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"So," Vahr croaked, "you judge me, just like everyone else"
"Your failed rebellion is not my concern I just want your Breath"
"You and the entire Hallandren court"
"Yes But you’re not going to give it to one of the Returned You’re going to give it toyou"
"Doesn’t seem like much of a trade" There was a hardness--a void of emotion--in Vahr that Vasher had not seen the last time they had parted, years before
Odd, Vasher thought, that I should finally, after all of this ti in the man that I can identify with
Vasher kept a wary distance from Vahr Now that the man’s voice was free, he could Co except for the metal chains, and metal was very difficult to Awaken It had never been alive, and it was far froht of his power, Vasher hied to Awaken metal on a few, select occasions Of course, so objects to life that they weren’t touching, but that were in the sound of their voice That, however, required the Ninth Heightening Even Vahr didn’t have thatperson who did: the God King himself
That reat wealth of Breath, but had nothing to Awaken Vasher walked around the chainedit very difficult to offer any sympathy Vahr had earned his fate Yet the priests would not let him die while he held so much Breath; if he died, it would be wasted Gone Irretrievable
Not even the government of Hallandren--which had such strict laws about the buying and passing of Breath--could let such a treasure slip away They wanted it badly enough to forestall the execution of even a high-profile criminal like Vahr In retrospect, they would curse theuarded
But, then, Vasher had been waiting two years for an opportunity like this one
"Well?" Vahr asked
"Giveforward
Vahr snorted "I doubt you have the skill of the God King’s torturers, Vasher--and I’ve withstood them for teeks now"
"You’d be surprised But that doesn’t ive me your Breath You know you have only two choices Give it toby his wrists, rotating slowly Silent
"You don’t have much tioing to discover the dead guards outside The alarain, and you will eventually break Then all the power you’ve gathered will go to the very people you vowed to destroy"
Vahr stared at the floor Vasher let hi for a few moments, and could see that the reality of the situation was clear to hi you bear It’s here, in the city?"
Vasher nodded
"The screams I heard earlier? It caused the will you be in T’Telir?"
"For a tiainst theoals are my own to know, Vahr Will you take e for those Breaths I promise you this Your enerew quiet "It’s yours," he finally whispered
Vasher reached over, resting his hand on Vahr’s forehead--careful not to let any part of his clothing touch the
Vahr didn’t an to worry that the prisoner had changed his mind, Vahr Breathed The color drained from him The beautiful Iridescence, the aura that had made him look majestic despite his wounds and chains It flowed fro likehis eyes
"My life to yours," Vahr Commanded, a hint of despair in his voice "My Breath become yours"
The Breath flooded into Vasher, and everything became vibrant His brown cloak now seemed deep and rich in color The blood on the floor was intensely red, as if aflame Even Vahr’s skin seemed a masterpiece of color, the surface marked by deep black hairs, blue bruises, and sharp red cuts It had been years since Vasher had felt suchlife
He gasped, falling to his knees as it overwhelmed him, and he had to drop a hand to the stone floor to keep hi over How did I live without this?
He knew that his senses hadn’t actually improved, yet he felt so much more alert More aware of the beauty of sensation When he touched the stone floor, hethrough the thin dungeonup above Had it always been that melodic? How could he not have noticed?
"Keep your part of the bargain," Vahr said Vasher noted the tones in his voice, the beauty of each one, how close they were to harift for anyone who reached the Second Heightening It would be good to have that again
Vasher could, of course, have up to the Fifth Heightening at any time, if he wished That would require certain sacrifices he wasn’t willing to make And so he forced hi Breaths from people like Vahr