, then made her way to Severin's side, leaning on his arm as if she'd lost the strength to stand on her own. "So he's gone, then?"

Severin took her hand and squeezed. It was as tense and cold and unsteady as his own. "No. He never really is."

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