They were going to kill everyone.


    It didn’t matter who the ‘they’ were. Both the Bokor, if I believed her, and the Touched wanted the entire city of Gher dead and I could tell from the look on the Master’s face, she was completely serious.


    “What about them?” I pointed at the two Wranglers, “Are you going to kill them right now?” I knew that if she wanted to kill any of us, there was nothing that we could do to stop her, and that didn’t take into account what the cloaked figure could do.


    The Master got off the table and caressed Eveth’s cheek. The blonde woman tried to pull back, but the Master grabbed her chin.


    “Worthless.” She hissed as she let her go. “This one is too far gone. She cannot be turned.” The Master got up and backed Jaz up against the wall. “But you…” She made a growl that sounded bottomless, “There is still hope for you.” She patted his check, then started walking back to her deck.


    “I won’t let you turn me!” Jaz pulled out his sword and before I could stop him, started to swing. His sword fell to the ground before it could finish.


    Part of the raw heartstone the size of my finger was rammed inside his chest. I hadn’t seen her break it off or anything.


    The other Wrangler started to bring his hands up, but dropped face first to the floor.


    The Master turned back around and knelt over the body, then pulled the piece of heartstone out of his body. “A pity. He should have waited until the other was all out of his system before offering to be converted.” She clicked her tongue as she shrugged. “Not all can be turned.”


    The Touched from before came in and dragged the body out of the room, then closed the door, leaving just myself and Eveth in the room with the Master and her cloaked henchman.


    “Do you wish to try to convert?” The Master held the piece of heartstone in front of Eveth’s face.


    Eveth shook her head vigorously.


    “A pity.” The Master put the raw heartstone on the desk and walked back around and sat in her chair.


    “Will Eveth change?” I swallowed. I was a little less shaken up by what the Master had just done than Eveth was, “Into whatever that stone’s version of us is.”


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    The Master looked at me for a moment, then over at Eveth. “Is that what you want?” She eyed the young woman, “To become the only of your kind?”


    Eveth was too stunned to speak. She just sat there and stared at the Master.


    “Do you know what she would become?” The Bokor and the Touched both had magic, so I wondered what this stone might do.


    “She would be a weapon that the Corrupted could not let exist.” There was a hint of pride in the Master’s voice, “She would be a threat to them and all of the zombies.”


    I was curious why she was talking about the zombies like she wasn’t a part of them. I wanted to ask her about it, but her companion finally spoke.


    “That is all the time we have.”


    “Of course.” The Master smiled at us as she got up.


    “What would she have to do?” I needed more information. “If she wanted to go through the change?”


    The Master eyed us both for a moment, then took a finger knuckle piece of the raw clear crystal and tossed it to me. “How did you change?”


    “It’s the same way?” I put it in my pocket. I had a feeling it would be, but wanted to confirm.


    “The change will take a few hours.” The Master turned back to Eveth. “And you will find nowhere safe in the entire world from the Corrupted.” She smiled and gestured at her room, “There are some safe places, like this, but they do not stay safe for long.” She looked at me. “Knowing what you know now, do you wish to join me?” She turned to Eveth, “I would take either of you if you wish.”


    I winced, “Do you kill us if we say no?” I eyed the other person in the room


    “Unlike the Corrupted, I can tolerate those who do not follow my plans, but…” She pointed at the floor where the man had been killed, “I don’t tolerate those who attack me. And if you stand in my way, you may be marched over.”


    I nodded. “Then I would like to think about it.” I got up, “May we leave?”


    “Of course, though I am leaving tonight.” The Master shook her head. “Someone must hold off the Corrupted so that the city may be converted.”


    “When are you going to convert the city?” I hoped she might answer and give me a timeframe.


    “In the morning, but…” The Master wagged her finger, “If you try to stop it, You will be swept under.” She shrugged, “Or maybe you find a way to spirit them away from both of us.” She shrugged. “My goal is to use the city that the Corrupted seek to destroy. If you can find another way to keep them from being destroyed, then maybe our plans aren’t different.”


    I nodded slowly. I took that as she was telling me that if I wanted to try to save the city, it wouldn’t make us enemies.


    “Good to know…” I tapped Eveth on the shoulder. “Eveth, let’s go.”


    “I will only delay them until noon. Then they will come through this forest to destroy the mine.”


    Eveth got up and I started to guide her out of the room, but I had one more thought.


    “Can a Corrupted be saved?”


    “Not once they have awakened the craving.” She shrugged, “Only one has tried before that.”


    “Thanks.” I walked Eveth through the door. I had a lot to talk to Master James and Val about.