Free Son of Khyber: Thorn of Breland by Keith Baker

you saved your own life. For the second time. A useful talent, in my opinion
.
    That was a sobering thought. “But I don’t know how. Have I … am I an aberrant?”
    Not unless you have a dragonmark. But there are other possibilities
.
    “Such as?”
    You could be a demon. Disguised in human form
.
    “Oh, brilliant deduction. And I never noticed?”
    In this scenario, I’d assume that you’ve been concealing your identity for some sort of sinister purpose. Though admittedly doing a poor job of it
.
    Thorn took a deep breath, resisting the urge to fling Steel across the room. Fear and anger warred within her. The dragonshard at the base of her neck had come alive, burning against flesh and bone, and she seized on that familiar pain, using it to anchor her racing thoughts.
    “I need to know what’s going on, Steel. I’ve been lucky so far. But damn it, this is my cover story. I’m supposed to be here because I can kill with my touch and I can’t control it. Well, guess what? I
can
kill with my touch, and I can’t control it. And I’ve got Sentinel Marshals trying to kill me. I’m really starting to think I’m on the wrong side of this one.”
    You have no aberrant dragonmark—
    She drove the dagger into the floor and released it.
“You don’t know that!
You don’t have any explanation for what’s going on. What if the mark is in the back of my throat? What if it just hasn’t appeared yet?”
    Steel couldn’t answer when he wasn’t in her grip. The red disk on his pommel gleamed, almost like an eye.
    “Damn it, Steel,” Thorn said. “I just keep thinking of Fileon’s stories. The Twelve sending him to hisdeath. We aren’t doing this job for Breland. And now this. Sorghan was ready to kill me just because I was an aberrant. And for all I know, I am. For all I know, I do need these people.” Her dream of Far Passage returned to her mind, the vision of Mayne falling at her touch. The anger was gone. All that was left was the pain of the shards and uncertainty. She reached out and picked up Steel. “If I can’t control this, how long before I do kill someone I care about?”
    I suppose you’re lucky that your only friend is a dagger
. His mental voice was softer than usual.
I apologize for questioning your judgement, Lantern Thorn. I hope that you have earned the Tarkanan’s trust with your actions. Sorghan’s death is unfortunate, but I can testify to your attempt to protect him. I sympathize with your concerns, but I urge you to set them aside and proceed with the mission
.
    “Well, I’m glad I have your approval. I’d hate to replace you.” Thorn picked up Sorghan’s fallen blade and tucked it into her belt. “Now, unless you’ve got something useful to contribute, I’ve got a murder scene to clean, a brooch to claim. And I suppose I might as well wake up the rat.”
    That’s right
, Steel whispered.
I guess I’m not your only friend after all
.
    “So it seems.” Thorn studied Sorghan, considering how best to deal with the corpse. His words echoed in her thoughts: The one who warned me …
    “And it seems I have new enemies, as well.”

C HAPTER E IGHT
Dragon Towers
Lharvion 20, 999 YK
    D id you tell him I was coming?” Thorn asked. “Why would I do such a thing?”
    If the crippled halfling was concerned, he gave no sign of it. He turned the brooch about in his hand. Thorn and Steel had examined the pin earlier. It bore the symbol of an eye surrounded by rays of the sun, an archaic symbol of House Deneith. The brooch was old and deeply worn, but according to Steel, it held no magical power. Beneath the table, Zae played with the little rat. Despite her curiosity, there were no signs that the girl had uncovered Thorn’s ruse.
    “I don’t know,” Thorn said. “But he was ready for me. Who else could have warned him?”
    “A Medani seer, perhaps? The House of Detection has strong ties with the marshals.”
    It was possible. There were oracles among the Medani who could catch