Read Online The Black King (Book 7) by Kristine Kathryn Rusch - Free Book Online Page B

love anyone besides Arianna. Leen was his second at the school and was very good about questioning all sorts of teachings that had gotten both of them in trouble. But her attitude towards writings and books was very Fey. She believed they were unnecessary wastes of time.
    “Books might corrupt you,” Coulter said, “but only in a good way.”
    He got one of Matt’s rare smiles then. It lit up the boy’s face. Then Matt’s smile faded as he watched Coulter. The boy knew something had changed.
    Coulter waved a hand. “Matt, please sit.”
    Matt replaced his book and sat on one of the upholstered chairs. He sat at the very edge of it, as if his body might contaminate it.
    Coulter ran a hand through his hair, and headed for the fireplace. He looked at the flames. They were small and golden, licking at the wood without much passion. “I’m going to ask you to do something. I’m not sure if I want you to do this, but I do want you to consider it. You’re welcome to refuse me. If you do, nothing in our relationship will change. Everything might change if you accept it.”
    He turned. Matt was watching him, blue eyes wide.
    “Rugad is looking for an Enchanter,” Coulter said.
    A slight frown creased Matt’s brow. “He has been for a long time. You told us not to go.”
    “Arianna has convinced me that we need to take action against him soon. We need to remove him from her body, and I can only think of one way to do that.”
    Matt threaded his long fingers together. “He’d suspect if an Enchanter tried to hurt him.”
    “Yes, he would. So we gain his confidence and then try an assault he doesn’t understand.”
    Matt didn’t move.
    “The Soul Repositories, do you know how they work?” Coulter asked.
    Matt shook his head. “My father wouldn’t let me near the stuff in the Vault.”
    “Well, as best I understand, they use blood to lure a trapped soul into the repository. Your father actually did that once.”
    Matt’s face seemed blank. He had learned to mask his emotions whenever anyone mentioned his father. Coulter didn’t know how to get past it. Someday Matt would have to talk about his family.
    “We need someone to get close to Rugad, to lure him out of Ari’s body, and then, the moment that he’s gone, help her back in. Would you be able to do that?”
    Matt’s frown returned. “I don’t know the spells.”
    “I can teach you some. The others—how to use the repository, for example—will have to come from the Vault.”
    Matt flinched.
    “Actually,” Coulter said, “the spells are the least of my concerns. I’m more worried about you spending time near Rugad. He’s a powerful man, extremely smart, and you would have to watch yourself every moment. He might have you do things you don’t want to do.”
    “Then I wouldn’t,” Matt said.
    “You might to convince him that you really work for him.”
    Matt bit his lower lip. “How long would I be there?”
    “I don’t know,” Coulter said.
    “What if he catches me?”
    “We’ll try to get you out. I have some ideas on how we can get to you.”
    Matt nodded, but his eyes seemed far away, as if he were trying to picture this. “How would Arianna know that the body is empty?”
    Coulter sighed. “You and I would remain Linked. You would let me know. I’d make sure Arianna is close by.”
    Matt was silent for a moment, then said, “This seems risky. Why can’t she just stay here?”
    “She’s afraid if she does, she’ll never be able to go back. We’ll be governed by the Black King forever.”
    Matt frowned. “If she goes back, I’d never see her again.”
    Coulter put a hand on Matt’s shoulder. It was rigid. Matt and Arianna had developed a strong friendship in the time she was here. “You’d see her again. You’d see her the way she’s supposed to be. If you did this, you’d give her her heart’s desire.”
    Matt looked pensive. “I’ll think about it,” he said.

 
     
     
     
    SEVEN
     
     
    LYNDRED STOOD in the