Infinity Blade: Redemption by Brandon Sanderson

Dynn said from the doorway. “It’s actually quite obvious.”
    “Is that so?” Siris asked. “What, then, were they so frightened of?”
    “Me, clearly,” Dynn said.
    Wait. Isa frowned. Dynn’s voice didn’t sound right.
    Siris suddenly leaped to his feet and ran toward the soldier. Terr backed away, confused, as Siris and Dynn clashed.
    No. Not Dynn at all. Someone laughed behind that helm with a familiar voice.
    “You!” Siris said, swiping his sword at the impostor. “What did you do with the man who wore that armor?”
    The laughter continued.
    That was the God King’s voice.
    Oh, hell, Isa thought, reaching for her sword.
    “They were worried about me awakening in here,” the God King said, stepping back from Siris. “With good reason.” He held up a hand as Siris prepared to strike. “As much fun as it would be to kill you again, Ausar—and honestly, I’m already growing nostalgic for the experience—I can’t spare the time to indulge myself. Neither, I believe, can you.”
    “Your empire is crumbling, Raidriar.”
    “And your little rebellion is doomed. He’s planning something dangerous.”
    “Have you figured out his endgame?” Siris asked.
    Raidriar shook his head. “No. You?”
    “No idea.”
    “It’s big,” the God King said. “He tossed aside the Infinity Blade as if it were nothing. Whatever he’s working on, he doesn’t consider you, me, or this empire to be a priority.”
    Siris hesitated. “Damn.” Finally, he lowered his sword. “ Damn. ”
    Isa looked from one to the other, as they sheathed their swords and walked toward the other side of the room. Almost like old friends.
    What , she thought, did I just miss?
    She gestured for the other guards to secure the chamber. “Keep the door closed,” she ordered, “and see if you can find Dynn. He might be back in the room where we entered the complex.”
    Terr ran off immediately. Others stood guard behind the door as Isa closed it. She went over to where the God King and Siris were talking.
    “You need me,” Raidriar was saying.
    “Hardly,” Siris replied.
    “Oh? And the machinery in this chamber? You were going to move it on your own? Have you any knowledge of how to disassemble it, how to set it back up? Do you even know how to work it?”
    “We could leave it here, make this our base.”
    “And stay exactly where the Worker knows he can find you?” The God King left his helm on. He wouldn’t show his face to those he considered his lessers.
    “Where is my soldier?” Isa demanded, stepping up next to Siris.
    The God King looked her over. “He is alive,” he said. “I realized that Ausar would whine and moan if I killed one of his little rebels, even if they are all my subjects.”
    “Where?” Isa demanded. “In the room where we entered?”
    “Obviously,” the God King said with a wave of the hand. “Calm yourself, child. I barely even harmed him. He didn’t need that hand; he has two, after all.”
    “You monster,” Isa said, lunging at him. Siris caught her by the shoulder and pulled her back.
    “Honestly,” the God King said, “no need to fuss for something so minor. You mortals break so easily, one would assume you’d be accustomed to it by now.”
    “You—” Isa started.
    Siris took her by the shoulder. “He’s taunting you, Isa. Don’t rise to it.”
    She cut herself off, fuming. If Dynn was dead . . .
    “You do need me,” the God King said, turning back to Siris. “I brought one of my loyal Devoted, one of the few mortals I allowed to develop expertise in Deathless technology. He can disassemble the machinery here and set it up somewhere else. Some location you choose.”
    “Fine,” Siris said. “Very magnanimous of you. And your part in it? What do you gain?”
    “We defeat him, and I get my empire back.”
    “Like hell you do,” Isa spat. “We’re not going to rebel against him, only to give everything back to you.”
    “And him?” the God King asked, amused,