Book Seven: Chapter 21

“Damn. What happened then?”

“I was attacked. The Order and the naga were formidable, but it became clear during our confrontation that he had been using them. You see, the Order wanted to take me in. They had questions and needed answers. But my pursuer was not interested in their questions. Once he saw me, he attacked the Order, and it was through my intervention alone that they survived.” Ratu could hear their screams across the decades, men and women caught up in a storm of earth.

“What was this asshole’s deal? Sounds like a real piece of shit.”

Ratu chuckled. “Indeed. He was very angry with me because I humiliated him in front of our entire tribe, ruined his reputation and destroyed his status. I became his obsession, his sole reason for existing. And despite not seeing him for centuries, that look of sheer delight and anger when we met once more...” She shivered, picturing those cruel, mud-flecked eyes.

“Who was he?” Yuki was leaning forward so far that